Still deciding on a Mach E and looking at the extended range version. I noticed the AWD and RWD models have different range estimates, which makes sense.
But this might be a dumb question … is there a way to switch an AWD model to use only one set of wheels so you get the same range as the RWD version? Or is AWD always going to give you less range no matter what?
Just a small thing … it’s RWD, not FWD. And no, you can’t just turn off the AWD. You’ll always get a little less range, but AWD gives better handling and performance, so it’s a tradeoff.
Santana said:
Just a small thing … it’s RWD, not FWD. And no, you can’t just turn off the AWD. You’ll always get a little less range, but AWD gives better handling and performance, so it’s a tradeoff.
Oops, my bad. I knew it was either FWD or RWD and just guessed wrong
Thanks for explaining! Kinda sucks that it’s not possible to switch modes, but I get why.
Have you ever owned an EV before? Most people worry about range at first, but it goes away once you get used to it. The difference between AWD and RWD isn’t huge. There are ways to get more range, kinda like how you can get better fuel economy in a gas car by driving carefully. Things like coasting more, driving the speed limit, and avoiding hard acceleration help a lot.
How you drive makes a bigger difference than whether it’s AWD or RWD. If you floor it all the time, your range will drop fast. If you drive smoothly and keep highway speeds around 60-65 instead of 70+, you’ll see way better numbers.
The AWD system mostly powers the rear wheels, but the front motor kicks in when you accelerate hard or need extra grip. That said, it still needs a little power to keep the front motor from acting as a brake. Not sure exactly how much, but it does add some weight, so that alone will lower range a bit.
Do you like flooring it at stop signs? Do you blast onto the highway like you’re in a race? Then get AWD. The extra traction makes it a fun car to drive, and it grips the road way better than you’d expect for something this heavy.
Range is way more about how you drive. I drive pretty aggressively, and my estimated range at 90% charge is around 240 miles. My daily drive is 64 miles, and I charge at home, so I don’t even think about it.
Going on a long trip? Switch to ‘Whisper’ mode, set cruise control to the speed limit, and drive relaxed. You’ll easily get 300 miles out of a charge.
Everyone else already gave solid answers, but just to add … the range difference between RWD and AWD is really small. It’s not like a gas car where AWD kills efficiency.
My car was rated for 314 miles in RWD and 312 miles in AWD. Real-world tests show about the same difference—maybe 10 miles at most. If AWD makes the car more fun and useful for you, the range hit is barely noticeable.