Ford Maverick: Family-friendly and practical
Can this little pickup pick up some new fans?
Ford had the small-truck market all to itself with the original Ford Ranger, until it was retired following the 2011 model year. The Ranger badge reappeared on a midsize pickup for 2019, but apparently, there’s room in the lineup for a still-smaller trucklet.
If the Maverick name sounds familiar it’s because Ford once applied it to a small car back in the late-1960s. Back then, it was the most affordable Ford you could buy.
Well, the same goes for the 2022 Maverick, which on price alone is bound to garner plenty of attention from both traditional and nontraditional pickup buyers. That’s right: A truck is the cheapest Ford you can buy.
For nontraditional buyers, especially, the Maverick’s Supercrew (crew cab) body style with four full doors and seating for five passengers makes it family-friendly and practical. The 4.5-foot-long bed is about 6 inches longer than the one connected to the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruze pickup.
It’s also slightly longer than the Honda Ridgeline’s bed floor. Ford claims the Maverick can carry 18 4x8 sheets of three-quarter-inch plywood flat on the load floor, with the tailgate lowered, of course.
The Maverick’s platform originates with the unitized (frameless) Ford Bronco Sport and Escape crossovers. For pickup duty, it has been strengthened in key areas to accommodate payloads of up to a very
healthy 1,500 pounds.
The styling has nothing in common with the Escape, but the Maverick does display some resemblance to the full-size F-150 pickup, in particular its grille and headlights.
The interior gives off a minimalist vibe that fits nicely with the Maverick’s purpose in life and its base price that just crests the $20,000 threshold.
Knobs and buttons control most functions, including the audio and ventilation systems plus there’s oversize rotary control for gear selection. Even the gauges and standard 8-inch touch screen are merely functional along with a rear-seat cushion that flips up to reveal storage bins for valuables.
The standard hybrid powertrain is as unique as the Maverick itself. A
2.5-liter four-cylinder is teamed with an electric motor to produce a net 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a continuously variable transmission.
Optional with all trim levels is a nonhybrid powertrain: A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
All-wheel-drive is available with the 2.0. The system lacks a two-speed transfer case, which means there’s no low range for more extreme off-roading.
The hybrid can tow up to 2,000 pounds, while the 2.0-liter is rated at 4,000 and is fitted with a factory towing package. That’s less than the maximum 5,000 pounds that both the Santa Cruz and Ridgeline can pull.
Where the hybrid really shines is fuel economy. The unofficial ratings are 40 mpg in the city, 33 on the highway and 37, combined. The turbo powerplant is rated at 23/30/26.
The base Maverick XL rings in at $21,500, including destination charges. The standard-equipment list is pretty thin — think work truck, here — and does not include cruise control.
The midgrade XLT, which is likely to be the jumping-off point for most buyers, gets cruise control plus upgraded seat coverings, rear-seat armrest, heated steering wheel, power-locking tailgate and 17-inch alloy wheels. Steel wheels are standard.
The top-end Lariat lists for $26,900 and comes with dual-zone climate control, leather seat surfaces (including power driver’s seat), power-sliding rear window and 18-inch wheels.
The FX4 Off-road Package is available for all Mavericks with all-wheel drive. With it, you get protective skid plates, higher-capacity radiator and unique aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires. There’s also hill-descent control that keeps the Maverick at a slow and steady pace when heading down steep inclines, without the driver having to use the brakes.
As a utility-vehicle alternative, the Maverick possesses numerous virtues, such as the ability to haul heavy/bulky cargo. As such, it could even become a hero of the urban job site or a new tool for delivery companies.
Factor in the hybrid powertrain’s modest fuel consumption plus a tempting sticker price and both non-truck and trucker types could be climbing aboard.