Generally smaller is healthier. Generally smaller is cheaper, and typically smaller is smarter. That’s the 2022 Ford Maverick, a compact pickup truck sharing the identical unibody platform because the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport. Yeah, it’s small, however that’s nice if you need one thing with a mattress, however don’t have the necessity or the additional money for a mid- or full-size truck. As a substitute, the Maverick is an easy-to-drive, environment friendly pickup that gained’t break the financial institution and has to make clever use of the house it’s bought.
The Maverick is peerless, with its small stature and a typical hybrid powertrain. The closest competitor is the also-new Hyundai Santa Cruz. That Hyundai shies away from the pickup vibe, sustaining its crossover aesthetics. The Maverick leans into the truth that it’s a pickup, and constructed by an organization that’s been promoting numerous pickups for a lot of, many a long time. And the Maverick completely succeeds at being simply sufficient truck for lots of people. We’ve got little question it will likely be widespread — and for good cause. We simply marvel if Ford can sustain with demand.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it’s like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What’s new for 2022?
The Maverick is a model new mannequin, with 2022 being its inaugural mannequin 12 months.
What are the Maverick’s inside and in-car expertise like?
The Maverick inside is an fascinating place. Value-saving measures dictate the inclusion of plenty of laborious plastics, however one can see and really feel fascinating shapes, textures and colors. The plastic throughout the highest of the sprint has a grain paying homage to canvas. There are fascinating colours from the inclusion of floor carbon fiber byproduct in different laborious plastics. The door panels are molded to supply storage for a mess of water bottles of varied styles and sizes. The door armrest is lower out, leaving a cantilevered seize level full with uncovered fasteners for a rugged, utilitarian look. There are storage cubbies under the middle stack, subsequent to the infotainment display screen and on prime of the sprint behind the display screen.
An 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is customary throughout the lineup that runs Ford’s Sync 3 tech interface. It is technically not as superior because the Sync 4 system in F-150 and Bronco, however the last-gen remains to be completely purposeful and feature-rich. There are two USB ports up entrance (one in every of which is USB-C format), and two extra may be had within the rear of the middle console within the Lariat. A six-speaker sound system is customary (as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), however may be upgraded to an eight-speaker B&O sound system with subwoofer and HD Radio. SirusXM satellite tv for pc radio can be accessible, as are 110-volt shops within the rear and within the mattress. It’s also possible to go for a wi-fi charging pad to your telephone.
How huge is the Maverick?
It’s fairly small. It’s a compact pickup, a step under the Ford Ranger. Each Maverick is a SuperCrew configuration with 4 facet doorways and a 4.5-foot mattress. Regardless of its diminutive stature, it makes use of its accessible house brilliantly. There are many cutouts within the door panels to accommodate bottles of varied sizes. The storage bin under the rea bench seat is beneficiant, and an excellent place to retailer instruments.
Though the mattress is 7 inches shorter than that of the Ranger SuperCrew, it is nonetheless for much longer than the cargo areas of even the most important compact SUVs. Plus, whereas small for a pickup, the mattress remains to be large enough to accommodate a transport pallet when closed, or full 4×8 sheets of plywood in a flat, degree place with the tailgate opened in its mid-position. As many as 10 mattress tie-downs and a cargo administration system assist you to safe your load. A pair of tailgate tie-downs double as bottle openers. There are two pre-wired 12-volt shops for wiring in your personal equipment, and an accessible 120-volt outlet permits you to plug in instruments or home equipment. Cubbies within the facet of the mattress enable for additional storage, and a false flooring in these cubbies may be eliminated to accommodate one thing like a two-liter bottle. So, yeah, it’s not the most important mattress round, however it’s one of many smartest. (The Hyundai Santa Cruz has its own set of unique bed features as effectively)
What are the Maverick’s gas economic system and efficiency specs?
The Maverick provides two completely different powertrains. The hybrid is customary, mating a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to an digital constantly variable transmission with built-in electrical motors and a small battery pack. In all, the system makes a complete of 191 horsepower 155 pound-feet of torque. The Maverick Hybrid is simply supplied in front-wheel drive. It has impressive fuel economy figures: 42 miles per gallon metropolis, 33 mpg freeway and 37 mpg mixed.
The opposite accessible energy plant is the “EcoBoost” turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automated transmission. It may be had with both front- or all-wheel drive. The front-drive EcoBoost is rated at 23 mpg metropolis, 30 mpg freeway and 26 mixed. All-wheel drive solely hampers that barely, with an EPA ranking of twenty-two/29/25 mpg. These are principally 3-mpg mixed higher than what the turbocharged Hyundai Santa Cruz will get.
The EcoBoost may tow as much as 4,000 kilos, whereas the Hybrid maxes out at 2,000 kilos. The turbo Santa Cruz is nice for five,000 kilos.
What is the Maverick prefer to drive?
Because the Maverick’s dimension would counsel, it’s a simple automobile to drive, whether or not navigating the site visitors and parking a number of downtown, cruising scenic highways or rambling down rural gravel roads. The hybrid’s instantaneous torque makes it desperate to get underway, and its 191 horsepower is ample to assist it carry velocity uphill. With a half-ton of mulch within the mattress and utilizing the Tow/Haul mode, the hybrid-powered Maverick (pictured above) nonetheless drives simply as simply, although not as effectively. The one quibble to seek out with the hybrid was the brake really feel — barely sensitive at first, however just a little gummy as you dig deeper into the pedal. It was straightforward to get used to and neglect about, although.
Driving the EcoBoost with all-wheel drive offers what most drivers will discover to be a extra acquainted, if barely noisier, drive expertise. It’s positively faster to make passing maneuvers and a bit extra surefooted in corners and on unfastened surfaces. Plus, it’s the Maverick to get if towing is on the menu given its most 4,000 kilos. Its eight-speed automated transmission shall be extra palatable to sure patrons, although the hybrid’s CVT behaves admirably. Both method, there’s no choice to shift by yourself.
When geared up with the FX4 bundle, the monotube suspension, we’re informed, higher dissipates the warmth for a extra constant viscosity and a journey that holds up below extra exercise. The underbody safety does its job, deflecting a few of these larger rocks from the mechanicals beneath the automobile. The FX4’s Mud/Rut and Sand modes assist present confidence, whereas hill descent management makes descending these steep grades lots much less fraught. It appeared effective for a lot of the kinds of driving one may must get to a campsite, throughout a farm or to a searching blind.
What different Ford Maverick opinions can I learn?
2022 Ford Maverick First Drive Review | Little truck is a big deal
Our first drive of the Ford Maverick, whereby we check each the Hybrid and EcoBoost variations, each front- and all-wheel-drive variations in addition to thee FX4 off-road bundle. To summarize, we’re totally impressed.
2022 Ford Maverick vs Ranger and F-150 size comparison: How big is it?
Simply how small is the Maverick? Right here’s the way it compares to its larger siblings.
We talk Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, and we bought Suburbans! | Autoblog Podcast #703
Hearken to our editors examine the Ford Maverick to its solely shut competitor, the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
What’s the 2022 Maverick worth and what options can be found?
Whatever the powertrain, the Maverick may be had in one in every of three trim ranges: XL, XLT or Lariat. The bottom XL trim begins at $21,490 (together with $1,495 in vacation spot charges) for the hybrid. The EcoBoost provides $1,085 throughout trim ranges, whereas all-wheel drive provides an extra $3,305. Lastly, for individuals who wish to enterprise additional off the crushed path, the all-wheel-drive Maverick XLT and Lariat trims supply the FX4 bundle ($800) with all-terrain tires, a specifically tuned suspension, additional underbody safety, Mud/Rut and Sand drive modes, in addition to hill descent management. A totally loaded Lariat with EcoBoost, all-wheel drive, FX4 bundle, tow bundle, Ford Co-Pilot360 and the Lariat Luxurious bundle rings in at $35,715.
The aforementioned base XL trim contains as customary gear metal wheels, automated LED headlights, auto excessive beams, pickup field tie-down hooks and rail, ahead collision warning with automated emergency braking, handbook air con, material seats, a height-adjustable driver seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, rear under-seat storage bins, 12-volt energy shops entrance and rear, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, 4.2-inch instrument panel show, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and FordPass Join with 4G LTE Wi-Fi.
XLT provides 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, cruise management, FlexBed cubby storage, energy tailgate lock, keyless entry keypad, energy side-view mirrors with built-in spotter mirrors, D-link mattress connectors, storage in cargo mattress, wiper-activated headlights, distinctive material bucket seats, and a fold-down rear heart armrest with two cupholders.
Lariat provides body-color door and tailgate handles, body-color mirrors, proximity entry and push-button begin, power-sliding rear window, dual-zone automated local weather management, an eight-way energy driver’s seat, ActiveX vinyl upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, ambient lighting, twin rear USB ports and a 6.5-inch instrument panel show.
Additionally accessible in packages are options like adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality and lane centering, LED cargo field lighting, drop-in or spray-in bedliner, heated entrance seats, heated steering wheel, heated facet mirrors, distant begin, SiriusXM radio, and a wi-fi telephone charger.
The pricing breakdown based mostly on trim and drivetrain is as follows:
Maverick Hybrid
- XL: $21,490
- XLT: $23,775
- Lariat: $26,985
Maverick EcoBoost (FWD/AWD)
- XL: $22,575/$25,880
- XLT: $24,860/$28,165
- Lariat: $28,070/$31,375
What are the Maverick’s security scores and driver help options?
As of this writing, the Ford Maverick has not but been crash-tested by the Nationwide Freeway Transportation Security Administration or the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security.
Customary security gear contains ahead collision warning and automated emergency braking, post-collision braking, post-crash alert system, and auto excessive beams,. Additionally accessible are a blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping help, lane centering help, evasive steering help and rear parking sensors.
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