The Ford Bronco Sport Badlands comes equipped with a twin-clutch rear drive unit, a feature that sets it apart from other vehicles in the compact crossover segment. A poll of Bronco Sport owners found that 62% of them have never engaged this feature, which raises concerns about its usefulness.
How the Twin-Clutch Rear Drive Unit Operates
The twin-clutch rear drive unit replaces the conventional open rear differential found in most Bronco Sport trims. When engaged, the vehicle’s computer modulates each clutch individually, deciding in real time how much torque each rear wheel receives.
The Bronco Sport can route up to roughly half of the engine’s output to the rear axle, and nearly all of that rear torque can flow to a single wheel. When the rear differential lock button is pressed, the software applies more clutch pressure, prioritizing traction.
What It Is Supposed to Achieve
The goal of the twin-clutch unit is to intervene in cross-axle situations where one rear wheel hangs in the air or spins on mud. It shifts the torque to the wheel that can use it, mimicking the steady pull of a locked axle.
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Ford tuned the hardware to work with the G.O.A.T. mode dial, giving the unibody Bronco Sport crossover SUV the low-speed trail traction normally associated with body-on-frame trucks.
In testing on wooded trails and washed-out dirt roads, the twin-clutch unit was found to be effective in highly technical terrain, deep sand at speed, or a true diagonal wheel lift. However, these conditions are not typically encountered by most owners.
One owner, who drives off-pavement nearly every time they take their Bronco Sport Badlands out, found the rear locker to have zero value in snow. The Bronco Sport Badlands is a front-drive crossover SUV that reluctantly sends power to the rear, and engaging the locking rear differential offered no help in getting unstuck.
Expert Insight
Ryan Douthit of Driving Sports TV, an expert in driving off-road SUVs, was asked about the usefulness of the twin-clutch rear drive unit.
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The twin-clutch rear drive unit may not be a feature that most Bronco Sport owners use regularly, but it can be a valuable asset in certain situations. As with any vehicle feature, it’s essential to understand how it works and when to use it to get the most out of it.
They note that the twin-clutch unit is not a substitute for proper driving techniques and vehicle maintenance.
Ford’s design makes the twin-clutch unit a unique feature.