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As car technology continues to evolve, it’s important for drivers to stay up-to-date with the growing vocabulary. One term that can be confusing for most drivers is ‘wheelbase’. Most people mistake a vehicle’s wheelbase for its length, but they do not mean the same thing. So what is a wheelbase?
Basically, a wheelbase is a distance between the two axles of a vehicle. Although this factor seems unimportant, it plays a critical role in the vehicle’s stability and performance on the road. In this article, we’ll go over the various types of wheelbases and their impact on your vehicle.
Table Of Contents
What Is A Wheelbase
A wheelbase is the length of a vehicle from the centre of the rear wheels to the centre of the front wheels. You can also say that the wheelbase is the distance between the front axle and rear axle of the vehicle. The reason why a vehicle’s wheelbase is essential to the functionality of the vehicle is because the distance between the front and rear wheels affects the ride quality and handling. The vehicle’s weight distribution also depends on the wheelbase’s overall length, which can vastly change comfort and drivability.
‘Wheelbase’, ‘wheel-base’ and ‘wheel base’ are all commonly used terms, although ‘wheelbase’ is a proper term, strictly grammatically speaking.
The advantages of having a longer wheelbase tend to be a more comfortable ride with smoother handling and more interior space at the cost of overall vehicle size, which makes it more difficult to manoeuvre the vehicle in traffic.
There are four types of wheelbase lengths:
- Short wheelbase (SWB)
- Medium wheelbase (MWB)
- Long wheelbase (LWB)
- Extra-long wheelbase (XLWB)
Wheelbase Sizes
Here is everything you need to know about the four different wheelbase lengths as well as how they compare.
Short Wheelbase (SWB)
Short-wheelbase or SWB vehicles are vehicles with a short distance between the centres of the front and rear wheels. Shorter wheelbases are typically common in smaller vehicles. Click here to learn about SWB vans.
SWB vehicles are easier to manoeuvre. Therefore, they are great for navigating through narrow roads and offer a better turning circle. Tighter handling around corners also means that SWB vehicles are sportier and more fun to drive than those with longer wheelbases.
The general notion is that shorter vehicles are more fuel-efficient because they are lighter. However, the same models of different lengths often consume similar or identical amounts of fuel. Additionally, vehicles with longer wheel bases are less sporty, sometimes leading drivers to drive more gently and consume less fuel.
Medium Wheelbase (MWB)
Medium-wheelbase or MWB vehicles provide the perfect middle ground between short and long-wheelbase vehicles. They offer more room than SWB options and better handling compared to long-wheelbase cars or other vehicles.
Furthermore, due to their inherent stability and decreased body roll when driven over curbs or bumps in the road, medium-wheelbase vehicles are often a more fuel-efficient choice for drivers who prioritise manoeuvrability.
Tip: Having the front and rear wheels at a medium distance is your safest bet if you’re looking for a vehicle that functions well across the board.
Long Wheelbase (LWB)
Long wheelbases or LWB vehicles are excellent in many ways. You have more space than a short or medium vehicle, making it a great option if you need a larger area for passengers or items you need room for. Longer wheelbases are also better if you’re looking for a comfortable ride – when you’re driving on a bumpy road, the distance of your tires mitigates the impact of each bump, and the distance time before each tire hits a bump lessens the impact.
See here for our in-depth guide to learn how a long wheelbase compares to a short wheelbase.
Extra-Long Wheelbase (XLWB)
Having an extra-long wheel base or XLWB vehicle makes a lot of sense if you really require the interior space and comfort of a longer wheelbase. Its larger footprint does make it the most difficult vehicle to manoeuvre, and the engine it needs is large and gas-guzzling, but if you’re purchasing it – so you could make fewer trips to move the same load – it can be really cost-efficient.
SDVH offers everything from SWB to LWB vans for hire. Reach out to us to secure your preferred vehicle anywhere in the UK.
What Size Wheelbase Is Best?
What size wheelbase is best depends on what you plan to use the vehicle for. For example, if you’re transporting many passengers all the time, having greater space between your front and rear wheels will make all the difference. Short wheelbases will be the most efficient option if you’re driving by yourself with little cargo most of the time.
Tip: You can also choose based on preference – buy a long wheelbase for comfort or a short wheel base for sportiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does A Wheelbase Mean?
A wheelbase means the distance between the front axle and rear axle, also known as the length between the centre of a vehicle’s front and rear wheels. One way to categorise vehicles is by the length of their wheel base. By this, They’re divided into short-wheelbase, medium-wheelbase, long-wheelbase and extra-long-wheelbase cars or other vehicles.
Is A Wheelbase Important?
A wheelbase is important for many reasons other than the size of the car. It affects the quality of the ride, how well it manoeuvres in traffic, its steering tightness, the amount of interior space, fuel efficiency, stability and much more. You can get an entirely different driving experience depending on what wheel-base vehicle you get.
Is A Long Wheelbase Better Than A Short Wheelbase?
A long wheelbase is not better than a short wheelbase because both of them have their own merits and demerits. You should make your choice depending on what you require most. A longer wheel base leads to a more comfortable and stable ride on bumpy roads, while a shorter vehicle tends to have tighter turning and better fuel efficiency.
What Is The Advantage Of A Shorter Wheelbase?
The advantage of a shorter wheelbase is greater manoeuvrability in traffic and better parking opportunities. Other than that, turning in a short-wheelbase vehicle is easier on corners than it is on a longer-wheelbase one. It also spends less fuel due to a lighter body and is better at off-roading as well.
How Much Does A Wheelbase Affect Handling?
A wheelbase affects handling more than some other characteristics of a vehicle. Vehicles with a longer length between their wheels have greater stability, withstand higher top speeds safely and provide better comfort than short vehicles. A short wheel-base vehicle is far better at tight turns and off-roading than a long vehicle.
Conclusion
What is wheelbase? It’s the length between the centre of your rear and front tires. Because wheelbase affects drive feel a lot, you should always check the wheelbase of a car to make sure it will fit your driving requirements and desires. Of course, if you have any other questions about wheelbases or anything vehicle-related, our site has you covered!
