2022 Ford Maverick Preview
It looks like Hyundai wasn’t the only manufacturer with a new compact pickup truck for the 2022 model year. This month, Ford debuted the Maverick, which Ford says is the most fuel-efficient truck on the market with a targeted rating of 40 miles per gallon in the city. Coming as a five-passenger four-door truck with a full-hybrid powertrain and having the maneuverability of a city car, the Maverick should appeal to customers who likely never considered a truck before.
The standard powertrain is a 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to generate 191 horsepower combined, along with an automatic continuously variable transmission, enabling the truck to get 40 mpg in the city and around 500 miles of range on a single tank of gas. Hybrid powertrain-equipped Mavericks are front-wheel-drive only. It also allows for the ability to tow up to 2,000 pounds, enough for a pop-up camper trailer. Those who want more power and the option of all-wheel-drive can get a turbocharged EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine making 250 horsepower mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. (The more powerful engine increases towing ability to 4,000 pounds with the optional 4K Tow Package.)
There are three trim levels of the Maverick to choose from: base XL, midrange XLT, and high-end Lariat. Even with a starting MSRP of $19,995, the Maverick gets plenty of standard equipment such as LED headlamps, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities as well as Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, bringing Pre-Collision Assist with automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams. FordPass, which allows owners to find the truck, check fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and turn on and switch off the truck from their smartphone, also comes standard.
In the options department, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a blind spot information system, as well as lane centering and evasive steering assist are available for those wanting more safety features. For additional utility, customers can get two 110-volt 400-watt outlets, one in the bed and one in the cabin, to power computers, phones, or power tools. Those wanting more off-road capability can get the FX4 package on all-wheel-drive-equipped trucks which adds all-terrain tires and suspension tuning along with additional underbody protection, and Hill Descent Control.
Utility matters more than anything with the Maverick. To that end, the bed has a standard payload rating of 1,500 pounds and the volume to hold a standard ATV. The door armrests allow a one-liter water bottle to sit upright and door pockets can store a laptop or notebooks. Under the rear seats sits a storage bin while there is an integrated tether system in the back that allows customers to hook their equipment. The rear FLEXBED allows customers to create segmented storage, elevated floors, bike and kayak racks and more by sliding 2x4s or 2x6s into slots stamped into the side of the bet through the provision of two tie-downs, four D-rings and built-in threaded holes in the sides.
After growing a great deal in size over the years, it looks like the smaller pickup trucks people are clamoring for are well on their way. We’ll be interested to see how the Maverick compares with both the F-150 and Ranger as well as the upcoming Santa Cruz. Ultimately, the existence of the Maverick will be great for consumers, enabling them to pick between compact, midsize, and full-size pickup trucks.
