MAZDA Parts Overview: Powertrain vs. Drivetrain

A Mazda service technician looks among Mazda parts.

The many Mazda parts that make up your powertrain and drivetrain are arguably the most important components in your vehicle. Though both of these systems are pivotal for helping your car achieve motion, they are frequently confused with one another.

To help explain the differences and commonalities between the powertrain and drivetrain, our Bentonville Mazda service center assembled this quick and helpful guide.

Powertrain

The suffix “-train” in the words powertrain and drivetrain refer to a connected sequence of parts starting at your engine and making its way to your wheels. In most scenarios, the word powertrain is used synonymously with the word “engine,” as it is the principal component that supplies the power needed to rotate your wheels.

In simplest terms, the powertrain of your vehicle refers to all of the internal components that provide power and mechanical energy to move your vehicle. That means that the drivetrain is a part of the powertrain, though the engine – a core component of the powertrain – is not counted as part of the drivetrain.

Drivetrain

The parts inside models at our Mazda dealership that are responsible for physically rotating your wheels with the energy received from your engine are referred to as the drivetrain. These components do not provide power, they simply transmit the energy created by your engine along a mechanical route to your wheels.

One of the most pivotal components of your drivetrain is your transmission. This complex array of gears and rotors receives raw input from your engine and selects an optimal gear ratio to best distribute the force it receives.

This energy is then passed along your driveshaft, further optimized by the gears in a transaxle, and finally delivered to your wheels, causing them to rotate.

Schedule Your Drivetrain and Powertrain Service at Superior MAZDA

Now that you know more about what distinguishes your powertrain and drivetrain, the next step is to schedule a service appointment with our skilled technicians at our Mazda service center. Visit us online or give us a call at Superior Mazda today!