4-Wheel Steering Systems (Pros/Cons and Cars That Have It)
A 4-wheel steering system (or all-wheel steering) allows the driver to turn the rear wheels left and right along with the front wheels. Don’t confuse a 4-wheel steering system with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, as they are different things.
Four-wheel drive simply means that all four wheels are driven by the engine. A 4-wheel steering system means that you can actually turn all four wheels with the steering wheel. Here we will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of rear-wheel steering systems. How does all-wheel steering work?
The primary purpose of four-wheel steering is to increase a vehicle’s agility and stability. At low speeds (usually below 30 or 40 mph), the rear wheels turn slightly in the opposite direction to the front wheels. This is called “out-of-phase steering” and helps reduce the vehicle’s turning radius and improve agility.
At higher speeds (usually above 30 or 40 mph), the rear wheels turn slightly in the same direction as the front wheels. This is called “in-phase steering” and it makes the vehicle more stable when cornering at high speeds. Because both axles share the turning force, not just the front axle, the vehicle actually leans less in and out of corners.
The 5 Most Important Benefits of All-Wheel Steering
Here are the 5 biggest “advantages” of an all-wheel steering system:
1) Smaller Turning Radius
A four-wheel steering system allows the rear wheels to turn in a different direction than the front wheels, allowing for tighter turning radiuses.
This makes it easier to maneuver the vehicle into tight parking spaces, parallel park, and make U-turns in areas where some vehicles cannot. It could be your secret weapon at your next autocross event or track day.
2) Improved Stability
Vehicle stability is always helpful if you want a smooth driving experience. An all-wheel steering system makes it easier to control and stabilize your vehicle, especially at high speeds and when there are lots of curves.
3) Improved Steering Responsiveness
There’s nothing worse than turning the steering wheel and not getting an immediate response. A four-wheel steering system makes the steering wheel respond much faster than a traditional two-wheel steering system. You have more control over your direction of travel.
4) Faster lane changes
If you regularly drive on the highway and constantly need to change lanes or pass other vehicles, an all-wheel steering system helps you do this quickly and efficiently. You can change lanes or leave lanes faster and smoother than most other vehicles.
5) Improved security
Not all cars run “on rails” like a Mazda Miata or Chevrolet Corvette. If you misjudge and approach a corner too quickly, rear-wheel steering can reduce roll and prevent you from veering off the road or hitting another vehicle.
The two biggest disadvantages of all-wheel steering
Here are the two biggest disadvantages of all-wheel steering:
1) Higher risk of failure
Four-wheel steering is made up of many electronic parts and components. All it takes is for one component to fail and for the whole system to fail.
Therefore, your four-wheel steering may require additional maintenance to keep working. Not only does this mean that you have to spend more time and money, but it also means that there is a higher risk of the system having problems while you are driving.
2) Expensive
Cars with four-wheel steering are much more expensive than those with only two-wheel steering. This is because four-wheel steering involves more advanced components than two-wheel steering, making it more expensive to manufacture and develop.
Four-wheel steering is often a standard feature on many luxury sports cars, but on many other vehicles it is merely an optional feature, so you can at least choose whether the extra cost is worth it.
All-Wheel Steering Cars
There are actually more rear-wheel steering cars than many people think. Here are some of the most notable ones, both old and new, where rear-wheel steering was an option or standard on the vehicle.
Acura RLX
Acura TLX
Chevrolet Silverado
GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Ferrari 812 Superfast
Ferrari F12
Honda Accord
Honda Prelude
Infiniti Q45
Infiniti J30
Lamborghini Aventador
Lamborghini Huracan
Lexus GS
Lexus LC 500
Mazda 929
Mazda RX-7
Mitsubishi 3000GT
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
Nissan 300ZX
Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
Toyota Camry
Toyota Celica