Behold the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck. It’s a crew-cab crossover-based pickup truck with seating for five and a 4.5-ft bed in the back. The base model of the Maverick is a front-wheel-drive Hybrid with an estimated 40 MPG and a starting price of $19,995. This truck is rated to haul a maximum of 1,500 lbs of payload and tow up to 4,000 lbs with the optional turbocharged power plant. Check out this world debut with a ‘hands-on’ video and the top 10 most important features (linked below).
Chassis
The all-new Maverick pickup shares its platform with the Ford Bronco Sport and the Ford Escape, but it’s much larger than its crossover counterparts and has many unique components to offer the capability and utility that it does. The Maverick rides on a wheelbase that is approximately 16 inches longer than that of the Bronco Sport. The total length of the Maverick is just under 200 inches.
The Maverick joins the rest of Ford’s pickup family, including the Ford Ranger, Ford F-150, Ford Super Duty, and the Ford medium-duty trucks. The Maverick is about 11 inches shorter than a Ford Ranger. Indeed, this is more of a compact crossover pickup truck.
Design
Naturally, vehicle design is very subjective. Please let us know what you think about the Maverick’s looks in the comments section below. Personally, I expect any pickup truck to have macho and blocky body lines and design elements. The Maverick delivers on the blocky design, but I am not a huge fan of the front-end design. I think the profile, rear, and interior designs are fresh and well done.
In the meantime, here is a look at the Ford Maverick design sketches.
Trim Levels & Power
The 2022 Ford Maverick will be available in three trims levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat. Actually, there will also be a First Edition model to commemorate the launch of the new model. Ford is using its very traditional truck trim level designations. This trim layout is very similar to what is also currently available with Ford Ranger midsize truck.
The XL front-wheel-drive model will come standard with a 2.5-liter I4 Hybrid powertrain that also offers an eCVT. This system is very similar to the one currently used in the Ford Escape Hybrid compact crossover. In the Maverick, the Hybrid produces a total of 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid is not available in the all-wheel-drive configuration. Ford estimates the base Maverick FWD Hybrid to get up to 40 MPG in the city and 37 MPG combined. This translates into a maximum estimated driving range of around 500 miles if you consider the Maverick offers a 13.8-gallon fuel tank.
The Maverick will offer an optional 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost I4 engine option with a rating of 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged Maverick will be offered in an AWD configuration. This more powerful powerplant also offers more towing capability when properly equipped. More on this a little later. Ford has not yet revealed the Maverick turbo fuel economy or price.
Payload & Towing
Ford rates all base models of the 2022 Maverick at 1,500 lbs of maximum payload capacity. Ford points out that all of this payload can be loaded inside the bed. It’s clear that Ford is looking at its primary Maverick competitor – the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz’s bed is rated at a maximum of 660 lbs – while the Santa Cruz’s total payload is 1,700 lbs.
While the turbocharged Santa Cruz is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs, the Maverick turbo can be configured to tow a maximum of 4,000 lbs. The maximum 4K towing package includes an integrated brake controller as well.
The pickup will offer several selectable driving modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Eco, and Sport. Ford will offer a unique FX4 off-road package for the Maverick that includes a specially tuned suspension, more aggressive tires, additional underbody protection, and special off-road driving modes. Once again, Ford is using its traditional FX4 off-road package designation for the Maverick. There are no Badlands or Sasquatch packages for the Maverick, at least not in this initial announcement. There is also no mention of a Tremor or a Raptor version.
Off-Road
Speaking of off-roading – the Maverick AWD offers up to 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The AWD models have a 21.6-degree approach angle, 21.2-degree departure angle, and an 18.1-degree breakover angle. It is not a focused off-roader, but it should offer enough capability to tackle some mild obstacles off the beaten path.
Interior
While the Maverick’s interior resembles that of the Bronco Sport, it has its own unique character and features. The Maverick has unique door cards and an under-seat storage bin in the rear. To see a detailed review of the interior, take a look at the video below.
Bed
The Maverick has a 4.5-ft bed that expands to a 6-ft length when the tailgate is down. The tailgate has two open positions, a standard position and a slightly elevated position to allow a 4×8 sheet of material to be carried flat. This tailgate feature is similar to how the Jeep Gladiator’s tailgate works. The bed is made out of steel, it has many tie-down points, and slots that owners can use for homemade dividers.
Price
The Maverick XL base truck will start at an impressive $19,995 starting price. We do not have detailed pricing information at this time, but the Maverick may top out in the mid to high $30K range with all the options. Ford says the Maverick will go on sale in the Fall of 2021.
