Mercedes-Benz of Los Angeles Discusses the Difference between the Drivetrain and the Powertrain

At some point while owning an automobile, most of us have used the word “powertrain”. Many of us have also used the word “drivetrain” in place of powertrain, without realizing that these terms actually mean two different things and apply to two different sets of Mercedes-Benz parts.

What is the Drivetrain?

Once you know the biggest reason between the drivetrain and the powertrain, you’ll always remember it because it’s so easy. The difference is that the drivetrain doesn’t include the engine. Instead, the “drivetrain” includes several components that move power from the engine to the wheels, while omitting the engine itself.

The drivetrain isn’t actually a single part in your Mercedes-Benz GLE or Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Instead, it’s a group of parts that interact with the engine in order to move the wheels and various parts of the vehicle, ultimately creating forward momentum. The parts included in the drivetrain are the transmission, differential, driveshaft, and axles, as well as the CV joints and the wheels.

What is the Powertrain?

Now that you know what the drivetrain is, you know what the powertrain is pretty much by default. The powertrain is an umbrella term, used commonly by our team of Mercedes-Benz dealers, that includes the engine and a host of parts that contribute to the vehicle’s movement.

Collectively, all of these parts turn the power from the engine into actual movement. The key powertrain components include:

• Transmission
• Engine
• Axles
• Driveshaft
• Differentials
• Wheels

The big exception to this rule is that if you drive a plug-in hybrid or electric car such as the Mercedes EQS, your car’s powertrain has a powerful electric battery instead of a combustion engine. This battery works in tandem with one or more electric motors to generate movement.

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Schedule a service appointment from the convenience of your laptop or smartphone and visit Mercedes-Benz of Los Angeles today. Here you’ll find everything your car needs to perform its best, along with a friendly, knowledgeable team of service technicians who know your vehicle inside and out.