Powertrain vs. Drivetrain

When it comes to understanding the various Nissan parts underneath your vehicle’s hood, there is a lot of vocabulary drivers need to know. You may have seen the words “powertrain” and “drivetrain” thrown around, but what do they really mean, and how do they differ from one another? Let’s break down both terms and see what they mean in the context of Nissan maintenance.

Powertrain

While you may see the terms “powertrain” and “drivetrain” being used interchangeably, they are in reality different from one another. Your vehicle’s powertrain is a collection of interlocked components that all work together to put your vehicle in motion. 

These components include your vehicle’s engine, transmission, and Nissan driveline components. The driveline is a term used to represent the differentials, axle shafts, and joints that deliver torque from your vehicle’s transmission to the wheels.

Powertrains work by creating power to drive a flywheel, which is integrated with the transmission to deliver torque to the various branches of the powertrain. This then rotates the driveshaft to power the differential which in turn causes your Nissan wheels to rotate. This is an overly simplified explanation, of course, but it illustrates how each of the sections of the powertrain work in tandem to get your vehicle in motion. 

Drivetrain

Without the engine to put the “power” in “powertrain,” you would be left with the “drivetrain.” The drivetrain is everything mentioned above, without including the Nissan engine. This comes out to the transmission and driveline components, which deliver torque to either one or both axles, depending on which drivetrain your vehicle has. 

However, just because the drivetrain does not include the engine, that doesn’t mean drivetrain issues are an easy fix when you schedule Nissan service. Drivetrain malfunctions can oftentimes occur in tandem with suspension issues, so be on the lookout if one or the other shows up!

We hope that this guide has demystified vehicle terminology just a bit. Should you have any lingering questions concerning this topic, feel free to reach out to the Woodhouse Nissan Bellevue service center for answers!