The “L”ow Down (shifting into L - Low when approaching a stop)

[FischAutoTechGarten]

....well I certainly joined the Maverick Truck Club forum to receive answers from AI bots/apps in lieu of the collective participating membership.

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[Cherokee]

I’ll continue to use my brakes to slow down.

You guys are killing me, these Mav’s are not stick shift.
:XD

 

[LSchicago]

I’ll continue to use my brakes to slow down.

You guys are killing me, these Mav’s are not stick shift.
:XD

No kidding, but Low mode does give me another easy 5-8 city mpg, even on short commutes.

 

[scpowered]

(L) seems like it keeps the eCVT in a lower "gear" for the ICE engine for improved engine braking. So I'm a bit skeptical of it actually improving around town efficiency as the engine hangs out in a higher RPM range with it enabled versus not.

When using "L" to slow down, the only time it spins the engine at higher rpm is when the battery is full and it has no place to put the energy. IF any fuel is used, it is very little. The recovered energy out-weighs any fuel used.

You can do the same thing with using the brake peddle, the only difference is it will use the brake pads instead of the engine when the battery is full. Turn on the "brake coach" and you can sort of see when it is using regen or using brake pads.

I’ll continue to use my brakes to slow down.

You guys are killing me, these Mav’s are not stick shift.
:XD

On an eco-boost, I agree, it probably wont gain you much. Maybe save a little on the brake pads, but not going to improve fuel economy. A Hybrid is a different story.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

It does not. Drive at night and watch out your review view mirror.

Verified! I was decelerating in ECO mode which uses more regenerative braking last night and no brake light came on. Then I set the adaptive cruise from 55 to 45 and the truck decelerated again with no brake light. I have not used the L setting, but I'll try it through the construction with stop and go low speed driving.

Now I understand why tailgating drivers nose dive their brakes behind me so often!

 

[Cherokee]

On an eco-boost, I agree, it probably wont gain you much. Maybe save a little on the brake pads, but not going to improve fuel economy. A Hybrid is a different story.

Trying to save a little on a set of $45 brake pads all the while making a $6,000 tranny work un necessarily hard ?
You’re kidding right ?

But I hear ya on the Mavbrid tranny, may not accelerate wear in that go box.
I’d not want to be the guy who tests that out.

 

[ScottyC]

The whole "Mavericks getting rear ended" debate and blaming the Maverick over it is typical of this generation.....lets not blame the driver that actually was not paying attention and rear ended you....just figure out a way to blame the Maverick so a lawsuit can be initiated against Ford for "emotional distress"....

 

[MaverickNoticer]

I recently consulted ChatGPT on a question I had about using the L transmission setting when I’m approaching a stop sign or red light.

For those of you not familiar with ChatGPT it is in AI based data repository that essentially searches all available data on subjects and provides the detail you have requested.

Here is a response I received:

Yes, it’s generally okay to shift your Ford Maverick Hybrid into “L” (Low) when approaching a stop, but there are some important things to understand:

What “L” Does in the Maverick Hybrid

• On the Ford Maverick Hybrid, shifting to “L” increases regenerative braking, which helps slow the vehicle down more aggressively and charges the battery.
• It doesn’t lock you into a single gear like in traditional automatics — it’s more about changing the vehicle’s behavior to prioritize engine braking and regen.

When It’s Useful

• Approaching a stop or going downhill: “L” can help slow you down more quickly, reducing brake wear.
• Heavy traffic or city driving: If you want to make more use of regenerative braking and improve efficiency slightly, “L” can be helpful.
• Steep descents: It gives you better control without riding the brakes.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Shifting into “L” at low speeds (like under 30 mph) is completely safe.
• Don’t downshift abruptly at high speeds — it won’t harm the vehicle due to built-in safeguards, but it’s unnecessary and may feel jerky.
• Using “L” all the time isn’t harmful, but it may make the ride feel less smooth in normal driving.

Bottom Line

Yes, you can shift into “L” when approaching a stop in your Ford Maverick Hybrid. It’s safe and can even be beneficial in some situations. Just don’t treat it like an emergency brake — use it for controlled slowing.

I mean you got this from AI so it's garbage.

 

[Tiger Dude]

It would be far better to just brake lightly to get full regeneration, you might be throwing away regen into engine braking.

 

[Larrythelunatic]

....well I certainly joined the Maverick Truck Club forum to receive answers from AI bots/apps in lieu of the collective participating membership.

Knowledge is power…….
Regardless of the source.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Now I understand why tailgating drivers nose dive their brakes behind me so often!

The root cause is still the root cause, and it is inattentive drivers.

Manual transmissions don't activate the brake lights when downshifting either, and I never had any noticeable increase in close-calls or accidents the 20 years I drove my two cars that were stick-shift.

Knowledge is power…….
Regardless of the source.

Information based on garbage is not "knowledge." At least when people are wrong around here, they will often recant and apologize when properly educated. AI is not concerned with correcting itself after it serves up an "aggregated guess" to you.

 

[BillHanna]

I've tried using "L" when going down a mountain near us on my EcoBoost, and it works nicely for a while, then it downshifts to a very low gear causing very high RPMs. I don't understand why it does this. On our RAV4 I can select the gear that I want, so I can gently hold back some speed.

 

[TheSEARCH]

I use my low when I go down this hill near me with stop sign at bottom of hill. BUT only if no one is behind me.

 

[Gray Goose]

Not just a Maverick issue. Currently no mandate in US for stop lamps (legal term for brake lights) to activate during regenerative braking.
https://www.consumerreports.org/car...provide-fair-warning-on-some-evs-a9533519285/
https://www.thewisedrive.com/brake-lights-and-regenerative-braking/

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