AWD on The Maverick, wimpy?

It's definitely not going to be a small electric motor spinning the back wheels lmao

balucipher said:

It's definitely not going to be a small electric motor spinning the back wheels lmao

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So it's the same gas motor driving the front wheels?

Yes, through the rear differential

AWD means always on with what I expect will be a heavy FWD bias - driving the front wheels until slip is detected and the rears get power. It won't have a high and low range selector like a 4WD but with tires appropriate for your weather or road conditions, will be more than adequate for most driving most people do

If you're in heavy offroading, you're going to want to step it up to a Ranger with true 4x4

Shark said:

I'm not a auto guy at all so I know very little. However I'm aware AWD is different from 4WD. 4WD is a lot "beefier" but also doesn't necessarily spin all the wheels as dynamically.

Somewhere on here I read a comment like AWD on The Mav will just be a small electric motor spinning the back wheels. Is that true? Please say it aint so.

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Here is how the system in the Maverick will work. It may in fact be this exact system.
In a lightweight vehicle like the Maverick, these tires of AWD differentials are very, very effective. If you do get stuck, that is where you could find their limitations, such as overheating the clutches.

And I just wanted to add, the Bronco sport badlands uses the dual clutch version of this unit mentioned in the article. All other trims, and our Maverick use the single clutch version. I believe Jeep also uses a GKN single clutch unit in their lighter 4x4 models like the Renegade.

balucipher said:

Yes, through the rear differential

AWD means always on with what I expect will be a heavy FWD bias - driving the front wheels until slip is detected and the rears get power. It won't have a high and low range selector like a 4WD but with tires appropriate for your weather or road conditions, will be more than adequate for most driving most people do

If you're in heavy offroading, you're going to want to step it up to a Ranger with true 4x4

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Do you think the AWD Mav will be sufficient for beaching? I probably won’t do extreme off-roading and mainly be getting AWD for snowy winters and driving onto the beach.

Spurge said:

Do you think the AWD Mav will be sufficient for beaching? I probably won’t do extreme off-roading and mainly be getting AWD for snowy winters and driving onto the beach.

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It is perfect for that kind of use. But, if you do find yourself getting buried, don't spin too much. Some is fine, but you don't want to continually overheat the clutches in the rear diff.

Spurge said:

Do you think the AWD Mav will be sufficient for beaching? I probably won’t do extreme off-roading and mainly be getting AWD for snowy winters and driving onto the beach.

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Good tires and smart driving will go near anywhere with FWD alone. That AWD is peace of mind when it gets extra sketchy. If you feel yourself getting stuck be smart, get out, and put traction pads down. Even 4WD trucks can struggle with that if you aren't careful. Also. I will add in response to your original question that AWD is in fact not a "wuss" 4wd. There are actually cases where AWD is particularly better. And some where it isn't. People make it sound like it's one or the other. There are 100% different advantages, so don't sweat it.

Shark said:

I'm not a auto guy at all so I know very little. However I'm aware AWD is different from 4WD. 4WD is a lot "beefier" but also doesn't necessarily spin all the wheels as dynamically.

Somewhere on here I read a comment like AWD on The Mav will just be a small electric motor spinning the back wheels. Is that true? Please say it aint so.

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i think the only vehicle that uses AWD like that is the Toyota RAV4 and the RAV4 Prime. Ford still uses Mechanical AWD on their AWD units

Toddio12 said:

And I just wanted to add, the Bronco sport badlands uses the dual clutch version of this unit mentioned in the article. All other trims, and our Maverick use the single clutch version. I believe Jeep also uses a GKN single clutch unit in their lighter 4x4 models like the Renegade.

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This is why the FX4 package is pointless. There is no upgrade in capability. There are some improvements to durability and longevity, but no meaningful additional capability. It's a sticker package, mostly. The tow pkg is a better value as it actually increases capability.

Platinum2 said:

This is why the FX4 package is pointless. There is no upgrade in capability. There are some improvements to durability and longevity, but no meaningful additional capability. It's a sticker package, mostly. The tow pkg is a better value as it actually increases capability.

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I got it for the different shocks and increased ride height and ability to add the 235 width falkens instead of the terrible pirellis

balucipher said:

I got it for the different shocks and increased ride height and ability to add the 235 width falkens instead of the terrible pirellis

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You will have a nice truck. But the FX4 shocks are garbage.

In my experience which is mostly sand, mud, snow, holes in the ground etc, ground clearance followed by tires, tires, tires! A front wheel drive whatever with decent ground clearance and good tires will go through a hell of a lot more adverse stuff than a dropped Audi Quattro on drag radials. Even with good tires and AWD poor clearance will get you hung up more often than FWD, good tires, and good clearance. Everything being equal, AWD is superior of course. But I'd bet there will be some lifted FWD Mavericks on All Terrains surprising some AWD folks in the future.

Platinum2 said:

You will have a nice truck. But the FX4 shocks are garbage.

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Probably slightly less garbage than the twin tubes on everything else though

Spurge said:

Do you think the AWD Mav will be sufficient for beaching? I probably won’t do extreme off-roading and mainly be getting AWD for snowy winters and driving onto the beach.

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Make sure you air tires down to about 25. I spend time at Outerbanks and have seen 4wd stuck while AWD and FWD drive by and wave. They aired down.

Im going XL with AWD, 4k and will be used on beach towing a small rv twice a year

balucipher said:

Probably slightly less garbage than the twin tubes on everything else though

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Yes, but the Ranchos on the FX4 are little more than a tarted up Monroe.

IMHO, off roaders will be best served with an XL they can upgrade as they see fit, rather than paying for factory packages that under perform and are over priced.

The tow pkg with aftermarket Bilsteins would be a better investment than an FX4 pkg.

Platinum2 said:

This is why the FX4 package is pointless. There is no upgrade in capability. There are some improvements to durability and longevity, but no meaningful additional capability. It's a sticker package, mostly. The tow pkg is a better value as it actually increases capability.

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the additional drive modes might actually improve capability a bit. And having tow hooks will be good if you need to get winched or pulled out. There's a lot that's possible with electronic sorcery in this day and age.

theonetruetom said:

the additional drive modes might actually improve capability a bit. And having tow hooks will be good if you need to get winched or pulled out. There's a lot that's possible with electronic sorcery in this day and age.

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Maybe. But, I'm not convinced the additional drive modes add much in the way of capability. A skilled off-roader could likely achieve the same result.

Tow hooks are nice....on a proper off road vehicle, which the Maverick FX4 is not. For me, I don't see the Maverick as a credible off-road vehicle which calls to question the value and relevancy of the FX4 package. YMMV. 👍

I think $800 for the more premium screen in the dash (for XLT), skidplates, tow hooks, two extra drive modes, hill descent control, not including the overlap upgrades with the 4K package is a pretty good deal