I'd love to know the answer to your question too. I registered 35mpg on one of the long descents out of Salt River Canyon in AZ. I am thoroughly impressed with how well the grade descent control works when in tow/haul mode (and in cruise control mode too for that matter) it was a pleasant surprise when I realized what the truck was doing. I am really starting to appreciate my trucks $65,000 price tag. There is some specific tech in my 2015 EL that I'm learning to love and appreciate and I must give some due kudos to the engineering team at Ford:
1. Hill grade assist/descent control does work well and I absolutely love that it attempts to maintain my set cruise control speed on a descent. I a very impressed with how well it works in tow/haul mode and I've already used this feature a lot in my recent mountain pass crossings saving my brakes/rotors, and just making the descents more pleasant by virtually eliminating the "brake on" "brake release" cycle I'd normally engage in while descending a long mountain pass.
2. 4x4 modes. Having complete control over the transfer case is an absolutely joy. My previous "full time AWD" trucks had 4wd hi and Low via a manual transfer case lever. But two wheel drive was not an option unless you physically got under the truck and removed the front driveshaft (propshaft). Several of us did just that on our Land Cruisers during the summer to save fuel, and enhance the driving experience of our trucks. We all wished we had a "2wd" mode. Here, the EL has 2wd, Awd, 4wd hi and 4wd lo modes. All at the twist of a knob. Amazing. Add to that I can actually put the transfer case in true neutral to flat tow it behind my tour bus and I'm in transfer case heaven.
3. Simple things like a separately opening glass hatch in the rear, folding side mirrors, power folding running boards, and heated rear seats....all that stuff was actually on a short list of "wants" for my next SUV. And my EL happened to have all that stuff. So far, I'm well on my way to becoming a Ford fan.
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