keep my 2023 EB AWD+Tow or new 2025 Hybrid AWD+ tow

[migraine]

What's your opinion(s) on "upgrading" my 2023XL, EB AWD with the new 2025 Hybrid XL with AWD and tow package.
I have bare bones xl EXCEPT FOR awd AND TOW now and want adj seat, power mirrors(360 PACKAGE) but having to take the hit of $4k price increase, 360 package, and additional $2200 sales tax, plus the extra upgrades makes my brain hurt. DW is on board so that helps...

I realize I can save $4k-$5k in gas to help justify the new truck but I really don't know how to compare engine/trans life between the EB and Hybrid.
Also, would you tow with a Hybrid that has the new 4k tow package. We're considering a pop-up trailer, in a few years.
Thanks for any opinions you might have.
-Brian

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[Billy2mav]

The 25 xl awd is impressive. For me the Lobo would be my upgrade, price aside my 22 xl 2.0 turbo has been problem free and a joy to drive.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

The existing 2WD Hybrid could be rated for towing except for the fact it is not AWD - it is only FWD.

My 23 2WD Hybrid with 16K miles has only been to the dealer once, to do several software updates for issues I have not experienced. No mechanical problems at all, except rattles.

The eCVT can handle towing and is a much simpler transmission than the conventional 8 speed automatic and has 2/3 less moving parts.

 

[BeardedMarine]

How many miles on the current Maverick?

 

[Montana]

I'd wait for any first model kinks to be worked out. (2nd model? I dunno, these timelines are so confusing)

So give it 5 or 6 years.

 

[icegradner]

Yeah, best to skip year one of any new system, coming from the guy who didn't. At the very least I'd hold off until it's been in production for 4-6 months.

 

[MM Mav]

first model kinks

1st refresh year kinks?

 

[migraine]

How many miles on the current Maverick?

Under 8k miles

 

[OleFordGuy]

Considering you seem please with your current one, I would also probably wait a model year for ford to work out kinks, their famous for letting their customers be the ginne pigs….. I wouldn’t be afraid of awd 4k tow hybrid but fords history lately give time for kinks being flushed out, just my opinion

 

[BeardedMarine]

Under 8k miles

Unless you really want a hybrid, I'd keep what you have, jmho.

 

[notfast]

What's your opinion(s) on "upgrading" my 2023XL, EB AWD with the new 2025 Hybrid XL with AWD and tow package.

My knee-jerk reaction is that it never makes financial sense to buy a new car if you have a perfectly functioning and warrantied current car.

I realize I can save $4k-$5k in gas to help justify the new truck but I really don't know how to compare engine/trans life between the EB and Hybrid.

Better gas mileage is hardly a reason alone to justify buying a newer car or even a second "gas-saver" car. If you just want a new car and can afford it, by all means, get what you want. Life is short.

I sold my first Nissan Frontier just because a unicorn of a PRO-4X Lux FFV popped up. My first Frontier ran like a top and I lost thousands of dollars making the switch, but I got a nicer truck with more features that make it more comfortable for those long Interstate drives.

As for engine and trans life, to me that really only matters if you plan on keeping the vehicle long after the warranty is over. eCVTs are mechanically simpler than planetary transmissions. In fact, they probably have the fewest moving parts of any transmission, since they aren't really transmissions at all but rather two electric motors bolted together.

If you're the type to want something new before the powertrain warranty expires, to me that makes longevity a moot point.

Also, would you tow with a Hybrid that has the new 4k tow package. We're considering a pop-up trailer, in a few years.

I am waiting for towing reviews of the hybrid 4K tow. By the numbers, towing 4000lbs with 191 net HP on tap sounds like I'd go exactly nowhere in a hurry. I couldn't imagine what will happen if I run the hybrid battery down on long uphills on the Interstate. Did that in a Prius, and having only the 99HP gasoline engine pull the car up was not exciting.

 

[inline_five]

I am waiting for towing reviews of the hybrid 4K tow. By the numbers, towing 4000lbs with 191 net HP on tap sounds like I'd go exactly nowhere in a hurry. I couldn't imagine what will happen if I run the hybrid battery down on long uphills on the Interstate. Did that in a Prius, and having only the 99HP gasoline engine pull the car up was not exciting.

Watched a video on youtube where someone was towing ~4000 lbs and had to floor their ecoboost to hit 42mph. That is where they maxed out going up grade.

My Gen 3 Prius has 98hp motor (when new). It will go up hilly mountains but it certainly struggles with just two normal sized adults (300-320 lbs total weight). The Maverick only has another 60 hp on it which does all the lifting since the battery is unused.

Now, if Ford pairs the ecoboost motor to the HF55, like the Nautilus, with 300+ hp, yeah that could be a towing machine! But fuel economy will drop drastically.

 

[Phimosis]

What's your opinion(s) on "upgrading" my 2023XL, EB AWD with the new 2025 Hybrid XL with AWD and tow package.
I have bare bones xl EXCEPT FOR awd AND TOW now and want adj seat, power mirrors(360 PACKAGE) but having to take the hit of $4k price increase, 360 package, and additional $2200 sales tax, plus the extra upgrades makes my brain hurt. DW is on board so that helps...

I realize I can save $4k-$5k in gas to help justify the new truck but I really don't know how to compare engine/trans life between the EB and Hybrid.
Also, would you tow with a Hybrid that has the new 4k tow package. We're considering a pop-up trailer, in a few years.
Thanks for any opinions you might have.
-Brian

When towing, your ecoboost makes 278 lb/ft at 3,000 rpm, which is 159 hp ((278*3000)/5252). The hybrid will make 191 hp until is 1.1 kwh battery is depleted. Once the battery is empty, it will be relying on the 2.5L NA engine to make ~140 hp at 5,600 rpm. So pulling the same load at the same speed up the same mountain grade, will mean 2,800 rpm on cruise control in the ecoboost, or 5,600 rpm with throttle flat on the floor in the hybrid. And towing, you’ll see like 15 mpg in the ecoboost vs 18 mpg in the hybrid.

For me, I have an EV as my commuter car and my maverick is my towing/camping/mountainbiking/offroading pleasure vehicle that does 5k miles per year, with most miles loaded up with gear or trailer. In that setting, the ecoboost shines.

But if your maverick does 20k miles per year as a commuter car, then does 1k miles per year towing, then the hybrid be a better choice.

 

[Phimosis]

What's your opinion(s) on "upgrading" my 2023XL, EB AWD with the new 2025 Hybrid XL with AWD and tow package.
I have bare bones xl EXCEPT FOR awd AND TOW now and want adj seat, power mirrors(360 PACKAGE) but having to take the hit of $4k price increase, 360 package, and additional $2200 sales tax, plus the extra upgrades makes my brain hurt. DW is on board so that helps...

I realize I can save $4k-$5k in gas to help justify the new truck but I really don't know how to compare engine/trans life between the EB and Hybrid.
Also, would you tow with a Hybrid that has the new 4k tow package. We're considering a pop-up trailer, in a few years.
Thanks for any opinions you might have.
-Brian

I bought the lariat ecoboost with fx4 and 4K towing, knowing that I was overpaying, but getting the best creature comforts, driver’s assist aids, power delivery and best towing performance for a compact pickup that can be had in 2024. I also made that purchase, knowing that each time you sell a car you lose $5k to the stealership and each time you buy a car, they rip you off for $2-3k. So each time you change cars, it’s “poof, there goes $8,000”. So if I had bought a bare bones ecoboost with 4K towing (like you did), would I trade it in for the new hybrid with 4K towing and more driver’s aids? Nope. Because it’s “poof, there goes $8,000”. The hybrid is rated at 33 mpg Highway. The ecoboost is rated at 30 mpg highway. If you’re doing a lot of highway miles, like going to national parks, the hybrid’s mpg will never make up the stealership losses and the ecoboost towing experience will be a lot nicer, churning along at 2,500 rpm under boost, instead of that Atkinson cycle, low specific output hybrid engine buzzing up to 5,000 rpm on every hill.

 

[migraine]

A lot of great replies on my questions! Gas is fricken expensive in NorCal and I mostly drive on city streets(Sacramento, Ca) for now and we'll be moving to Jacksonville, NC in 3 years for retirement. So the hybrid does make sense..to a point but probably not enough. With 8k miles on my EB in 18 months, I have $1500 in gas and i'd guess around $900 if I had a hybrid... not great but not bad. Gas is a lot cheaper in North Carolina so the cost savings is less.
The towing response with EB vs Hybrid is really the best info I really needed. That and with waiting for the 2025 kinks to be ironed out and how the Hybrid handles with towing 4k lb rating.
I've never sold a car until it was costing more per month than a new vehicle and that usually is in the 175k mile +/-.
I sold my last truck, a 2006 Dodge 1500 quad cab at 125k miles because I was tired of 12mpg +/- in town and at that point It made sense to do so, Better to get the 2023 EB earlier than later with price increases. Glad I did!
Thanks everyone, I and DW really appreciate the feedback.
-Brian

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