My new 2025 Explorer is 4WD, but there’s no way to switch it to 2WD. None of the drive modes seem to change that. Am I missing something, or is this actually AWD???
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Ford calls it “Intelligent AWD,” but the badge says 4WD.
I added the 4WD menu to the drive screen, and it shows that when I’m accelerating, all four wheels are powered. When the car is cruising at a steady speed, only the rear wheels are powered.
This is on a 2024 XLT, which is the same mechanically as the 2025 model.
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It’s the same as the 2023 model. Usually, it’s in rear-wheel drive mode, but it can switch to all-wheel drive if you’re accelerating hard or if you change to a different driving mode, like slippery conditions. I haven’t tested it extensively to see all its behavior.
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And same for the '22 Timberline
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I understand it’s usually rear-wheel drive unless all-wheel drive is needed. They used to be front-wheel drive unless all-wheel drive was needed.
My 2019 XLT has a screen you can access with a button on the left side of the steering wheel, where you can see power distribution to the wheels when driving. Your model probably has something similar.
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Yes, it’s based on a rear-wheel drive platform. I’ve had 3 or 4 service appointments for all-wheel drive issues on my 2020 ST, including during winter. I always tried to put extra weight in the back because I thought it was rear-wheel drive only.
I could be mistaken, but the drive modes do seem to slightly alter the all-wheel drive behavior. For example, in slippery mode, it often sends power to all four wheels.
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It’s Intelligent 4WD, it automatically switches between 2WD and 4WD as needed. You can’t control it manually; the computer decides where to send the power.
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Regarding 4WD, I’m in the Northeast (NY), and I turn off the traction control on my 2019 when there’s about 3 inches of snow or slush on the road. The traction control can cut the throttle when it senses slipping, which isn’t ideal when you’re pulling out of a parking lot or making a left turn. Other than that issue, the AWD/4WD system works great, especially with snow tires.
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It’s a smart 4WD system. On the 6th generation models, it favors the rear wheels. Depending on the drive mode you choose, it decides when and how the front wheels get power. In my 2012 model, it favors the front wheels, and there’s a display that shows where the power is going on the gauges.
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It’s a smart 4WD system. On the 6th generation models, it favors the rear wheels. Depending on the drive mode you choose, it decides when and how the front wheels get power. In my 2012 model, it favors the front wheels, and there’s a display that shows where the power is going on the gauges.