TFL Slip Test on 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD

[Grabber Rick]

It's not the tires.

Better tires with agressive tread would grip better. The continentals offer no traction on slippery surfaces.

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[MavDan]

 

[Grabber Rick]

I agree the AWD Subaru Legacy is not made for off road.
QUOTE
"Key points about Subaru Legacy ground clearance:
Standard clearance: 5.9 inches
Compared to other Subaru models: The Legacy has slightly more ground clearance than the Impreza hatchback, which has 5.1 inches.
Consideration for terrain: While the Legacy's ground clearance is suitable for most road conditions, it may not be ideal for significant off-road driving."

I disagree that the Maverick is the same, and I would and plan on light off roading with the Maverick.
On 4x4 they offer low gear or 2 speed transfer case. AWD on the Maverick offers Low on the ecoboost not sure on the hybrid but also allows the driver to switch modes and turn off traction control. Similar to 4x4 offering limited slip, traction look or locking differential. If you don't order optional lockers on a 4x4 basically you get one wheel in the front and one in the rear and it will spin not transferring power to the other wheel without some sort of lockers. Same principal as traction control on a AWD it is to keep the vehicle from sliding sideways especially at higher speeds. That is why some manufacturers only allow the lockers only in low 4x4 for safety.

I do agree that ground clearance and aggressive tires makes a world of difference as well.

Also for more difficult off road the Maverick Tremor offers a electric rear lockers and an even higher ground clearance. The downside is loss of payload and loss of towing capacity.

I owned a 1982 AMC Eagle SX/4 and I took it off road. It had a inline 6 with a 5 speed manual transmission. I know the drivetrain was different. Had a transfer case with viscous coupling. I never got it stuck. If it had more ground clearance I could of taken it on more difficult trails. I ran 4 snow tires in the winter. I pulled out 2 stuck vehicles one winter. One was uphill that a Jeep CJ could'nt pull out. Definetly a great 4 wheel drive sytem for a car.

 

[Grabber Rick]

You are correct 100% to the rear axle. Now if you are correct and the computer is breaking one of those wheels, how much of the 100% going to the axle is going to the opposite wheel that's not breaking?

I have slightly applied the parking brake on other cars to give the other wheels traction. Can't do that with a electronic brake. It's either on or off no in between.

 

[colinl]

Better tires with agressive tread would grip better. The continentals offer no traction on slippery surfaces.

you and everyone else who has said this, did you watch the video?

and did you not realize that traction isn't an issue on the rollers and if you fail the rollers you're going to fail when there's even less traction?

 

[Nw_adventure]

Power delivery and power output is the only difference between the two drivetrains and we’ve always known what the output of both engines are.

The AWD systems are identical.

Being able to get legit wheel spin & power/torque when needed from the AWD turbo to get out out of technical situations (Mud/Ruts Mode) which I have done/needed a couple times seem MUCH more problematic with the Hybrid but will see how things go for folks down the road.

 

[710-oil-614]

Being able to get legit wheel spin & power/torque when needed from the AWD turbo to get out out of technical situations (Mud/Ruts Mode) which I have done/needed a couple times seem MUCH more problematic with the Hybrid but will see how things go for folks down the road.

Simply adding mud and ruts via Forscan levels the playing field.

Hybrid should have more than 200 lb ft of torque available to it at initial throttle input.

 

[Hunters Edge]

I have slightly applied the parking brake on other cars to give the other wheels traction. Can't do that with a electronic brake. It's either on or off no in between.

When you apply breaks it's going to all 4 wheels whether disc or drums. On the Maverick AWD the computer not the driver notices or anticipates wheel spin and breaks that particular wheel. Thus allowing the wheel with traction to grab. When you take traction control off both wheels can spin from my knowledge.

Case in point like the story about your 92 AMC. I backed a trailer with the Maverick on uneven terrain. It was sand and the reason I could tell is the difficulty backing the trailer up, was like going over multiple speed bumps. Anyhow after filling the 5x10 utility trailer up with oak, I was walking back to get in the truck. The left rear wheel, tire was 2 to 3 inches off the ground. It pulled it right on out and going back over those speed bumps without slipping. Well let's say I didn't feel it slip and I didn't dig a whole in the sand with the AT tires. Fortunately I didn't have to go far before good gravel driveway. I was impressed and happy especially when I got on good dirt.

I'm not sold on articulating. A lot of 4x4 enthusiasts bring that up. I've had to many 4x4 and UTV's that the articulation did nothing because there wasn't enough weight on that tire to get traction. It might as well been in the air for what it was accomplishing.

Thus the reason I wanted front tow hooks and hopes I will never have the need to use them.

I can remember as a kid filling my dad's truck with wood to get around a trail system on private property while up deer hunting. Also downstate in a heavy snow actually filling the back up with wet heavy snow to add weight which adds traction. Back then it was snow tires in the winter, chains and or studs until they outlawed them up here You put some weight on those back tires you would be surprised where a 2WD can go or get through. It's why FWD is good if you not carrying anything (payload) or pulling a trailer. Majority of time all the weight from the engine and transmission is over the front tires on a FWD.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Simply adding mud and ruts via Forscan levels the playing field.

Hybrid should have more than 200 lb ft of torque available to it at initial throttle input.

Sorry but I highly doubt this with how the E/CVT tranny/AWD behaved on the slip test -

 

[710-oil-614]

Sorry but I highly doubt this with how the E/CVT tranny/AWD behaved on the slip test -

Highly doubt what? The AWD systems are identical and the hybrid will have more torque at initial throttle input than the EB. Those are facts.

Mud and ruts would be the only difference in the AWD performance.

 

[yank283]

Amusing the level of people concerned about the wheels off the ground test. Is it great to knowledge to have? Absolutely. But how many people that are considering the AWD are considering it because they run into situations even remotely close to that simple test? Not many.

Most want it to deal with ice/snow and loose gravel/sand situations. Even this basic AWD system will improve your abilities to tackle that. Tires while not impacting the results of these tests will impact the results of my stated above primary use case of most people considering AWD over FWD.

Not sure how people out here thought this would be any different then how it turned out. Could ford of done a better job with the programing? Absolutely! But it was never going to be a true AWD system like Audi or Subaru. It was never going to compete with a locker system like the FX4 and the Tremor have.

This was all by design and buy the right tool for the right job.

Amen brother, spot on!

 

[Frankd71864]

The only reason I wanted AWD is because of my gravel driveway in the winter. Been wanted a hybrid maverick for a while and the 2025 upgrades finally made me pull the trigger. Even with what they showed it should help for deep snow and ice on flat surfaces which is all I deal with. Don't buy a maverick if you want to offroad.

Your gravel driveway in winter is what the roller test was all about. The obstacle course is for those ruts your gravel driveway forms over time.

 

[JacobEleventeen]

Your gravel driveway in winter is what the roller test was all about. The obstacle course is for those ruts your gravel driveway forms over time.

lol I don't let my driveway get bad enough for ruts that big. But yeah the roller test look good enough for ice and snow.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Highly doubt what? The AWD systems are identical and the hybrid will have more torque at initial throttle input than the EB. Those are facts.

Mud and ruts would be the only difference in the AWD performance.

Its a thing called having a much different drive/train and transmission- Is that hard to understand ? Stop comparing apples to donuts --

 

[dalola]

I also believe the AWD tuning is going to be a little different, because of the drivetrain differences between the 2.5/ECVT and the 2.0/8AT. I would love to see TFL to this test back-to-back with each model.

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