Got My New Maverick! Switched to AWD from Hybrid

[samesk8r]

Greetings all,
I just picked up my new new '22 XLT. I ordered this Dec.8th '21 and took delivery Dec. 14th '22.
Eco, XLT, FX4, tow, lux, co-pilot 360.

I know a lot of people are still waiting on their orders, to I am really not trying to rub it in. This is my second Maverick. After placing my order last December, I started hounding the dealers Michigan trying to make sure I was at the top of their lists if they had cancelations. I got offered one cancelation at $5,000 over MSRP, and a used on at original sticker. I turned both down. Then I was offered an order without a market up, but it did have extras I would not have ordered (tonneau, graphics, bed net), about $1,300 extra in all. I took it. It was a base XLT hybrid. Definitely a great vehicle. I enjoyed it a lot and put just over 13,000 miles on it.

Then last week my order came in. It had the features I wanted but the decision to go back to ICE over hybrid has not been an easy one. I didn't have any gas price anxiety during the last cost spike. Ultimately, I decided to take the one I ordered because the features, especially the lux and 360, were too nice to ignore.

For those debating the about hybrid, unless you need the towing or off-roading, hybrid is great. 191 hp is plenty. I never had an issue with getting on the highway, passing or getting up to speed. The FWD is fine, even in the snow. A good set of snow tires on a FWD will beat AWD on all season tires any day.

I haven't had much time behind the wheel the last few days, but so far here are things that stand out:
- Braking is very different. The regenerative (transmission) braking on the hybrid, makes for a much more aggressive feel, so a lighter touch is needed. The purely mechanical brakes engage later in the pedal travel and so felt "soft" at first. I am still adjusting.
- Power: I am still in the break in period so I haven't really gotten on it, but yes you feel the extra 59 hp. It's not a "whoa the power" feel. Just a bit more go.
- XLT Lux: Huge improvement. Heated seats, heated steering wheel are great. I told myself that the urethane steering wheel was fine, and it is, but the leather is so much better. Blind spot warning is better than the two part mirrors. My power seat does have lumbar adjustment. It funny how little, trivial, things can stand out and delight.

- Under seat (rear) storage. It shouldn't be a big thing, but having that space freed up feels like a real gain. Not that the 12V battery took up that much space. It certainly won't sway me from a hybrid on its own but it's nice. My previous car was a '18 Fusion Energi. The battery took up 90% of the trunk. I could get maybe 4 grocery bags in that thing.

- FX4: The stickers are coming off. I drove the hybrid on some grass and dirt roads, no real off-roading, but again never had a concern. We will see with the new truck. The main thing is the larger color screen in the gauge cluster. The small things. It puts up more information in a more useful manner, that is easier to read and I don't have to toggle through screens as often. That one of the few complaints I have with the smaller info screen (Lariat and FX4 get the larger, all others get the smaller).

- The bed: Bed rails a great. The other hook points work fine, but having those rails up high helps with accessibility. Glad to have the extra light in the bed. Again the little things. The drop-in bed liner is clunky. I don't like it. It feels like I am losing too much space and it looks and feels bad. I will definitely remove it in the spring and get a spray-in liner.

-AWD: No opinion there. I monitored the "Intelligent AWD" screen and the systems does a nice job of keeping things FWD.

All said, I am happy with my decision, but gas price anxiety is definitely a thing. If I had it all to do over again, I would have not sat on the fence so long last year and ordered a hybrid Lariat with Lux and 360. That would be the right mix of the things I like the best and compromise. I like my FX4 and tow features, but they aren't deal breakers. The base XLT isn't quiet there for me. I know I will enjoy this truck a ton in the years to come. And when Ford releases a plug-in AWD Maverick, I will be all over it.

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[samesk8r]

Also, huge shout out to Danielle Leigh and the Southgate Ford team. That may have been the best dealership experience I have ever had. They absolutely honored the price protection, I didn't have to bring it up, they just did it. They honored my X-Plan PIN, again I told them when I ordered and they were on it. They were extremely fast, friendly and efficient. Did everything online with them, and it was 40 minutes dropping off my trade-in, signing the paperwork, switching the plate and my stuff.

Also, shout out to Ford Credit for honoring the Dec. '22 interest rates. 1.9% / 60 months!!!!! Woo Hoo

 

[Clarkdonbran]

Good info on how both drive!

 

[Jatrax]

Thanks for the detailed, balanced report. Very good information and a nice comparison of the benefits of the two.

The FWD is fine, even in the snow. A good set of snow tires on a FWD will beat AWD on all season tires any day.

+100 I never owned a 4x4 and drove in western PA ice and snow for 35 years. Front wheel drive and a good set of snow tires. We then moved to Mt Hood Oregon and drove a Prius with snow tires in all manner of weather. I can't possibly count the number of 4x4's stuck in the ditch after a good snow fall or ice storm we passed in our little Prius. 4x4 might make it easier to GO but it doesn't help you STOP when you go too fast for conditions.

My dad always said the only thing 4x4 was good for was to make you overconfident enough to do something dumb.

 

[Maverstang]

My dad always said the only thing 4x4 was good for was to make you overconfident enough to do something dumb.

There’s a lot of truth to that.

4WD is a big profit maker for manufacturers, and in most cases it’s been over sold as a Superman shield.


(real 4x4 users don’t need to comment, we know your use case is different!)

 

[Jatrax]

(real 4x4 users don’t need to comment, we know your use case is different!)

Yup. If you really need it, you know you need it. But 95% of those big 4x4's never leave asphalt. I don't think I actually drove on asphalt until I was 19 or so. Just dirt or mud or whatever. Nothing like a good side hill with wet grass and greasy clay soil underneath. Things can get real exciting real fast.

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