First Time Snow Storm Performance Review (AWD Maverick in Wisconsin) 👍

[bikemendel]

I’ve owned my Maverick for a month, since December 8th. 1,200 miles, so far no regrets. Here in Wisconsin we’ve seen about 1/2” of snow since the middle of November.

Until today, when we were hammered with 8+ inches in my area. With temps hovering around 28-33 degrees, it was/is a slush-fest.

Prior to my Maverick I owned an ‘01 Silverado 4x4, ‘99 Civic “Si” with a B-Series engine, and a ‘17 VW GTI in that order. The Silverado was good in snow. Just needed common sense. The Civic was a summer car, but saw snow once and tried un-aliving me at 20mph. The GTI was good even with a stiff suspension but the car had a lot of torque so it was easy to break loose.

I got to drive the Maverick in the shitstorm we got this morning, and I was expecting it to be good, but not this good. I could not make the truck break free in the ice slush for the life of me. It just chugged right through and never broke a sweat. I tried “Slippery” mode and it was even better. Just for S&G, I tried Sport mode with Traction Control off and let Jesus take the wheel…

But it soldiered right through and I never once felt like I was in jeopardy of losing control.

to be fair, my test drive never saw speeds more than 45mph. But regardless, I am more than impressed. The tires are new, but they’re the Pirelli Scorpions. I’ve heard less than favorable things about them, but if the truck continues to perform like this I have 0 concerns about getting to where I need to be.

11/10, would drive in a storm for a good time. At this point I think I’m more worried about the road salt than I am about kissing a pole.

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[GPSMan]

Do you have the AWD?

 

[VicRattlehead]

Is yours awd? My hybrid was ok last night my issue was headlights. Snowing so hard that the higher snow chunks would buildup on the front of the truck and headlights being led the snow doesn’t melt off. So it covered the light so quick couldn’t see after like five minutes. Stopped twice to clean em in like 10 miles.

 

[TOMCATFIGHTER]

Always wondered how LED headlights would handle a heavy snow. I guess i will look into the custom brackets and yellow halogen lights for fog.

 

[Timothyd]

I’ve owned my Maverick for a month, since December 8th. 1,200 miles, so far no regrets. Here in Wisconsin we’ve seen about 1/2” of snow since the middle of November.

Until today, when we were hammered with 8+ inches in my area. With temps hovering around 28-33 degrees, it was/is a slush-fest.

Prior to my Maverick I owned an ‘01 Silverado 4x4, ‘99 Civic “Si” with a B-Series engine, and a ‘17 VW GTI in that order. The Silverado was good in snow. Just needed common sense. The Civic was a summer car, but saw snow once and tried un-aliving me at 20mph. The GTI was good even with a stiff suspension but the car had a lot of torque so it was easy to break loose.

I got to drive the Maverick in the shitstorm we got this morning, and I was expecting it to be good, but not this good. I could not make the truck break free in the ice slush for the life of me. It just chugged right through and never broke a sweat. I tried “Slippery” mode and it was even better. Just for S&G, I tried Sport mode with Traction Control off and let Jesus take the wheel…

But it soldiered right through and I never once felt like I was in jeopardy of losing control.

to be fair, my test drive never saw speeds more than 45mph. But regardless, I am more than impressed. The tires are new, but they’re the Pirelli Scorpions. I’ve heard less than favorable things about them, but if the truck continues to perform like this I have 0 concerns about getting to where I need to be.

11/10, would drive in a storm for a good time. At this point I think I’m more worried about the road salt than I am about kissing a pole.

Down here in crappy Illinois by Lake Geneva but same storm and pretty much the same experience, even at speed. I was pushing it just for fun. The stock tires could be better but I just bought some extra wheels for snows.
Just talking to a friend in Hayward and they have little snow, which they are worried about.

 

[bikemendel]

Do you have the AWD?

Is yours awd? My hybrid was ok last night my issue was headlights. Snowing so hard that the higher snow chunks would buildup on the front of the truck and headlights being led the snow doesn’t melt off. So it covered the light so quick couldn’t see after like five minutes. Stopped twice to clean em in like 10 miles.

Yes, it’s AWD. I never thought about the headlights not melting snow though, that’s a good point. I’ll have to keep an eye on that.

What I will say though is that because the headlights are so bright (at least brighter than I’m used to), when the snow is coming down like Star Wars Lightspeed, visibility is a bit more of an issue than I remember it being with the Halogens in my GTI. I can’t compare anymore, but it seems like the LEDs cast so much more light on the flakes and draws your vision away from the details of the road more than I remember.

 

[AlsMaverick]

"to be fair, my test drive never saw speeds more than 45mph. But regardless, I am more than impressed. The tires are new, but they’re the Pirelli Scorpions. I’ve heard less than favorable things about them, but if the truck continues to perform like this I have 0 concerns about getting to where I need to be."

Most criticism I've read seems to come from folks with different goals. Like comparing the Perellis to the greatest full off-road tires made then complaining that Ford doesn't supply them.
I just did snow for the first time as well. Perellis were great.

 

[Dudley]

Anyone with FWD had the snow test yet? Here in the Indianapolis area we have hovered in the mid 30's when the moisture was descending so rain but very little snow so far.
BTW, we did FWD because that is all we have had in the past in snow; 85 Cavalier in the Kansas City area, in the Minneapolis area and here a Jeep Patriot, then Honda CRV here, and always did fine, so now the Mav.

 

[jfourman]

Great post. I'm in Chicago awaiting the arrival of my Lariat/EB/AWD (It's a couple of weeks away on the train somewhere in the Southwest). With your post, I now have a dilemma... Do I continue to hope for a mild winter or do I hope for a foot of powder and ice to play in.

 

[Luthinator]

Is yours awd? My hybrid was ok last night my issue was headlights. Snowing so hard that the higher snow chunks would buildup on the front of the truck and headlights being led the snow doesn’t melt off. So it covered the light so quick couldn’t see after like five minutes. Stopped twice to clean em in like 10 miles.

I'm down in northern Illinois. We didn't get quite that much. It was still a crazy slushfest though. I used my wife's Explorer (don't have my truck yet). I had the same issue. I had even coated all widows, lights & sensor with rainx the night before. Still built up about 2" thick on the front.

 

[Luthinator]

Yes, it’s AWD. I never thought about the headlights not melting snow though, that’s a good point. I’ll have to keep an eye on that.

What I will say though is that because the headlights are so bright (at least brighter than I’m used to), when the snow is coming down like Star Wars Lightspeed, visibility is a bit more of an issue than I remember it being with the Halogens in my GTI. I can’t compare anymore, but it seems like the LEDs cast so much more light on the flakes and draws your vision away from the details of the road more than I remember.

I have a Hyundai with crazy bright lights. I found what helps the most, at least during the day, is doning my polarized sunglasses. It helps to cut though that. Ever since I got polarized sun glasses I've warn them during snow. At least during the day.... Lol

 

[TOMCATFIGHTER]

I have a Hyundai with crazy bright lights. I found what helps the most, at least during the day, is doning my polarized sunglasses. It helps to cut though that. Ever since I got polarized sun glasses I've warn them during snow. At least during the day.... Lol

Even when pouring down rain and you're on the freeway. Polarized lenses help cut the glare off the mist.

 

[Grunkster]

My new xlt hybrid was great in the snow here in Southern MN yesterday but I have upgraded the tires and we only got 3" so far

 

[dalola]

Even tho the Mav AWD system is a pretty basic, simple hardware package (by 2024 standards..), Ford has done a great job with the tuning, resulting in a very effective & capable experience in a variety of weather/terrain conditions. With the Falken Wildpeaks, it's even more impressive!

This is certainly an area where the Mav has exceeded my expectations, along with it's efficiency in all tasks.

 

[tom_tucker]

Anyone with FWD had the snow test yet? Here in the Indianapolis area we have hovered in the mid 30's when the moisture was descending so rain but very little snow so far.
BTW, we did FWD because that is all we have had in the past in snow; 85 Cavalier in the Kansas City area, in the Minneapolis area and here a Jeep Patriot, then Honda CRV here, and always did fine, so now the Mav.

Yes, but my driving conditions are so bad, I cannot possibly test without snow tires. The wind will blow the Maverick right off the snow covered mountain road.

On Sunday night, my Michelin X-Ice 17" ripped through some pretty decent snow covered roads and ground blizzards. Only 4/10 on the pucker factor meter, but still gnar.

She was able to pass many/all cars including 4Runners. I'm able to go 35-55 on the State road and maintain 50-60 mph on the US highway up to 70 when the road cleared up (still moderate/heavy snow falling).

I had the same tires with an AWD Subaru and they feel the same, except more wobble on the tracking. You have to provide steering corrections and not as confident as AWD.

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