Ford's Rear-Wheel-Drive Heritage
Ford built its reputation on rear-wheel-drive platforms, and for decades, RWD was the default layout for nearly every car and truck the company sold. The configuration places the engine at the front and sends power to the rear wheels through a driveshaft, offering a balanced weight distribution that enthusiasts prize for handling and towing capability. While the industry has shifted heavily toward front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, Ford continues to offer RWD in several key models, preserving a driving character that shapes everything from the Mustang's performance to the Bronco's off-road prowess.
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Understanding Ford's RWD lineup means looking beyond the badge and considering which platforms still underpin today's models, what drivers gain from that setup, and where Ford has moved away from it. The company's RWD heritage runs deep, and it remains a defining feature of some of its most iconic vehicles.
Current Ford RWD Cars and Trucks
Today, Ford's RWD offerings sit primarily in the performance car and truck segments, where the layout provides clear advantages in traction, payload, and towing.
Ford Mustang
The Mustang is Ford's last remaining RWD car in the traditional sense. Every generation since the first model in 1964 has used a rear-wheel-drive layout, and the current sixth and seventh generations are no exception. The Mustang offers multiple engine options, from the turbocharged four-cylinder to the V8 in the GT and Dark Horse trims, all sent to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The RWD setup is central to the Mustang's driving dynamics, allowing for rear-end steer and the kind of balance that makes it a benchmark in the sports car segment.
Ford Bronco
The Bronco, Ford's modern SUV revival, uses a body-on-frame RWD platform that underpins its off-road capability. The standard two-door and four-door Bronco models come with RWD as the base drivetrain, with an available automatic disconnecting front axle and 4x4 system for serious trail use. The RWD-first design gives the Bronco a proper ladder-frame chassis, solid rear axle, and approach and departure angles that make it one of the most capable compact SUVs for rock crawling and overlanding.
Ford F-Series Trucks
The F-150, F-150 Lightning, F-250, F-350, and F-450 all carry RWD as their foundation. While most buyers opt for 4x4, the rear-wheel-drive layout is the starting point for the full-size truck line. The RWD configuration in the F-Series allows for substantial payload and towing capacity, with the F-150 able to tow up to around 13,500 pounds depending on the configuration. The Super Duty models (F-250 and above) take this further, offering RWD as the workhorse setup for contractors and haulers who need maximum rear axle capacity.
Past Ford RWD Models
Ford's RWD history extends well beyond the current lineup. The company produced a wide range of RWD cars and trucks that shaped the automotive landscape.
- Ford LTD and Custom — Full-size RWD sedans and wagons that were mainstays of American fleets through the 1970s and 1980s.
- Ford Torino — A mid-size RWD car produced from 1968 to 1976, famous for its role in the muscle car era and its appearance in the TV series Starsky & Hutch.
- Ford Fairlane — An RWD compact and intermediate car that spanned multiple generations from the late 1950s through the early 1970s.
- Ford Thunderbird — The personal luxury coupe was RWD for most of its life, with the eleventh generation (2002–2005) being a notable front-wheel-drive exception.
- Ford Crown Victoria — The iconic RWD sedan and cruiser used by police departments across North America, produced until 2011.
- Ford Ranger (pre-2012) — The compact pickup was RWD-based, with 4x4 available, before Ford discontinued the North American version.
Why RWD Still Matters for Ford Buyers
Rear-wheel drive offers several benefits that explain why Ford clings to the layout in certain segments. For performance cars like the Mustang, RWD allows for better weight distribution and more predictable handling at the limit. For trucks like the F-Series, RWD provides a stronger, simpler rear axle that can handle heavy loads without the complexity of a driveshaft running to the front wheels.
In the Bronco, RWD contributes to a lower center of gravity and better articulation off-road compared to unibody crossover SUVs. The trade-off is that RWD vehicles can be less capable in snow and ice without a 4x4 system, and they typically offer less interior cargo space than front-wheel-drive platforms of similar size.
Ford's RWD Platform Strategy
Ford has consolidated its RWD platforms over the years. The current Mustang uses the proprietary S550 and S650 rear-wheel-drive architectures, while the Bronco and Ranger are built on platforms that share RWD DNA with Ford's truck lineup. The company's full-size truck platform, often called the T platform, underpins the entire F-Series range and has been the backbone of Ford's RWD truck business for decades.
Ford's focus on RWD remains strongest where it serves a clear purpose: performance for the Mustang, capability for the Bronco, and work-truck toughness for the F-Series. For buyers who prioritize driving feel, towing capacity, or off-road ability, Ford's RWD models continue to offer a compelling choice in a market increasingly dominated by front-wheel-drive and electric platforms.