If you drive anywhere in America today, you know there's no shortage of huge pickup trucks. The basic "full-size" pickups including the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan have been growing for decades. If you look a little closer, it's easy to see that many people don't really need a truck that big. They might even be happier with a more affordable and more fuel-efficient truck.
That's what makes the Ford Maverick such a great vehicle. It's got almost as much bed space as the popular short bed full-size trucks, and it's got the four-door crew cab that most buyers choose. With 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque from the optional 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, the Maverick also offers performance, towing capacity, and hauling capacity that meets most people's needs. And the Maverick does all this at a bit more than half the price of a full-size with those same features.
The Maverick is built on a crossover SUV platform. It's the same underlying chassis that Ford uses for the Escape and Bronco Sport SUVs. This is important for a few reasons. On the plus side, it means the Maverick has independent rear suspension, so it's smooth, great handling, and comfortable. On the downside, towing capacity is limited to 4,000 pounds by that chassis. But if that weight meets your towing needs, it's not a problem.
As mentioned, Ford puts a powerful 2.0-liter turbo engine into the Maverick, with AWD. You can also choose a 2.5-liter hybrid engine with front-drive, and that combination returns 42 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. So if you don't plan on towing or going off-road, the hybrid can be a very smart choice.
The Maverick seems like a very small truck when compared to an F-150 or even a Ranger, but it's quite spacious and comfortable inside. Instead of going for luxury overkill, the Maverick is again smart with technology and interior appointments. This is a truck you can live with and afford, and you still get what you need. It's got an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple and Android smart phone integration, and optionally the Ford Co-Pilot 360 package that delivers lane keeping, adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beams, and trailer backing assistance. That's all for just $650.
On the road, the Maverick is easy to drive, has great visibility, and handles like a passenger car. The performance of the 2.0-liter turbo engine in the mid-grade XLT trim is impressive. If you build your own truck, you can bring in a well-equipped AWD Maverick with the Co-Pilot 360 package and towing capability for less than $30,000 including all required fees. The least expensive comparably equipped F-150 is $52,385, and that doesn't offer Co-Pilot 360.
The bottom line is that a Maverick may be better suited to any given truck buyer's needs, and certainly will be easier on their budget. If you're shopping for a truck this year, maybe it's time to think small?
2024 Ford Maverick XLT
Base price: $26,315
Price as tested: $33,140
Type: Compact pickup
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (250 hp, 277 lbs-ft)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
EPA estimated mileage: 22/29
Overall length: 199.7 inches
Curb weight: 3,731 pounds
Final assembly: Hermosillo, Mexico
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