2023 Ford Maverick

In profile, the Maverick is all truck with its crew-cab body and proportional bed. It’s not small, stretching nearly 200 inches long, but it’s shorter than any other pickup on the market. Flat sides and squared-off corners give it a purposeful look, while the busy front end has big lights and plentiful chrome that tie it to its Ranger and F-Series siblings.

The cabin is more about function than form, though Ford did a nice job selecting interesting colors even on the base XL trim. It has a bright, airy feel, with plenty of lines and angles that distract from plastics that help keep the price tag reasonably low.

Is the Ford Maverick 4WD?

All-wheel drive is optional, but only with the turbo-4. It’s standard this year on Lariat versions fitted with the turbo-4, though. A new Tremor package this year for XLT and Lariat trims includes a slightly higher ride height and off-road shocks, plus a lock mode for the rear differential for more grip. 

How fast is the Ford Maverick?

Base trucks include a 2.5-liter inline-4 paired with an electric motor and big battery pack good for 191 hp net and 155 lb-ft of torque sent to the front wheels via a CVT. This setup is smooth, slick, and frugal, if not exactly rapid. For around-town use, it’s the perfect setup—and nearly 40 mpg in typical driving is icing on this low-guilt cake.

The optional 2.0-liter turbo-4 ups the ante to 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, and it’s required for all-wheel drive. This year, the turbo-4 is a no-cost option, too. This powertrain delivers far quicker acceleration, though it’s not as refined and the standard 8-speed automatic transmission can confuse its way through low-speed shifts. 

Most Maverick models have at least a few drive modes, including those for slippery or snowy terrain. Slap winter tires on the base hybrid and we’re confident it will handle most climates. 

The Maverick has a softly tuned suspension paired with quick-reacting steering that helps it snake through traffic or down a winding road like a smaller, even lighter vehicle than its fairly lithe 3,600-lb curb weight would otherwise suggest. 

Front-drive models use a simple twist-beam rear suspension, while all-wheel-drive versions use a more sophisticated multi-link setup. Either way, they both ride better than many other SUVs and every pickup on the market, with terrific control over choppy roads and none of the slop you might find from a bigger truck. Mid-size pickups including Ford’s own Ranger are comparatively intolerable. 

As for towing, the base hybrid can lug 2,000 lb of trailer, while the turbo doubles that to 4,000 lb. All versions max out at a 1,500-lb payload. No, you won’t be able to tow your race car, but a small utility trailer or U-Haul will be just fine.

The short 54.4-inch bed out back won’t measure up to a Super Duty, but how much do you really need, anyway? Two covered bins keep items out of sun and rain, while as many as 10 tie-downs, interior rails, and a power outlet help increase flexibility. The adjustable tailgate can hold as much as 400 lb on its own, which is a boon for both tailgating and hauling plywood sheets.

Ford also offers a huge range of accessories to expand on the Maverick’s ability to lug as many as three mountain bikes at once (albeit with only two seats accessible).

All models come with automatic emergency braking and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher-end versions can be had with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and rear parking sensors, though Ford’s trick BlueCruise system has yet to make an appearance on this model. Outward vision, unlike that on Ford's bigger trucks, is great over the tailgate.

We'll update this rating once the IIHS has completed testing.

The Maverick is still cheap, which earns it a point. There are plenty of trim levels, which nets it another. And its big infotainment screen is easy to use, bringing it to an 8 on the TCC scale. 

Which Ford Maverick should I buy?

We’d opt for the XLT, which also includes alloy wheels, more bed tie-downs, and upgraded interior trim. 

Blind-spot monitors, active lane control, and a rear sliding window cost $650 more, and we’d probably add the $1,730 Luxury Package that doesn’t quite live up to its name but includes a power driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a trailer hitch. 

How much is a fully loaded Ford Maverick?

A four-by-four Maverick Lariat with this year’s new Tremor off-road package, the Tremor appearance package, the trailering kit needed to up its capacity to 4,000 lb, heated seats, synthetic leather trim, a roll-up tonneau cover, and a few other accessories can practically double the base price. We like the Maverick, but we’re not sure we like it enough to pay $43,000 or more for one. 

The Maverick hybrid is rated at 40 mpg city, 33 highway, 37 combined, and real-world testing has revealed even better results. Turbo models are much thirstier but still not bad at 23/30/25 mpg with front-wheel drive and 22/28/24 mpg with all-wheel drive. This year’s new high-riding Tremor versions are a bit thirstier, at 20/24/21 mpg.