Instead of sharing parts and mechanicals with the Ranger, the Maverick rides on the same chassis as the Bronco Sport compact crossover. The standard powertrain is a hybrid setup that consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, a continuously variable automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. Ford also offers all-wheel drive, but only with the optional nonhybrid turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
All models sport the same four-door crew cab body style with a 4.5-foot bed. The Maverick is part of a new class of small pickup trucks that Hyundai is also entering with the upcoming Santa Cruz. Rather than start with the Bronco Sport's turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the standard powertrain, Ford has gone hybrid with the Maverick's base powertrain.
All trims come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that's assisted by an electric motor for a combined 191-hp. This setup only comes with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission. Buyers are able to opt for a nonhybrid powertrain as well, which swaps in a spunky 250-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is optional with this powertrain. On the road, the Maverick feels downright peppy with the optional turbo four and at our test track, it reached 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The hybrid powertrain is less perky but nonetheless gets the job done. To provide its impressive payload capacity, the Maverick's suspension is fairly stiff which leads to a somewhat rough ride over broken pavement.
Once we get a chance to test the Maverick at our test track, we'll update this story with results. Alternatively, customers can opt for a 2.0-liter EcoBoost gas engine producing 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can purchase the regular Maverick with an AWD system optionally. Another option available in the non-hybrid variant is a 4K Tow Package, which doubles the towing capacity to 4,000 pounds. An average 21-foot boat can be hauled with ease on checking this option. The gasoline Maverick can deliver a fuel economy of 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined in FWD and 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined in AWD.
The Maverick is the first pickup truck in America to have a hybrid powertrain in its base configuration. The 191-hp, 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder is linked to a continuously variable transmission and drives the front wheels. This combination is EPA-rated at 37 mpg combined and has a total range per tank of 500 miles. We expect this small pickup to easily be more efficient than any other pickup on the market.
The Maverick hybrid has a standard payload capacity of 1,500 pounds and a 2,000-pound tow capacity—plenty to tow a personal watercraft or two. Traveling on dirt trails or snowy conditions will be traction-limited with the hybrid. Ford offers the Maverick in three trims—XL, XLT, and Lariat—with the XL being the best choice for keeping the price down as low as possible. It lacks basic creature comforts that most buyers consider necessities, but would be good for use as a work truck. Going with the XLT adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, cruise control, a power lock for the tailgate, power exterior mirrors and more, making it the value-oriented model.
We'd upgrade to the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder for $1085 and add all-wheel drive for $3305. To unlock the Maverick's maximum towing capacity of 4000 pounds, we'd also order the $745 Tow package. In a first for any pickup truck, the Maverick's base powertrain sports batteries and an electric motor as well as a gas engine. The 2.5-liter inline-4 hybrid powertrain delivers 191 hp net and 155 lb-ft of torque. Sold only with front-wheel drive, the hybrid aims for a 40-mpg estimated EPA city rating, and 37 mpg combined. It's the smoother powertrain of the two; the battery fills in off-the-line acceleration, while the CVT blends everything together for hitchless if moderate acceleration.
To create the Maverick's standard hybrid powertrain, Ford combines an Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a 94-kilowatt electric motor and an electric continuously variable transmission . Combined, these components produce 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid drivetrain is available only with front-wheel drive, and Ford predicts 37 mpg in combined driving and 500 miles of driving range.
The 2.5-liter Duratec four-cylinder gasoline engine with a hybrid electric motor produces a combined 191 hp (194 PS; 142 kW) and a peak electric torque of 173 lb⋅ft (235 N⋅m; 23.9 kg⋅m). The hybrid engine and an e-CVT gearbox are standard equipment on all Maverick models, while the 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine is optional. The turbo engine produces 250 hp (253 PS; 186 kW) and 277 lb⋅ft (376 N⋅m; 38.3 kg⋅m) of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
All Maverick models uses a rotary knob gear selector located in the center console. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models, with all-wheel drive optional only for the EcoBoost variants. For now, they're the only compact pickups available in the US market. The flashy Santa Cruz feels more like an SUV which happens to have a bed at the back, whereas the Maverick comes across as the more rugged truck. The Ford starts at $4,000 cheaper which immediately gives it an advantage, but the Maverick misses out on some of the safety features that are standard on every Santa Cruz. While the Maverick hybrid leads the way for efficiency, it's the Santa Cruz that has a much better towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs.
Both trucks have a lot to offer and we appreciate that each automaker has given us a unique spin on what they believe a small truck should offer. Because of the Maverick's attractive starting price, Ford's legacy of high-selling trucks, and its exceptional gas mileage, we'll give the edge to the Blue Oval. Indeed, with the new Maverick, Ford hopes to sell small pickups to a whole swath of people who have never considered one before. The Santa Cruz's two top-end trims, the SEL Premium and Limited are quite different from the Maverick, packing 281-hp turbocharged engines and all-wheel drive as standard. Instead, look to the mid-range SEL to challenge this front-drive, hybrid-powered Maverick. Ford offers the Maverick in three easy-to-digest trim levels, each available with the hybrid or EcoBoost powertrain.
While the Maverick XL's $19,995 starting seems tempting, it's easy to jack the price up to over $38,000 with a fully-loaded Lariat trim with the First Edition Package. We'd settle somewhere in the middle, opting for the XLT trim while keeping the more efficient hybrid drivetrain. The $2,345 XLT Luxury Package seems worth the price for a power driver's seat, 400W/100V inverter, bed rails, spray-in bedliner, heated seats, remote start, a leather steering wheel, and more. Ford Co-Pilot 360 is a handy $540 option that nets you blind-spot assist with rear cross-traffic, and lane-keep assist. Unfortunately, the XLT misses out on push-button start, so you start it with an old-fashioned key.
The truck we described would cost $27,305, or $1,085 more for the EcoBoost if you need the added towing capacity. All Mavericks are crew cabs, which means four full-sized doors and a fairly roomy back seat. Ford has incorporated many storage cubbies and bins throughout the cabin, including some large areas under the rear seat. Base models are far from plush, but do offer standard niceties such as a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats. More features are offered as standard or part of option packages on the XLT and Lariat trims, and include dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and power front seats.
Ford says the Maverick's 4.5-foot bed can fit up to 18 sheets of 4x8-foot three-quarter-inch plywood without having to load them at an angle. The bed also features a 12-volt power point, with a 110-volt outlet offered as an option. Any list of best features for the Ford Maverick has to start with its standard powertrain.
With gas prices soaring and a global push towards electrification, the standard full-hybrid engine in the Maverick makes it the only pickup in America to come standard with hybrid power. The engine under the hood of the little pickup is an Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder delivering 191 horsepower and 155 pound-foot of torque combined with the electric motor. The standard hybrid engine is only available with a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. It was unveiled on June 8, 2021 as the smallest truck marketed by the company. The Maverick is based on a front-wheel drive-based unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, and offered with a hybrid powertrain as standard and a conventional turbo engine as an option.
The big benefit of having a standard hybrid powertrain for the Maverick is its very impressive fuel economy. Initially, Ford promised that it was targeting 40 MPG in the city for the standard hybrid powertrain. However, when the final EPA estimate was announced the vehicle was good for 42 MPG in the city. Ford expects to return 33 MPG on the highway and a combined rating of 37 MPG. That's better fuel economy in the city than the Honda Civic, with much more capability in towing and hauling for the Maverick. In fact, in our testing of the 2022 Maverick pickup, we achieved 40 MPG while carrying 1000 pounds of cargo.
The Maverick starts life as a hybrid, with a 191-hp combination of 4-cylinder and motor and batteries gunning for a 40-mpg EPA city rating. It's smooth but not too swift, and front-drive-only Maverick Hybrids have half the tow ratings of higher-spec models—but as an all-around economy-car replacement, it's in perfect pitch. A 250-hp turbo-4 can be fitted with all-wheel drive and off-road and tow packages to max out the Mav's adventure portfolio, but the 8-speed automatic shifts too much.
With smartly tuned suspensions and hefty steering, the Maverick feels as good as any of Ford's compact SUVs; it's a high-water mark in Ford pickup ride and handling. Ford's newest pickup truck is hitting the market in stride, and the automaker literally can't make enough models. The hybrid-focused truck has one of the best fuel economies we've seen on any vehicle, but especially trucks. This pickup can be purchased in hybrid as its standard or optionally a conventional fully gas-powered variant and starts at just $19,995.
If you want everything the truck can possibly come with, what is the price of a fully loaded 2022 Ford Maverick? We built an all-wheel drive, First Edition, Lariat Luxury Maverick with every option and accessory available and the total came to $39,870. The base Maverick is no tire-shredder and has been optimized for efficiency rather than outright performance. The standard hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine that produces only 162 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque on its own, although this goes up to 191 hp with the assistance of the electric motor. Unsurprisingly, Ford hasn't provided 0-60 times but don't expect to get anywhere in a hurry.
This model is limited to a towing capacity of only 2,000 lbs and payload capacity of 1,500 lbs. The Maverick arrives in a brand-new compact truck segment, which also includes the recently-introduced Hyundai Santa Cruz. Ford's approach is interesting here, offering a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid as the base powertrain, driving the front wheels through a CVT. Buyers who want more power and more capability can opt for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost, sending 250 horsepower to the front wheels or optional all-wheel drive. We've never tested a pickup truck quite like this, and with a starting price under $20,000 , it's easy to see how Ford could have a sales hit on its hands.
We tested both variants of the Maverick in Nashville, Tennessee to see if this new baby pickup is still "Built Ford Tough." Your base Maverick comes with the hybrid engine, front-wheel drive, and the CVT. The top-trim Lariat AWD I tested out had the Luxury Package ($3,340), the 4K Tow Package ($745), a full-size spare tire ($115), and a powered moon roof ($795). All in all, the total vehicle price was $37,080, so quite the jump over the standard truck. An optional turbocharged 250-horsepower engine and towing package ups towing capacity to 4,000 pounds, enough to accommodate a standard 23-foot camper, Ford says. Front-wheel drive is standard, with four-wheel drive available as an add-on.
There will be three trim levels — XL, XLT, and Lariat — and a fully loaded Maverick will run customers in the low $30,000 range, a company spokesperson said. To that last point, the Blue Oval gave the Maverick a hybrid powertrain as standard equipment — a first for US pickups. The company says it gets 40 mpg city, but that hasn't been tested by the EPA yet. The combination of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor puts out a claimed 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Ford rates towing capacity at 2,000 pounds, which it says is plenty to pull a couple of jet skis or a small camper.
Despite its compact dimensions, the Ford Maverick looks rugged and tough like the average Ford pickup. However, it's a unibody model riding on the Ford Escape's C2 platform. Under the hood, there's a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain delivering 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque and linked to a CVT. An all-wheel drive system is not available with the hybrid powertrain. A liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery residing under the rear seats powers the electric motor. For more power, there is an available 250-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
When fitted with an optional "4K" tow package, a turbocharged Maverick doubles the towing capacity to 4,000 pounds—enough to pull a small travel trailer or 20-foot boat. Trim levels range from XL, XLT, and top-line Lariat models with the standard hybrid powertrain. We recommend the required 2.0-liter turbo EcoBoost engine if you plan to tow, which adds $1,085 to the price.
For those who'd like a little more power or all-wheel drive, the Bronco Sport Badlands' EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 is optional on the Maverick. As it does in the Bronco Sport, this engine produces 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, and it's paired with an eight-speed auto. Fuel economy estimates will be revealed at a later date, but our best guess is somewhere in the mid 20s.
An off-road-oriented FX4 package is optional on EcoBoost all-wheel-drive Mavericks. The standard full hybrid powertrain in the 2022 Ford Maverick is the fourth-generation Ford hybrid propulsion system. It consists of an Atkinson cycle four-cylinder hybrid engine, paired to an electronic continuously variable transmission , along with a permanent magnet electric motor and liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery.
The electric motor was designed and manufactured in-house by Ford, and the briefcase-sized battery is located under the second-row seats to help maximize your available cargo space. Breaking onto the scene with its first pickup truck is Hyundai, with its all-new 2022 Santa Cruz. The Hyundai doesn't offer a hybrid variant, so it can't match the Maverick's fuel economy.
But much to our surprise, the Santa Cruz offers more power from its 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, and it can tow 1,000 more than the Maverick. We think the Santa Cruz is the bolder, more expressive-looking truck, but Ford's proven track record, lower starting price, and more usable bed could sway buyers in the Maverick's direction. One thing is for sure; now is a great time to buy a small, fuel-efficient pickup.
The Ford Maverick is an all-new arrival for the 2022 model year and slots in below the Ford Ranger as a more compact introduction to the brand's truck lineup. With its starting price of just under $20,000, unibody construction promising a comfortable ride, and a targeted 40-mpg rating in the city, the Maverick has a lot to offer. Although its towing capacity isn't spectacular by pickup truck standard, the bed area offers many practical solutions to meet the needs of customers with active lifestyles.
This setting is only equipped with front-wheel drive and continuously variable automatic transmission. Buyers will be able to choose a nonhybrid powertrain as well, swapped in a 250-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic transmission; All-wheel drive is optional with this powertrain. Ford will offer all-wheel drive, but only with an optional 2.0-liter turbocharged non-hybrid four-cylinder engine. All models will use the same four-door crew cabin body style as the 4.5-footbed. Maverick is part of a new class of small pickup trucks that Hyundai is entering with the upcoming Santa Cruz.
