TRUCK FITS ALL NEEDS
Little Maverick pickup will appeal to urban dwellers who go farther afield weekends
Here's the deal with pickups: What's most important is how well they meet their owners' needs. This first glimpse at the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick has us thinking that while it definitely isn't a traditional truck, it might be just right for those who aren't traditional truck owners.
That includes the Maverick coming standard with a hybrid powertrain and front-wheel drive, while a turbocharged engine with all-wheel drive will be an option. It will go on sale in the fall.
The Maverick should fit nicely for urban dwellers who go farther afield on weekends. Rather than stuff wet or muddy gear into the carpeted compartment of an SUV, they can stow everything in the bed. Once they're back from the great outdoors, the little Maverick will fit more easily into downtown parking spaces than even a midsize truck can.
It's not the only Suv-based trucklet. For overall length, it's smaller than the Honda Ridgeline, which has been around since 2006, but slightly larger than the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, which launches this summer. The Maverick's bed is also in the middle of the two, at 4.5 feet.
The Maverick is based on the new Bronco Sport, which is based on the underpinnings of the Ford Escape. Trim levels will be XL, XLT and Lariat, all with four doors and five seats. We don't have full pricing yet, but it'll start at $25,900.
The XL and XLT come with the hybrid powertrain. It uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 162 horsepower on its own, or 191 hp when combined with the hybrid electric motor. Power goes to the front wheels through an automatic continuously variable transmission. The battery recharges through regenerative braking and doesn't get plugged in. Ford estimates fuel consumption of 5.9 L/100 kilometres in city driving, and expects you'll get 800 km on a tank of fuel.
A 2.0-L four-cylinder engine with turbocharging — Ford calls it Ecoboost — is optional on the XL and XLT, and the only choice on the Lariat. It makes 250 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque, and comes exclusively with all-wheel drive.
Towing capacity is 2,000 lbs on the hybrid, which Ford says is enough to pull a couple of personal watercraft, while the turbo-four with a towing package can haul up to 4,000 lbs. That's less than the Ridgeline or Santa Cruz, which are both rated at 5,000 lbs. Payload on all Maverick models is 1,500 lbs.
The big deal is the truck bed, which Ford calls a Flexbed. That might be stretching it a bit, because the Ridgeline and Santa Cruz have an under-bed storage trunk, which the Maverick lacks. The Flexbed name refers to what you can do to customize it to your needs — and there's even a QR code inside the bed for do-it-yourself suggestions. Standard features include pockets to hold 2x4 or 2x6 boards as bed dividers, eight bed tie-downs, tailgate cleats that double as bottle openers, and a multi-position tailgate.
The Maverick doesn't come with bed lighting, but there's a 12-volt wiring assembly so you can add your own. There are also threaded holes in the sides to bolt in a channel for holding hooks or tie-downs, along with an optional 110-volt power outlet and bedside cubbies. There will be dealer accessories available, such as a tonneau cover or bed extender.
The interior is a simple design, and while we'll need to see it in person, in pictures it looks pretty cool, as well as easy to clean.
An available storage bin holds cargo under the rear seat, and when the cushions are up, a mountain bike can fit back there.
All trims include an eight-inch touch screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and driver assist features such as emergency front braking and automatic high-beam headlights, along with such available technologies as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane centring. Standard Fordpass Connect with an embedded modem allows Wi-fi for up to 10 devices, and through an app on your phone, you can remotely lock or unlock the doors, check the fuel gauge, start or stop the engine, or find the vehicle if you've forgotten where you parked.
Maverick owners will undoubtedly hear “that's not a truck” from big-truck owners, but those folks will be missing the point. It's meant to tackle urban affairs during the week, and light-duty get-away-from-it-all trips on the weekends — and not everybody needs an F-150 to get that done.