2022 Ford Maverick

Pickup trucks seem to grow larger with each passing year, but we can feel the winds of change shifting in the opposite direction with the new 2022 Ford Maverick. No, not the compact coupe/sedan Ford sold in the '70s, this one is a pickup truck. Essentially picking up where the previous generation Ranger left off, the Maverick arrives as a genuinely small unibody truck for urban dwellers and active lifestyle shoppers who don't need the size or capability afforded by a mid-size or full-size truck. This formula won't sway traditional, towing/hauling-obsessed truck lovers, but Ford is setting its sights on a new market with the Maverick, and hopes to get many buyers into their very first truck.

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 (not including destination charge), 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."

The Maverick has been one of the most talked-about new vehicles since its debut, although its appearance hasn't won everyone over. That said, the average truck is rarely a thing of beauty, and the Maverick's boxy proportions and masculine aura are in keeping with a pickup. The front fascia features a beam that connects the headlights, and at the back, the Maverick lettering stretches across the tailgate. The Maverick is only available in SuperCrew configuration with four doors.

The base model makes do with a black grille along with black door and tailgate handles, while the Lariat adds body-color handles. LED headlights are standard but the base XL makes do with basic 17-inch steel wheels. The XLT has 17-inch alloys and the Lariat rides on 18-inch alloys, while black wheels come as part of the First Edition Package. Six bed tie-downs and Ford's Flexbed system provide some useful solutions for carrying and organizing cargo. Options include a power moonroof, a cargo bed liner, tonneau cover, and a pickup box extender.

Compared with the midsize Ford Ranger SuperCrew, the Maverick is 11.1 inches shorter in length and 2.3 inches narrower. The Maverick's dimensions include a 121.1-inch wheelbase, a length of 199.7 inches, a maximum height of 68.7 inches, and a width of 83.5 inches including the mirrors. That's small by truck standards, but the Maverick still stretches about an inch longer than a mid-size Explorer SUV. With the mirrors folded, the width goes down to 77.9 inches. The Maverick has a 4.5-foot bed whereas the Ranger SuperCrew comes with a five-foot bed, so you aren't sacrificing much in this area. In the Maverick, the cargo width at the wheelhouse is 42.6 inches (61 inches for the Ranger) and the cargo length at the floor is 54.4 inches.

With all-wheel drive and 17-inch wheels, the approach/departure/ramp breakover angles work out to 21.6/21.2/18.1 degrees respectively. The departure angle improves to 21.9 degrees with the hybrid front-wheel-drive model with 17-inch wheels. With AWD, the minimum running ground clearance is 8.6 inches.

The more compact dimensions do come with a significant weight saving compared to larger trucks. With a base curb weight of 3,563 pounds for the Maverick FWD with the EcoBoost engine, this model is nearly 800 lbs lighter than the lightest Ranger SuperCrew. With AWD, the Maverick weighs 3,731 lbs. The hybrid, which is only available with FWD, weighs in at 3,674 lbs.

The base Maverick can be finished in a choice of seven colors. These are Shadow Black, Oxford White, Area 51, Cactus Gray, Carbonized Gray, Iconic Silver, and Velocity Blue. Ford won't charge you anything extra for any of these colors, underlining the value proposition of the entry-level variant. The mid-range XLT has a more vibrant palette and adds Alto Blue Metallic ($390), Cyber Orange Metallic ($495), and Hot Pepper Metallic ($390). Finally, the Lariat can be had with Rapid Red Metallic but this color requires both the Lariat and First Edition packages plus the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite that significantly raises the price. We are happy that Ford offers many fun, vibrant colors, so perhaps we won't see so many boring shades on the road.

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. This model is limited to FWD. 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 more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine produces 250 hp and 277 lb-ft. This model can optionally be equipped with all-wheel drive. With the 4K Tow package, it can manage a towing capacity of 4,000 lbs. We estimate that the Maverick equipped with this engine can complete the 0-60 run in around 6.5 seconds, around the same time as the Bronco Sport with the same drivetrain.

There are two engine choices for the new Maverick, starting with the standard hybrid model. It pairs a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle inline-four engine with an electric traction motor to produce 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. The four-pot's peak torque only arrives at 4,000 rpm. A continuously variable transmission is standard on this model, and we found it smooth and unobtrusive. Some die-hard truck fans may poke fun at a hybrid truck with a CVT, but the Maverick excels in city driving. Go light enough on the throttle, and it will leave a stop on electric power before kicking on the gas engine. It's a serene feeling.

Anyone wanting peppier performance or the option of AWD will have to go for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which produces a much stronger 250 hp and 277 lb-ft. It provides far more spirited acceleration and comes paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The eight-speed is smooth in its operation, and executes shifts punctually when you demand acceleration. Though the EcoBoost is the far quicker option, it sounded coarse when driven hard, while the hybrid engine felt quieter and more relaxed.

Pickup trucks are many things: practical, durable, sometimes comfortable, but we'd rarely call them exciting to drive. The Maverick is… dare we say… fun? Because it's based on a unibody design that's shared with the Escape and Bronco Sport, the Maverick drives more like an SUV than a pickup truck. Traditional truck buyers will bemoan the unibody construction and say the Maverick isn't a "real truck" (whatever that means), but buyers who don't plan to tow a massive boat or carry tons of sheetrock will enjoy the Maverick's car-like driving manners. The steering feels sharp, the suspension isn't too bouncy, and the road noise doesn't overwhelm the cabin, even on the base model.

You can chuck the Maverick into a corner without fear it may tip over or lose control. With some better tires and brakes, we might even call it sporty. Hey Ford, feeling up to building us an ST model? Like most vehicles, the Maverick has selectable drive modes, but we didn't notice a massive difference between them aside from the throttle mapping and engine response. Eco mode dials back the throttle to achieve better fuel economy, while Sport mode tunes the throttle to deliver more immediate response. Ford also include Tow Haul and Slippery modes, while models equipped with the FX4 package gain additional Sand and Mud & Ruts modes for off-roading. We sampled an FX4-equipped Maverick on a light dirt trail, and found it to be competent enough for the rare occasion an owner might want to stay off the beaten path.

Although the EPA hasn't yet published official ratings for the Ford Maverick hybrid, Ford has stated that the truck will manage 40 mpg in the city and a range of 500 miles from its 13.8-gallon tank. Those are remarkable numbers for any truck, even a smaller one such as this. It's worth noting that on an hour-long, 25-mile journey to our hotel in Nashville, we eked out 52 mpg from the hybrid Maverick. 40 mpg should be an easy ask of this truck.

The official EPA ratings for the turbocharged EcoBoost model aren't bad, with the FWD version managing 23/30/26 mpg city/highway/combined and the AWD derivative returning 22/29/25 mpg across the same cycles. By comparison, the turbocharged Hyundai Santa Cruz has a combined figure of 22 mpg. With its 16.5-gallon tank, the EcoBoost FWD should be able to cover approximately 429 miles between visits to the pumps.

Ford wanted to design a cabin that was functional, user-friendly, and durable. The company has accomplished exactly that with the new Maverick. It's not plush or super luxurious, but everything comes across as easy to understand and there are some smart textures and design elements that complement the youthful overall feel of the pickup. Every model gets an eight-inch central touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Single-zone, manual air conditioning is equipped to the base model but dual-zone climate control is equipped to the Lariat. There are several useful cubbies for stashing items like wallets and keys, visibility is good, and there's more storage space below the rear seat. Overall, Ford has done an outstanding job of making the Maverick feel like a quality product despite the low price.

All Maverick models come in four-door SuperCrew configurations, meaning you get a usable back seat for passengers. Ford expects many Maverick buyers to be first-time pickup truck owners upgrading from a sedan or SUV. With 100.3 cubic feet of passenger space, Ford says the Maverick's cabin is similar to its outgoing Fusion sedan. Head and legroom up front feels generous with 40.3 (38 with the sunroof) and 42.8 inches, respectively, while rear passengers get 39.6 inches of headroom and 35.9 inches of legroom (36.9 in the EcoBoost). The Maverick will seat five passengers, but we'd say four would be more comfortable on a long trip. This pickup uses its passenger space effectively, but lacks the cavernous feel of a larger truck.

The lower two trims miss out on a leather-wrapped steering wheel, which is one of the first signs that Ford needed to cut costs in some areas. At least the armrest is leather, even on the base XL trim. Although there are a few harder plastics, they don't look cheap, as Ford's designers went through the effort to style them with unique patterns and textures. The rugged materials will also be easier to keep clean, which is an important factor in a truck.

On the base trim, cloth seats in Black Onyx/Medium Dark Slate are standard. Unfortunately, no other color choices are on offer. The XLT gets cloth seats too but a bolder Navy Pier/Medium Slate color scheme with orange accents. On this model, the XLT Luxury package adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among other items.

Finally, the Lariat gets heated leather seats, a leather steering wheel, and ActiveX upholstery. The interior color is an attractive Desert Brown with blue contrast.

It's here that the Maverick's smaller size will see it lose out to larger trucks. The 4.5-foot bed offers 33.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, exactly 10 cubes less than you get in the Ranger with its five-foot bed. At 1,500 lbs, the Maverick's maximum payload capacity isn't all that great either. Ford says that the payload is equivalent to 37 bags of 40-pound mulch, and the bed expands to six feet when the tailgate is down. If you need to transport 38 bags of 40-pound mulch, well, it's best to look elsewhere.

Ford has done everything it can to maximize the use of the available space, though. The Flexbed system allows for a variety of storage and cargo solutions, with lumbar boards that can fit into slots to divide the bed. There are 12 available anchor points and two 12-volt 20-amp pre-wired sources at the back. The latter feature makes it easy to, for example, install bed lighting or an air compressor.

In the cabin, there are spacious door pockets for large bottles and there is space beneath the rear seat to store items like laptop bags or a fully inflated volleyball. Of course, there are also cupholders, while the top two trims offer a fold-down rear center armrest with another two. The center console armrest conceals more space between the driver and front passenger, and the rear seats have a cool Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) slot that allows owners to 3D print their own cupholders and unique accessories.

The base Maverick XL comes with the most essential features to keep the driver and passengers comfortable. The driver's seat is six-way manually-adjustable and the front passenger seat has four-way manual adjustment. Manual, single-zone air conditioning is standard, as well as two 12V power points, a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote keyless entry, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a rearview camera living on an eight-inch touchscreen. The XL comes with auto high-beam headlights and pre-collision assist with automatic braking. Moving up to the XLT will get you cruise control, a keyless entry keypad, a power tailgate lock, and rain-sensing wipers. The Lariat is a bigger step up as it comes with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, ambient lighting, a power-sliding rear window, dual-zone climate control, push-button ignition, and a larger 6.5-inch productivity screen within the instrument cluster.

The XLT and Lariat have access to far more options. By spending a bit more, you can equip the Maverick with features like a power sunroof, wireless phone charging, and heated front seats. The available Ford Co-Pilot360 package includes driver-assist technologies like blind-spot monitoring and a lane-keeping aid.

All Maverick trim levels, including the base XL, include an eight-inch touchscreen powered by Ford's Sync 3 system. It's slightly outdated compared to the Sync 4 system used in the F-150 and Bronco, but you still get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (both wired) to provide a modern experience. Despite the low starting price, Ford packs in an embedded modem with Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices. Using FordPass, owners can lock, unlock, check the fuel level, and start their Maverick from a smartphone. The base Maverick includes six speakers, while an eight-speaker B&O system is available only on the top Lariat trim. All Maverick models include bluetooth connectivity, but only the Lariat gets Sirius satellite radio.

As it is a brand-new arrival on the market, it's too early to assess the Maverick's reliability. At the time of writing, there were no recalls published by the NHTSA.

Ford sells the Maverick with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and corrosion perforation coverage for the first five years. Roadside assistance is provided for the first five years or 60,000 miles.

The 2022 Ford Maverick hasn't yet been tested for crashworthiness by the NHTSA and IIHS. However, we're sure that Ford took care to engineer a safe truck. The upside to a unibody construction is that crumple zones will be built in, so future safety reviews of the Ford Maverick are expected to be strong.

The new Ford Maverick gets a suite of seven airbags as standard, including a driver's knee airbag and side-curtain airbags. Along with this, it comes with tire pressure monitoring and a rearview camera. Most of the driver-assist technologies are optional, but every model does come with auto high beams and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking.

Options available for the entire lineup include blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, a lane-keeping aid, and lane departure warning. The XLT and Lariat can be equipped with hill descent control, while the range-topping Lariat is the only trim that is available with lane centering, adaptive cruise control with Stop-And-Go, evasive steering, and rear parking sensors.

The 2022 Ford Maverick is unlike any new truck we've seen since Subaru discontinued the Baja. It's genuinely small, surprisingly usable, and it achieves fuel efficiency bigger trucks can only dream about. Whether or not the Maverick is right for you really comes down to your lifestyle. Need to tow a boat or or take on the Rubicon trail? There are better options. But if most of your driving is around town and you rarely find yourself with more than 1,500 lbs in the bed or 4,000 lbs on a trailer, the Maverick could be the right choice.

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 base XL with the hybrid powertrain comes in at just $19,995, excluding a destination charge of $1,495. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine will increase that price by $1,085, while the combination of AWD and the EcoBoost engine will add $3,305 to your bill.

The mid-range XLT costs $22,280 and the well-equipped Lariat retails for $25,490. Upgrading to the EcoBoost engine or the EcoBoost with AWD will require the same premium as for the XL.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz starts at $23,990, nearly $4,000 more than the Maverick XL.

The 2022 Ford Maverick is offered in a choice of three trims: XL, XLT, and Lariat. The hybrid powertrain is standard and pairs a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder with an electric motor for a combined output of 191 hp. This model uses a CVT gearbox but is restricted to FWD. The optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine produces 250 hp and is available with both FWD and AWD. It makes use of an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The base XL comes with 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, and black exterior door handles. Inside, it gets an eight-inch color touchscreen display that offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Other standard features include manual air conditioning, a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, remote keyless entry, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

On the mid-range XLT, 18-inch alloy wheels replace the base model's steel items. It also adds cruise control, a power tailgate lock, unique cloth upholstery, and the option of adding the FX4 Off-Road package with all-terrain tires, exposed front tow hooks, hill descent control, and more.

The top-spec Lariat gains ActiveX upholstery, ambient lighting, a power-sliding rear window, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel. This model can be equipped with the First Edition package which adds First Edition decals, a black-painted roof, a power moonroof, and a soft-folding tonneau cover.

All models can be equipped with driver-assist technologies like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert.

The base Maverick XL only has access to the Ford Co-Pilot360 package. For $540, this adds blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, a full-size spare wheel for the hybrid, and a lane-keeping system including driver alert. Some notable standalone features are a power moonroof for $795, a bed divider kit for $300, and a trailer hitch receiver with a four-pin connector for $100. When the EcoBoost engine and AWD are specified, the $745 Tow package becomes available. This includes a seven-pin connector and trailer hitch receiver, a trailer brake controller, and a transmission oil cooler.

The XLT can be upgraded with the XLT Luxury package for $2,345 which adds features like an eight-way power driver's seat, heated seats, remote start, a heated steering wheel, LED box lighting, and a 400W/110V inverter.

On the Lariat, there's the $3,340 Lariat Luxury package. This adds an especially long list of equipment but our favorite additions are adaptive cruise control, wireless charging, heated seats, and the eight-speaker B&O sound system. Once this package is equipped, you can add the First Edition package for $1,495. This includes a black painted roof, a power moonroof, special decals, and more. The First Edition model is not compatible with FWD or the FX4 Off-Road package. Only offered with AWD, the FX4 Off-Road package costs $800. This includes all-terrain tires, skid plates, hill descent control, and a heavy-duty radiator.

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.

If you wanted a unibody truck with more car-like driving characteristics in the US, the Ridgeline was the default choice. Now the Maverick has come along and promises the same. That being said, the Maverick is a smaller and cheaper truck. The Ford starts at under $20,000 but the Ridgeline begins at $36,890. For your extra money, you get a much more powerful 280-hp V6 engine in the Ridgeline that allows it to tow up to 5,000 lbs. That being said, the Ridgeline's bed cargo capacity and payload numbers aren't all that much more than the Maverick's. And, if you go for the turbocharged Maverick, you'll get better economy and reasonable power at a lower price. The Ridgeline is a more refined truck and remains nicer to drive but it doesn't have any massive advantage over the more affordable Ford.

The comparisons between these two won't end anytime soon. 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. The latter may be more important to some buyers. 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.