The compact Ford Maverick pickup is a genuine hit. Sales in January were up 98% compared to last year. It outsold the perennial leader in the midsize class, the Toyota Tacoma, in 2023. The Maverick also outsold the completely redesigned Toyota Tundra, a full-size truck.
The Maverick is based on the compact Ford Escape SUV, which is also the platform for the popular Ford Bronco Sport. The Maverick only has one challenger in the compact truck category, the Hyundai Santa Cruz. But the competition isn’t even close. Ford sold 94,056 Mavericks in 2023 compared to just 36,675 versions of the Santa Cruz last year.
Ford credits much of the Maverick’s success to its available hybrid engine. Sales of that fuel saving version were up 118% in January 2024. In fact, the hybrid engine is so popular, Ford has made it an additional cost option in 2024 models. The once optional turbocharged EcoBoost 2.0-liter inline four is now the standard engine.
The base XL version with the turbo engine and front-wheel-drive starts at a ridiculously low $25,410, making it a genuine automotive bargain. Even the top-of-the-line Lariat Tremor Off-Road version is just $39,945.
Having now tested two versions of the Maverick, I understand its success. Put simply, despite its small size, the Maverick is a real truck that can be used for work, play and daily driving. The 4.5-foot bed may be short, but it’s big enough for most chores, including holding 18 four-by-eight sheets of plywood with the tailgate down. Properly equipped, the Maverick can also tow up to 4,000 pounds, which is enough for a recreational trailer or camper.
But on a more fundamental level, the Maverick looks like a truck. It is only available as four-door that features blocky, box-on-box styling, like its larger midsize Ranger and full-size F-150 siblings. In comparison, the Santa Cruz features edgy styling which, while striking, makes it look more like a compact SUV with a pickup bed (which it also is).
The Maverick also has a surprising amount of interior space. Even people over six feet tall have plenty of headroom. Although the leg room in the rear seats is a little cramped, it will still accommodate two adults. Technologies include an 8-inch center touch screen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and standard FordPass Connect with an embedded modem and Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices. It also comes with all the standard safety features you've come to expect in a new vehicle. The Ford Co-Pilot 360 system is optional, with adaptive cruise control and lane assistance.
I first tested the hybrid version of the Maverick last year. It is EPA rated at 42 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway, which is of course remarkable for a truck. Although the normally aspirated 2.5-liter inline four and electric motor only produce a combined 191 horsepower, that is adequate for a vehicle that weighs just 3,720 pounds. The continuously variable transmission was tuned to take advantage of the power while still returning exceptional mileage. The only real drawback is that the hybrid version is not available with AWD.
My newest tester was a mid-range 2024 XLT version equipped with the turbo engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the optional FX4 Off-Road package that includes AWD, all-terrain tires, underbody skid plates, front tow hooks, four additional drive modes, and Hill Descent Control. The turbo engine pumps out a healthy 250 horsepower, giving it a peppy feel. Car and Driver found it needed just 5.9 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour, making it nearly two seconds faster than the hybrid version. In theory the new base FWD version would be even faster because it weighs less.
My Maverick also had a drop-in heavy duty plastic bed liner with multiple tie downs, a multi-position tailgate, and 110V outlets and 12V electric leads for power tools, a portable sound system, or whatever else you might think of.
In a week of mixed driving, I found the Maverick FX4 Off-Road to be a lot of fun to drive, thanks in large part to the independent rear suspension that comes with AWD and gives it a smooth ride and nimble handling. The small size — just 16 and a half feet long — made it a breeze to take downtown and easy to park in spaces that wouldn’t accommodate a midsize truck, let alone a full-size one. It easily scrambled over the improvised off-road course of deeply rutted dirt roads on steep hills in my neighborhood, while the all-terrain tires also smoothed on the potholes on the poorly maintained paved ones. The optional black wheels also helped give my Maverick a purposeful look.
That’s impressive, but there is an even more off-road capable version of the Maverick available. The Tremor package adds an enhanced AWD system a 1.0-inch factor lift, an off-road tuned suspension, “Trail Control” traction assistance, a transmission cooler, and an electronic locking rear differential so that it can better handle rougher terrain.
My only complaint is that much of the plastic on the dash and door panels in both of my test vehicles looked lightweight. With the hybrid version, I assumed that was to save weight and improve mileage. The XLT was the same, however. I stopped noticing it after a couple of days, though. The interior of the Santa Cruz is much more sophisticated, but the Hyundai is also several thousand dollars more across all trim levels and does not offer a hybrid option.
The Ford Maverick has been called the little truck that could. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Santa Cruz is still its only competition. As both midsize and full-size pickups have gotten larger of the years, the appeal of a more affordable competent compact pickup is obvious. Anyone seriously thinking about buying a new truck needs to take a Maverick on a test drive before making a final decision. The Maverick definitely punches above its weight class.
2024 Ford Maverick XLT FX4 Off-Road AWD
Base price: $$25,410 (XL FWD)
Price as tested: $34,735 (FX4 AWD)
Type: Compact pickup truck
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (250 hp, 277 lbs-ft)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive modes: Normal, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul
EPA estimated mileage: 22/29
Overall length: 199.7 inches
Curb weight: 3,731 pounds
Final assembly: Hermosillo, Mexico
Most Popular
Comments / 0