AWD vs FWD Mpg

[tom_tucker]

If snow tires and spinning wheels saves me 10k over AWD, I'm all in! I'm practically being paid to drive this '23.

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[imboden013]

I’d had the 23 for 2 years and was ready for something new. The tire spinning deal was the nudge to do it. I’d been looking for 2-3 months prior to buying the 25. ever since our son got his 25 hybrid, I’d the itch. I’ve owned so many Fords my wife says I should get a dealer tag.

 

[Bguy]

Yep, blacktop. That drive was narrow and steep about 15-20% incline. You couldn’t get any speed up to help you because of the curve and even if you could the parking area at top had a tree in the middle with room for 1 car on each side and maybe 20-25 feet to stop. I’d get up there and get stopped and when I went to open the tailgate the first time I parked ( after dark by the way) my tailgate was about chest high. The road going up the mountain had a sign that said chains or 4 wheel drive required in winter.

The AWD will be fine in the winter. I just picked up a 25 Lariat with 4k tow package at the dealer four days ago myself. Very frugal on fuel so far the average is 43.2mpg. Where i live its all hills which i think helps not hinders the mpg because of regenerative braking.

 

[Grabber Rick]

Wanted the AWD as on my 1st trip the cabin we rented had a very steep drive with a curve just as you started up steepest part. My 24 FWD spun the tires every time we drove up the drive. Got home and started search for the AWD. Got lucky and found the 25 at a local dealer. Took our older 23 Maverick hybrid and was able to talk them down to $8500 difference. So now we have a HPR 24 hybrid and an eruption green hybrid AWD. Probably never need the 4K tow as I’ve already used the 24 to tow a 5x8 U-Haul trailer full of furniture and it handled job just fine while giving me 29mpg on a 250 trip. From east Arkansas to Hot Springs Arkansas. Kept it to 65 mph on interstate. Can’t ask for more.

Curious what model of 23 hybrid and options you had? How many miles were on it when you traded it? I have been tossing around the idea of getting a AWD hybrid. I have a 23 with lux pkg a rear slider spray in bed liner with adjustable bed rails. Nice truck by the way,

 

[Howard]

Part of the mpg difference between the two trips is due to the axle ratios, not just FWD vs AWD. The 24 FWD had a 3.61 ratio, the 4K got a 3.81.

 

[Pete Sheppard]

Just got back from my 2nd trip to the smoky mountains the last month.

1st trip was to Gatlinburg 24 Maverick hybrid Fwd approximately 1500 miles averaged 44.3 mpg average temp 75degrees

2nd trip was to Townsend Tn 25 Maverick hybrid AWD 4k tow approximately 1150 miles averaged 40.4 mpg average temp 65.

drove very nearly same route as Gatlinburg and Townsend are only about 20 miles apart. Drove about same manner. 25-45 on back mountainous roads, I-40 60-70mph as it was rainy and foggy on way home 2nd trip.

Cool! My '23 XLT hybrid is FWD, and I'm quite tickled with it, but I wondered about the mileage difference; you sealed the deal on my next one being AWD.

 

[kevinmccune]

If you're trying to go up a steep incline with limited traction in a FWD, you need to do so in reverse. Weight transfer is real.

had to back mamas cars up this steep driveway many a time( forget stability or traction control when conditions are bad,had to turn off all"traction" aids when I brought her cars up the hill,learned to drive in the slick with old one wheel drive Ford pickups,mu 22 xl awd averaged 35 mpg plus on the flat shendoah valley route,33 mpg up to harrisonburg,35 beyond,the right foot has a lot to do with mpg( wonder what I could get with a hybrid) the only mods are synthetic oil and lightweight wheels inflated correctly.Now consider this,I started experimenting with high octane and finally had the tank almost full of high octane-my mileage went to heck!

 

[JHand]

Man, with my 25 hybrid AWD and tow package, I'm lucky to get 33... Just to piss me off, then I remembered I came from a 97 ranger that got 18ish

 

[Randorita]

Don’t think I’d want to try this driveway in reverse, particularly in the dark

That looks similar to my drive! My UPS guy usually parks at the bottom and walks up with my packages to avoid backing down. The dog leg in the middle is a pain. It is a lot easier to back up than down, because at least you can see the drive. (Not really a backup camera guy)

 

[grandpa_disney]

I’ve only had the 25 for a week but I already found that I don’t like sync 4 or the controls on the screen. I know most users love sync 4 over sync 3 but 4 is annoying when using an iPhone.

A big reason I went with a 24! Buttons and Knobs. That will probably be my epitaph

 

[710-oil-614]

I’ve only had the 25 for a week but I already found that I don’t like sync 4 or the controls on the screen. I know most users love sync 4 over sync 3 but 4 is annoying when using an iPhone.

What is annoying about it when using an iPhone? The wireless CarPlay is seamless, no screen lag, and 13.2” of real estate….

 

[imboden013]

What is annoying about it when using an iPhone? The wireless CarPlay is seamless, no screen lag, and 13.2” of real estate….

On my 24 sync3 I just push button on steering wheel and tell my phone what I want. On 25 sync4 I have to actually hold the button down and then tell my phone what I want, if I don’t hold button down the sync 4 features try to take over. Sometimes it would take 3-4 tries to make a phone call or set a destination. I’m so use to just tapping the steering wheel button on my 22,23,and 24 mavericks

 

[710-oil-614]

On my 24 sync3 I just push button on steering wheel and tell my phone what I want. On 25 sync4 I have to actually hold the button down and then tell my phone what I want, if I don’t hold button down the sync 4 features try to take over. Sometimes it would take 3-4 tries to make a phone call or set a destination. I’m so use to just tapping the steering wheel button on my 22,23,and 24 mavericks

That’s a fair criticism. I don’t use voice commands so I would have never experienced that.

 

[Cherokee]

4K Tow on the AWD.
Sounds like the AWD is very efficient.
Not an accurate comparison OP.
Would have to be an AWD without 4K Tow to show ya anything.
4K tow has a lower final drive ratio.
Invalid comparison, especially on a trip like that.

2nd trip, rain you stated. Wet roads increase rolling resistance significantly.

Besides all that, my individual wheel power meter shows my AWD rear drive only activates on climbs and during stout acceleration effectively making my AWD a FWD most of the trip, probably 80%.

You had many variables that need to be eliminated or compensated for an accurate comparison to be achieved.
Tire pressure,
Tire type, condition, age and tread depth,
Ambient temps,
Cargo,
Winds, to name a few.

 

[dalola]

4K Tow on the AWD.
Sounds like the AWD is very efficient.
Not an accurate comparison OP.
Would have to be an AWD without 4K Tow to show ya anything.
4K tow has a lower final drive ratio.
Invalid comparison, especially on a trip like that.

2nd trip, rain you stated. Wet roads increase rolling resistance significantly.

Besides all that, my individual wheel power meter shows my AWD rear drive only activates on climbs and during stout acceleration effectively making my AWD a FWD most of the trip, probably 80%.

You had many variables that need to be eliminated or compensated for an accurate comparison to be achieved.
Tire pressure,
Tire type, condition, age and tread depth,
Ambient temps,
Cargo,
Winds, to name a few.

lol.... it was an anecdotal story, not a scientific one......

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