Ford is changing the formula behind one of the Maverick’s most recognizable option packages for 2027. Rather than simply raising a price or deleting the FX4 badge, the automaker is reorganizing how buyers reach its lighter-duty off-road setup. In current U.S. ordering information, the FX4 equipment is built into the XLT’s EcoBoost AWD configuration instead of functioning as the same separately selected package buyers knew for 2026.
Much of the hardware that made FX4 useful remains, including all-terrain tires, underbody protection, upgraded suspension components and off-road driving aids. What changes is the surrounding package structure, including the removal of a former luxury-package prerequisite and some visual differentiation. For buyers comparing 2026 inventory with incoming 2027 trucks, those seemingly small adjustments could substantially change which Maverick represents the better value.
FX4 Becomes Part of the EcoBoost XLT Formula
The biggest change is structural. For 2027, the Maverick XLT 302A equipment group combines the 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and FX4 Off-Road Package. In practical terms, shoppers choosing that XLT EcoBoost AWD configuration no longer approach FX4 as an independent box to tick after deciding on the engine and drivetrain. The off-road package is effectively built into the specification.
That makes the gas-powered XLT more specialized than before. In 2026, an XLT buyer could configure an EcoBoost AWD truck and then decide whether FX4 was worth adding. For 2027, Ford has connected those decisions more closely. Someone primarily interested in the turbocharged engine therefore receives equipment such as performance suspension, skid plates and all-terrain tires whether serious trail driving is part of the plan or not. The simplified structure may help Ford streamline production, but it also removes some of the à-la-carte flexibility Maverick buyers previously had.
The Luxury Package Is No Longer the Price of Entry
One of the most meaningful improvements involves equipment that has little to do with driving off pavement. Ford’s 2026 order guide required buyers selecting FX4 on the XLT 302A to also order the XLT Luxury Package. That bundle brought comfort and convenience equipment such as heated seats, a heated steering wheel, remote start, LED box lighting, a power driver’s seat and Pro Power Onboard.
For 2027, that dependency disappears. Current ordering data lists the XLT Luxury Package separately from the 302A EcoBoost/FX4 configuration. That means a customer interested in skid plates, all-terrain tires and a more trail-oriented suspension no longer has to purchase heated comfort features simply to unlock them. It is a significant philosophical change even if the specification sheet looks similar at first glance. Buyers can still add the Luxury Package when those features matter, but Ford is separating off-road capability from cabin upgrades more cleanly than it did for the 2026 model year.
The Important Off-Road Hardware Has Not Disappeared
Despite the packaging shake-up, Ford has not hollowed out FX4 mechanically. The 2027 XLT 302A equipment listing continues to include all-terrain tires, exposed front tow hooks, skid plates, a higher-capacity radiator, an upgraded cooling fan and what Ford calls a performance suspension. A conventional 215/70R17 spare tire is also included, replacing reliance on a tire inflator kit when the truck is configured this way.
Those components matter more than the decal on the bedside. Skid plates provide additional protection for vulnerable hardware when gravel roads become rocky, while tow hooks give owners proper recovery points if traction runs out. The suspension is also differentiated from a regular AWD Maverick; Ford’s technical specifications for recent FX4 models identify monotube rear dampers with hydraulic rebound control rather than the standard AWD setup. This remains a package aimed at rough roads, campsites, snow-covered routes and moderate trails rather than purely cosmetic off-road styling.
Hill Descent Control and Off-Road Modes Remain
Electronic assistance continues to form an important part of the FX4 package. Ford’s 2027 equipment information retains Hill Descent Control along with an off-road information display in the instrument cluster. The selectable drive-mode menu includes Slippery, Eco, Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul and Off-Road modes, allowing the powertrain and vehicle-control systems to respond differently depending on surface conditions and the task at hand.
Hill Descent Control is particularly useful on steep loose-surface grades because it can manage vehicle speed while the driver concentrates on steering. The Off-Road mode similarly gives the Maverick another layer of adaptability without turning the compact pickup into a rock crawler. That distinction is important. FX4 has traditionally occupied the middle ground between an ordinary AWD Maverick and the more specialized Tremor. Ford’s 2027 reorganization does not change that basic role. The technology remains designed for owners whose weekends may involve muddy access roads or uneven cottage trails without requiring the Maverick’s most aggressive factory off-road configuration.
FX4 Loses Some of Its Visual Exclusivity
Where the 2027 package becomes less distinctive is in its appearance. Previous Maverick FX4 configurations were associated with a unique Ebony-painted aluminum wheel in Ford specifications. Current 2027 302A ordering information lists the mechanical FX4 equipment but no longer identifies that unique wheel as part of the package. Reports examining the new wheel availability likewise indicate that Ford has removed the dedicated FX4 wheel from the new model-year arrangement.
The change will matter differently depending on the buyer. Someone choosing FX4 primarily for suspension tuning, protection and tires may consider the wheel deletion insignificant. For owners who liked immediately distinguishing an FX4 truck from a regular XLT, however, the package loses part of its visual identity. The FX4 bedside decal remains, as do the exposed tow hooks and all-terrain tires, so it will not be anonymous. Still, Ford appears to be placing greater emphasis on functional hardware than on giving the 2027 FX4 its own complete appearance treatment.
Hybrid Buyers Still Sit Outside the FX4 Combination
The reshuffle also reinforces a boundary in the Maverick lineup. Current 2027 ordering data assigns the hybrid XLT to the 301A equipment structure, while the EcoBoost engine, eight-speed automatic and FX4 equipment are grouped in 302A. As a result, the factory FX4 setup remains tied to the turbocharged gas configuration rather than becoming an off-road option for the increasingly popular Maverick Hybrid.
That matters because hybrid demand has become a major part of the Maverick story. Ford Authority reported that hybrids accounted for roughly half of Maverick sales during the first half of 2026 and 63.7 percent of the model’s mix during May. Ford is therefore giving a comparatively smaller group of EcoBoost buyers standard access to FX4 hardware while many efficiency-focused customers remain outside the package. An AWD hybrid can still deal effectively with rain, snow and unpaved roads, but shoppers wanting the specific FX4 combination of protection, suspension tuning and trail-oriented hardware must look toward the EcoBoost XLT.
FX4 and the 4K Tow Package Still Serve Different Jobs
It can be tempting to view the FX4 and 4K Tow packages as overlapping because both involve heavier-duty hardware, but Ford continues to give them different purposes. FX4 concentrates on traction, protection, suspension behaviour and low-speed off-pavement driving. The 4K Tow Package is aimed at increasing the Maverick’s maximum trailer rating to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped and adds items such as a trailer brake controller and a Class III two-inch receiver with four- and seven-pin connections.
For 2027, Ford has also removed another ordering complication: the 4K Tow Package no longer has the same Ford Co-Pilot360 prerequisite shown in the 2026 order guide. On the EcoBoost XLT, some cooling equipment is already present through its FX4 specification, but the towing package remains separately selectable. That allows a buyer to build an XLT suited to rough access roads without automatically paying for maximum towing capability—or add 4K Tow when trailers are genuinely part of the truck’s workload.
The Cheapest EcoBoost Maverick Now Comes With FX4 Hardware
Ford’s broader 2027 powertrain restructuring makes the FX4 decision even more consequential. The XL and Lariat are moving to hybrid-only powertrain availability in current U.S. order information, leaving the XLT, Lobo and Tremor as the primary homes for the 2.0-litre EcoBoost. Car and Driver reports that the least expensive 2027 EcoBoost Maverick is now the AWD XLT at $32,890 including destination.
That represents an unusual trade-off. Entry into the turbocharged engine has become more expensive because Ford no longer offers the cheaper EcoBoost XL, yet the resulting XLT arrives with considerably more specialized hardware through its bundled FX4 configuration. Buyers who simply want the gas engine may therefore end up purchasing more off-road capability than they intended. Those already planning to add FX4, by contrast, could find the new structure appealing because Ford has effectively made the EcoBoost XLT and its off-road equipment one coherent configuration instead of forcing several interconnected option selections.
Tremor Still Represents the Bigger Step Off Road
The Maverick Tremor remains the model for drivers who need substantially more than FX4 provides. Its equipment goes beyond skid plates and suspension tuning, using Ford’s advanced four-wheel-drive system with a twin-clutch rear drive unit and locking capability. It also receives an off-road-tuned suspension and distinctive 17-inch wheels, creating a more purpose-built package for difficult terrain than the XLT FX4.
Ford has made the comparison more interesting for 2027 by lowering the Tremor’s U.S. starting price. Car and Driver lists it at $39,000 including destination, down $3,490 from the comparable 2026 price. Ford has trimmed some standard cosmetic and convenience content elsewhere on the Tremor, including making certain graphics optional, but its core driveline capability remains. That leaves FX4 in a clear middle position: substantially more trail-ready than an ordinary AWD compact pickup, but without the specialized rear-drive hardware and more aggressive chassis approach that define the Tremor.
The New FX4 Is Simpler, but Buyers Have Less Choice
Ford’s 2027 strategy turns FX4 from a traditional add-on into part of the identity of the EcoBoost AWD XLT. There is logic behind the move. Buyers who want the turbo engine get useful hardware at the same time, while those interested in off-road capability no longer need the unrelated Luxury Package. Ford also retains the parts that matter most in the dirt, from skid plates and all-terrain tires to Hill Descent Control and upgraded suspension components.
The compromise is configurability. A buyer can no longer approach an EcoBoost XLT and decide independently whether FX4 is necessary, and the package no longer carries quite as much visual differentiation through its wheel treatment. Hybrid buyers remain outside the FX4 structure as well. For U.S. shoppers comparing 2026 leftovers with a 2027 order, the equipment sheets deserve careful attention rather than assumptions based on the badge. Canadian shoppers should be especially cautious: Ford Canada is still publicly listing the 2026 Maverick, so final Canadian 2027 packaging and pricing may differ.
