A pawl grounding clutch with synchronizer assembly attached to a planetary gear set of a drive unit. A cylindrical hub is engaged to the ring gear and the hub co-rotates with the ring gear. A gear is fixed to the hub. A pawl having a pawl tooth rotates between a first position with the pawl tooth spaced away from the gear and a second position having the pawl tooth engaged between successive gear teeth. A synchronizer rotates during pawl rotation and includes a friction surface directly contacting the hub before the pawl tooth engages the gear. A shift member displaces the pawl between the first and second positions. The pawl in the second position engages the ring gear with a case defining a clutch closed position. The pawl in the first position disengages ring gear from the case, defining a clutch open position.