Toyota of Orlando explains engine placement

Did you know that there are other places in a car to place the engine than the front? Believe it or not, not all vehicles have their engine situated in the front under the hood. There are actually three different types of engine placements that you can find on your next vehicle, and Toyota of Orlando is here to explain. Let's get started. 

The three types of Toyota engine placement

The three main types of Toyota engine placements are front, mid, and rear. You may not think that where the engine rests has much of an effect on your drive time, but it does, and our Toyota engine experts are breaking down each configuration so you can decide which is best for you next time you're shopping. 

Front-engine

Front-engine placement is definitely the most common configuration, especially in the modern market. All of our Orlando Toyotas have this type of engine placement and it's usually paired with front-wheel drive. In this setup, the engine is situated under the hood in front of your front wheels. Sometimes you'll find it paired with rear-wheel drive (like in the case of our Orlando Toyota Tundra or Toyota 86), but this combination puts things off-balance since the weight is in the front and the power is in the back. This makes you more prone to spinouts, so make sure you're comfortable driving this type of combination before you commit. 

Mid-engine

Mid-engine is definitely less common than front-engine placement - in fact, we haven't seen this set up on an Orlando Toyota since the Toyota MR2 sports car. In this configuration, the engine is actually located right in the middle of the car between the front and rear wheels. This results in an incredibly balanced car, which means you'll have superior cornering and handling capabilities. However, it also cuts down on interior cabin space - the engine typically sits where the backseat would be, so these vehicles are almost always two-seaters with just enough space for a driver and front passenger. 

Rear-engine

Mid-engine placement isn't common, but rear-engine placement is even less likely to be seen out on the road. You'll mostly find it in exotic or vintage cars (you won't find this Toyota engine placement on any of our current models). In this case, the engine is placed where you'd usually find the trunk - in the back of the car. This engine placement is almost always paired with rear-wheel drive which means you have extremely quick acceleration, but also means the car is prone to oversteering and can be difficult to drive. Be sure you're comfortable before you get behind the wheel and hit the open road. 

Toyota of Orlando can answer all of your engine questions 

Have questions about Toyota engine placement and how it can affect your drive time? Call us! Our Orlando Toyota Service Center is open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001 and our engine experts are on deck to get you the answers you need.