Bronco Sport Badlands AWD Explained

[ELCouz]

OK then, so A.) No, my '25 Badsquatch does not have the AAM ecotrac 4WD System. It's Dana's collaboration with Ford. B.) If I understand what I saw in the video, depending on which mode you're in (i.e. Normal, Slippery, eco, Sport, etc.) The software will determine when it chooses to be in 2WD/FWD mode, and disconnects the rear drive line vs AWD. C.) If I engage the 4WD button, that's self explanatory, and if I lock the rear diff., that's self-explanatory as well.

Thanks ElCouz!

Bingo! Btw try rally mode on snow/mud/sand it's fuuuuun!?

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[LaurenceS]

I thank you ever so kindly, my Good Man! It's interesting that as technology progresses, we now have different options. The "new 4WD" is substantially different than the "old 4WD", but it's still 4WD none the less.

 

[LaurenceS]

OK, one more silly question please? We have no control, nor can we even see how much power is being sent to each wheel or axle, can we? I was just looking at the different modes in the car, and in "rock crawl" i see that both 4WD is engaged & locked and so is the rear diff, but i didn't notice anything in the instrument cluster that showed power ratio.

 

[ELCouz]

OK, one more silly question please? We have no control, nor can we even see how much power is being sent to each wheel or axle, can we? I was just looking at the different modes in the car, and in "rock crawl" i see that both 4WD is engaged & locked and so is the rear diff, but i didn't notice anything in the instrument cluster that showed power ratio.

I don't think we can ... I didn't find any menu about this.

That would have been awesome to see the system shuffle torque around.

 

[LaurenceS]

I don't think we can ... I didn't find any menu about this.

That would have been awesome to see the system shuffle torque around.

That would be fascinating, wouldn't it? Thanks again for the courtesy of the reply ?

 

[Jmuns]

You can see where the power is being sent in the Intelligent AWD screen if you have an OB or BL

 

[ELCouz]

You can see where the power is being sent in the Intelligent AWD screen if you have a BL

I think its gone on the 2025... I'll recheck again tommorrow but I swear I cycled through all the screens

 

[Jmuns]

I think its gone on the 2025... I'll recheck again tommorrow but I swear I cycled through all the screens

You may have to turn it on. In the 21-24 models you have to customize the screens available. I’d be surprised if it was removed.

 

[LaurenceS]

You can see where the power is being sent in the Intelligent AWD screen if you have an OB or BL

OK, I have a BL. Where might I find said "Intelligent AWD" screen, please? Is that on the instrument cluster or the main 12"? Thanks again.

 

[sajohnson]

Indulge me If you will? I am not the most mechanically inclined, nor educated. My '25 Badsquatch is now the 8th "4WD" vehicle I've owned, and i still don't quite get it. Do i understand a transfer case, with 4H & 4L? Yes. Did I understand the center diff. on the 2 Foresters I had, and that they were "full time AWD"? Yes. This beast? I'm a bit confoozed. I read the above. The Twin clutch system is what Ford collaborated with Dana on, correct? It has a PTU & and an RDU correct? It is FWD biased, so it can disengage the power to the rear wheels when not required to conserve fuel, correct? If it doesn't actually have a transfer case, and therefore no 4L, what makes it "true" 4WD? I believe it is as I've got a button that says so. Does it still also have the AAM Ecotrac 4WD system?

If anyone can please point me to any document on this, I'm an IT nerd, and like to read that kind of stuff.

Thanks,

Laurence

You sound mechanically inclined and well educated to me.

Everything you stated is correct.

You asked, "what makes it "true" 4WD?" Nothing. It's AWD, and unlike your Foresters (and my '97 RAV4 and '02 WRX) which are full-time AWD, the BS/BS BL is part-time AWD. At best it might be claimed to be the rough equivalent of 4WD-High, with the center and rear locked and the front "limited slip' (using the brakes).

There's nothing wrong with that. All of the testing and demos on YT have proven that the AWD system on the BS (and esp the BS BL) is very capable -- but it is not full-time AWD, and it certainly isn't 4WD. There are continuing debates about the definition of AWD vs 4WD, but for sake of discussion, let's say "4WD" refers to the system the 'big' Bronco has, and similar.

It seems that there's a mostly unspoken 'quiet part' when it comes to AWD vs 4WD. The thinking among some people (including auto mfr marketing depts) seems to be that 4WD is more rugged; better; stronger; more capable, more macho, etc. Therefore, mfrs -- including Ford -- claim that their AWD vehicles are actually 4WD. That is false, and they know it.

There is no reason to lie, nothing to cover up. Yes, 4WD has some advantages in really rough off-road situations and (say) pulling stumps. Someone who lives on an inholding in a remote area of BLM land or National Forest might need 4WD, but most of us are actually better off with an AWD system like the BS/BS BL has. For one thing, the AWD system requires no driver action at all. Also, it can of course be used on all surfaces, 4WD cannot. All else equal, An AWD vehicle gets better mileage than a comparable 4WD vehicle.

It would be nice if mfrs were honest about their powertrains, rather than adding to the 'confoozion.'

 

[LaurenceS]

You sound mechanically inclined and well educated to me.

Everything you stated is correct.

You asked, "what makes it "true" 4WD?" Nothing. It's AWD, and unlike your Foresters (and my '97 RAV4 and '02 WRX) which are full-time AWD, the BS/BS BL is part-time AWD. At best it might be claimed to be the rough equivalent of 4WD-High, with the center and rear locked and the front "limited slip' (using the brakes).

There's nothing wrong with that. All of the testing and demos on YT have proven that the AWD system on the BS (and esp the BS BL) is very capable -- but it is not full-time AWD, and it certainly isn't 4WD. There are continuing debates about the definition of AWD vs 4WD, but for sake of discussion, let's say "4WD" refers to the system the 'big' Bronco has, and similar.

It seems that there's a mostly unspoken 'quiet part' when it comes to AWD vs 4WD. The thinking among some people (including auto mfr marketing depts) seems to be that 4WD is more rugged; better; stronger; more capable, more macho, etc. Therefore, mfrs -- including Ford -- claim that their AWD vehicles are actually 4WD. That is false, and they know it.

There is no reason to lie, nothing to cover up. Yes, 4WD has some advantages in really rough off-road situations and (say) pulling stumps. Someone who lives on an inholding in a remote area of BLM land or National Forest might need 4WD, but most of us are actually better off with an AWD system like the BS/BS BL has. For one thing, the AWD system requires no driver action at all. Also, it can of course be used on all surfaces, 4WD cannot. All else equal, An AWD vehicle gets better mileage than a comparable 4WD vehicle.

It would be nice if mfrs were honest about their powertrains, rather than adding to the 'confoozion.'

I thank you ever so kindly, Good Sir! I mean, at the proverbial "end of the day" at least for me, she's pretty much a "pavement princess." 99.9999% of my driving is the general "day to day" stuff, although Costco can be quite treacherous ?

What really sold me on the BL Sasquatch was the video of one of the off-roadeos in Moab where you see a BL go down and then come back up Hell's Revenge. I mean, that's pretty darn capable in my book. Far more capable than most likely anything I might be foolish enough to attempt. My question really was more of "OK, I see that the Bronco has the "standard" 4WD like a Jeep, so what's the difference between that and what we have?" I don't foresee any stump pulling in my near future either.

I like to flip the Aux 1 switch every now and then. I'm expecting an email from a lady in Germany any day now telling me to "knock it off!" ?

Besides, if absolutely nothing else, I personally think she looks awesome! I get so many compliments on the Eruption Green too!

 

[Jmuns]

OK, I have a BL. Where might I find said "Intelligent AWD" screen, please? Is that on the instrument cluster or the main 12"? Thanks again.

On the 21-24 models it’s available on the instrument cluster

 

[LaurenceS]

On the 21-24 models it’s available on the instrument cluster

Hmmm........ methinks that's gone in the '25's. I went back out to my car last night and tried to find it. Unless I'm missing something (besides that screen), no en casa.

 

[ELCouz]

You may have to turn it on. In the 21-24 models you have to customize the screens available. I’d be surprised if it was removed.

It's gone in MY2025 ... It's in french but etat d'hors route means offroad display it just show incline and rotation in degrees thats it.

 

[sajohnson]

Hmmm........ methinks that's gone in the '25's. I went back out to my car last night and tried to find it. Unless I'm missing something (besides that screen), no en casa.

This has probably already occurred to you, but sometimes searching the PDF version of the owner's manual is helpful.

EDIT to add: I just saw the above post, it sounds like it may have been deleted, which is strange. Typically decontenting is done to save money. It's difficult to see how eliminating the "Intelligent AWD" screen would create any savings.

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