Ford Explorer Quiz
Drive Mode Control

Drive Modes

In this manual: Drive Mode Control
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~1min read

Deep Snow/Sand (If Equipped)

For deep snow or soft dry sand.

Eco

For efficient and responsible driving. This mode helps maximize fuel economy and increases driving range.

Normal

For everyday driving. This mode is the ideal balance of excitement, comfort and convenience.

Slippery

For far-from-ideal road conditions, such as snowy or icy roads.

Sport

For spirited driving on the road. This mode increases acceleration response, provides a sportier exhaust sound and steering feel, along with faster shifting. The transmission holds gears longer, helping your vehicle accelerate more quickly between shifts.

Towing/Hauling

For improved transmission performance when towing a trailer or heavy load. This mode shifts to a higher engine speed to reduce how often the transmission shifts. This mode also provides engine braking in all forward gears, which slows the vehicle and helps control it when descending a grade. The amount of braking in a lower gear depends on how firmly you press the brake pedal.

Mud/Ruts

For muddy, rutted, soft or uneven terrain.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.