This is the all-new Ford Maverick, a compact unibody pickup truck with a hybrid powertrain as standard and a starting MSRP of $19,995.
Ford calls the new Maverick America’s first standard full-hybrid pickup truck, claiming the title of the market’s most fuel-efficient truck with an EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg in the city (37 mpg combined).
The new Maverick is the baby of Ford’s truck family. How small you ask? At 199.7 inches long and 68.7 inches high, the new unibody truck is 11.1 inches shorter and 2.1 inches lower than the Ranger, which up until now was the smallest member of the lineup.
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Ford believes that the Maverick will attract entry-level customers looking for a more practical vehicle and even those who never before considered a truck. In a market dominated by SUVs and trucks, you can’t argue against a four-door pickup with a sub-$20k price tag that also happens to be hybrid.
“The Maverick product proposition is like nothing else out there. It’s a great-looking truck featuring four doors with room for five adults, a standard full-hybrid engine with city fuel economy that beats a Honda Civic, plenty of towing and hauling for weekend trips or do-it-yourself projects, and it starts under $20,000,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Maverick challenges the status quo and the stereotypes of what a pickup truck can be.”
Hybrid From The Get-Go
The entry-level version of the new Maverick is powered by a hybrid 2.5-liter powertrain, with an Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder ICE producing 162 HP and 155 lb-ft and an electric motor kicking out 126 HP and 173 lb-ft of torque. Combined, the power output is rated at 191 HP, sent to the front wheels via a CVT transmission. Ford says that the Maverick Hybrid can cover 500 miles (805 km) on a single tank of fuel, offers a payload of 1,500 pounds (680 kg), and the capability to tow 2,000 pounds (907 kg).
Those wanting more power and capability can go for the 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine, which produces 250 HP and 277 lb-ft of torque and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Maverick with the 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine is also offered with standard front-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive. When fitted with the optional 4K Tow Package, the new Maverick 2.0 Ecoboost can tow up to 4,000 pounds (1,814 kg).
“One thing that’s non-negotiable is that Maverick is Built Ford Tough,” said Chris Mazur, the Maverick’s chief engineer. “Our engineers were unrelenting, putting it through a battery of vicious on-road, off-road, environmental, and simulated customer use testing until we were satisfied. Ford trucks are Ford trucks –through and through.”
A Bed Full Of Clever Solutions
The Maverick features a 4.5-foot bed (6 feet long with the tailgate open) riddled with clever functionality solutions. Ford calls it the Flexbed, with the load area featuring special stamped slots for customers to slide 2x4s and 2x6s and create their own elevated floors, segmented areas, and other DIY solutions. The bed also features two tie-downs, four D-rings, and built-in threaded holes in the sides to bolt in accessories and other creations. A multi-position tailgate completes the Flexbed system.
“You can buy the bolt-in Ford cargo management system and we’re happy to sell it to you, but if you’re a bit more creative, you can also just go to the hardware store and get some C-channel and bolt it to the bed to make your own solutions,” said Keith Daugherty, an engineering specialist who helped develop the truck box for Maverick.
In addition, the new Maverick offers two 110-volt outlets, one in the cabin and the other in the bed. It even has another 12-volt DIY pre-wire package in the bed, which can be used for wiring extra lights.
“People have forever been hacking into their wiring harness to run things like lighting, air pumps, and other useful accessories,” said Gaby Grajales, an electrical engineer who helped develop the pre-wire package. “This is a better solution – we’re enabling customer needs while protecting the taillamp wiring and creating a fused circuit to avoid compromising the overall electrical system. With this, you have the option to select the factory-available box lighting or install your own home-built lighting setup, or even invent a whole new use for the 12-volt access points.”
The cabin of the 2022 Maverick features an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ford’s SYNC3 system will be an option on Lariat models, while the FordPass Connect feature will be standard, featuring a modem and WiFi for up to 10 devices. Customers can find their truck, check the fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and start or turn off the engine from their smartphones.
Form Follows Function
The interior hosts a range of clever storage spaces, including door cup holders that can hold one-liter bottles upright, door pockets that can fit a tablet or a notebook, and even a huge storage bin under the rear bench for larger items.
True to the DIY nature of the new Maverick, Ford has added a new tether system for rear passengers. The system, called FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System), is basically a slot at the back of the center console designed to accommodate different accessories. Ford will even publish the slot geometry to allow customers to 3D print their own solutions.
First Deliveries Begin This Fall
The new Ford Maverick will reach the market this fall, in XL, XLT, and Lariat trim levels. Customers will also be offered a special First Edition model, alongside the FX-4 Off-Road Package, which is reserved exclusively for AWD models and adds a beefier cooling system, skid plates, 17-inch wheels, and more.
