Multi-link suspension

Multi-link suspension is the double wishbone taken a step further: instead of two rigid triangles, the wheel hub is located by four or five individual rods, or links, each with a bush or ball joint at both ends. A typical rear layout has an upper link, a lower link that also carries the coil spring, a toe-control link and a trailing arm reaching forward to the body, with the damper mounted separately. In India it is found at the rear of larger SUVs such as the Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Kodiaq, and on most German luxury cars at both ends.

• A bump pushes the hub carrier upward; every link pivots about its inner bush.
• The lengths and angles of the links decide how the wheel moves: the toe link keeps the wheel pointing straight, the lateral links control camber, and the trailing arm absorbs fore-and-aft shock.
• Because each link has only one job, engineers can let the wheel move backward a little when it hits a sharp edge (good for comfort) while still keeping it stiff sideways (good for cornering).
• The spring and damper handle the bounce as in any other suspension.

The driver notices that the car rides softly over broken tarmac yet stays composed in fast corners, and that the rear stays planted under braking. Over the years the many rubber bushes wear, which brings vague handling and clunks; replacing them is fiddly and the wheel alignment has more settings than on a simpler car. The system is also heavier and needs more space, which is why small cars stick to a torsion beam.