Anyone test drive or have any experience as to rather an Fx4 or standard 4x4 suspension rides better?

[cc1999]

Ford stopped including it when they deleted auto park from Lariat for 2025.

I see, you guys are right, these are 2.7 trucks but that pic is showing the 2..3 shifter, or what was the 2.3 only shifter. Interesting.

I had seen a few 2.7 video reviews and those 2.7 trucks had the same shifter as my Raptors.

I am use to the Raptors now, I am guessing that other shifter is likely more intuitive for my guys, it more like a traditional console shifter.

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[Mike9816]

I bumped some rocks on a rough road which caused the transmission skid plat to detach. Should be checked after such incidents. OEM not available and Rival due in soon.

 

[daytoncarter]

Really !!! Did not know that. Well im glad i got mine when i did. I love the auto park feature along with the shifter. Wonder why they removed that feature ?

Maybe lack of demand and cost? I had it on two previous Fords but never used it.

 

[KapAC]

As for the ride, my '25 Lariat Sport rides very firm and planted. Stiff over expansion joints, minimal roll in corners. It actually feels very much like my wife's Mazda 3 hatchback.

 

[Truckishparts]

I personally preferred the ride of the FX4 over the standard model. I ordered and purchased the FX4 version.

Do you think the ride was smoother on a bumpy road or just firmer?

 

[Winn]

Anyone test drive or have any experience as to rather an Fx4 or standard 4x4 which suspension rides better / smoother?

I am looking at buying 2 Ranger 2.7L 4x4s and was curious if the standard suspension or the FX4 would ride better. These are really just going to be trucks for my sales guys so they will more than likely never get used off-road not more than say a dirt road or an occasional construction jobsite.

So, comfort would be the better or preferred choice.

In reading through the threads is seems you have already bought. However, I did test drive both and I felt the off-road package had a ride that was much worse than the standard 4x4. My test drive was in town on bad streets. I bought a Lariat 2.7 4x4 that looks very much like your white Ranger in the photos except mine is red. For what it is worth, my runner up truck was the GMC Canyon Denali and I thought it rode better than the Ranger and felt more rigid in terms of being put together. But the Ranger was better for me in a lot of other ways mostly the smooth power delivery of the 2.7 V6 vs the GM 2.7 4 cylinder with an 8 speed transmission.

 

[cc1999]

In reading through the threads is seems you have already bought. However, I did test drive both and I felt the off-road package had a ride that was much worse than the standard 4x4. My test drive was in town on bad streets. I bought a Lariat 2.7 4x4 that looks very much like your white Ranger in the photos except mine is red. For what it is worth, my runner up truck was the GMC Canyon Denali and I thought it rode better than the Ranger and felt more rigid in terms of being put together. But the Ranger was better for me in a lot of other ways mostly the smooth power delivery of the 2.7 V6 vs the GM 2.7 4 cylinder with an 8 speed transmission.

Good info. I do have a 3rd to either track down or order, if ordering it will likely be an XLT and I doubt I spring for the FX4, most likely would be a High spec XLT with 2.7 and all the safety tech features including 360 cameras. So if that plays out I will eventually get a chance to compare them back to back as well. I do find it interesting some like the ride of the FX4 better then the standard 4x4 and others like yourself thought standard 4x4 was smoother.

I am still intersted interested in hearing everyones thoughts on the two different suspension options.

 

[cc1999]

Maybe lack of demand and cost? I had it on two previous Fords but never used it.

I don’t think it was ever a stand alone option, simply a feature that came with this or that engine or maybe package. I suspect it was cost savings or possibly answering the minor complaints expressed by some that didn’t care for the feel of the short throw electronic shifter. I got use to it pretty quick in my Raptor , but saw a lot press reviews complaining about it.

 

[RonM_TX]

I liked the ride of the Lariat FX4 the best for city and highway driving. Very smooth and controlled. The regular 4x4 was not bad and the Raptor a bit edger but took bumps and potholes much better. I bought the Raptor for its performance not so much for the ride quality. But the coil springs make a big difference on rough roads.

 

[Walkman101]

I think I saw where the shifters only varied by which engine is selected.
V6s including the Raptor all have the same short throw electronic shifter, the 4cly trucks have a taller different shifter not sure on the particulars of it.

The ‘24 shifter is electronic & had to be to utilize the auto park system. For 2025 Ford dropped the auto park and went back to the mechanical shifter.

 

[cc1999]

The ‘24 shifter is electronic & had to be to utilize the auto park system. For 2025 Ford dropped the auto park and went back to the mechanical shifter.

It was still limited to the v6 in 24, be it 2.7 0r 3.0, now only 3.0 has it.
I didn’t think it was ever used on the 2.3 4cyl.was it?

 

[Onceaneagle]

My 2025 Lariat has the 2.7L V6 and the taller mechanical shifter, not the stubby. I do not have autopark. After zipping in and out of traffic around Wichita the other day in my friend's self-driving Tesla S, that is about all the excitement my heart can take at this point in life.

 

[Yonder_MN]

Do you think the ride was smoother on a bumpy road or just firmer?

Firmer would be a good description; I took both types on the same path. I must say, after 8k miles in the new truck, I do like the handling of the FX4 package.

- Joe

 

[Jason B]

I can't compare 4x4 to FX4, but I can say that my '24 FX4 has a firmer ride than my '21 STX RWD had.
Presumably because the FX4 have better shocks.
The '21 had a bit of a bounce.

 

[Walkman101]

It was still limited to the v6 in 24, be it 2.7 0r 3.0, now only 3.0 has it.
I didn’t think it was ever used on the 2.3 4cyl.was it?

I have it in my 2024 Lariat.

It was still limited to the v6 in 24, be it 2.7 0r 3.0, now only 3.0 has it.
I didn’t think it was ever used on the 2.3 4cyl.was it?

Yes, it was. I have the stubby shifter in my 2024 Lariat 2.3L.

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