Coming from Ford, we have another great mini-truck, the 2022 Ford Maverick. The name might spark some resemblance. It was used in the 1970s on a car that wasn’t so great. But don’t worry, we are sure that this time around, Ford did things properly. Ford is using the Maverick name on a small pickup truck.
We don’t see too many trucks in this category but there is a lot of hype around this bad boy. It won the award for the most impressive package in a mini truck. What is interesting about the Maverick is that it is being sold as a hybrid as standard. It doesn’t have too big of an engine in the hybrid setup but it doesn’t need an angry V8 with 500 horsepower.
The main competitor of the Maverick is the Santa Cruz from Hyundai, but other than that competition isn’t that fierce. Hopefully, the interior is luxurious as it is hyped. And the exterior looks stylish and dashing enough to be the best mini-truck. Let us dwell deeper into the review as we look at what makes the Maverick so special.
Interior
As far as the interior is concerned there is much to talk about. First of all, all Mavericks will be crew cabs. This means every Maverick truck has four full-size doors and it is quite roomy. Seating five people are almost a standard nowadays so there is no way Ford is going to skimp on this. All along with the cabin, there are numerous cargo spaces and bins to put your belongings. But even after that, the space doesn’t feel crowded.
There is more than enough legroom and headroom. Seats can be leather, suede, and fabric. It is nice to have a lot of options, this allows people to fully customize their Ford experience. Heated and ventilated seats are a must nowadays, especially because pickups aren’t only working horses, they are used as style statements and no one likes leaving sweat stains on their seats.
We can expect at least an 8-inch screen in the middle of the car. That way people from the back row can join in on the fun. And you can control pretty much everything from that touchscreen. Along with that, we get good connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Along with Bluetooth and wifi hotspot right in the cabin. What we would also like to see is a panoramic roof. This is great especially if you plan to take your Maverick out on a stroll off the road.
If you wish for more amenities on the inside you have to go for a more expensive trim. We have XLT and Lariat trims on offer. Also, ambient lighting is available in both these trims. There are a lot of knobs and buttons that aren’t digital, so Ford didn’t go full minimalist on us this time. All in all the cabin looks spacious and inviting, so job well done Ford.
Exterior
Although it is a small pickup, the 2022 Ford Maverick highly resembles its cousins from the F-150 line. The styling is very similar and why not, why change the winning recipe. In the front, we have a huge mesh front grille. This is both a staple for Ford trucks and a very useful tool. It improves air circulation and keeps things cool under the hood.
Smaller vehicles have weaker cooling fans so they might need all the help they can get. We also have unnecessarily huge FORD lettering on the front. Just in case you didn’t know the truck was made by Ford. It has a unibody construction on the frame which means there are no gaps between the cabin and the backside or the bed if you will. The proportions are perfect, not too big, not too small.
You can still haul cargo with it but don’t expect to fit anything too big back there. The ride height is not too big either, but perhaps it could be because Maverick is simply screaming to be taken off-road. Only 8.6 inches of ground clearance. There is a choice between 17 and 18-inch wheels, they might look beefier if you put some off-roading tires on them. They are made from aluminum to shave off some weight.
This truck is already light but no reason to not make it even lighter and improve the power to weight ratio. Headlights and taillights are halogen LED, the best-LED technology to improve safety and visibility. The roof can be colored differently if you ordered it in the first production year but there are a lot of black accents.
2022 Ford Maverick Engine Options and Fuel Economy
As we mentioned before the brand new 2022 Ford Maverick comes standard with a hybrid powertrain. We have a front-wheel-drive on every trim level. There is the electronic continuously variable transmission. It has good gas mileage, apparently 42 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
Most smaller compact cars can’t brag with those numbers. We have an optional 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Also, it comes with a front-wheel drive, but you have the option of an all-wheel drive. It comes with 8-speed automatic transmission.
The hybrid system is a 2.5 liter Atkinson inline 4 with a 94 kW battery pack. It produces 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. More than enough for a small truck. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine gives 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque.
2022 Ford Maverick Price
The 2022 Ford Maverick comes quite cheap, it starts at just $19.995 for a base XL hybrid version. Some extra amenities will cost you extra but is still a very competitive price. For $22.340 you can get the XLT version with a better interior, 17-inch wheels, and cruise control.
The 2022 Ford Maverick Lariat is top of the range, and it is priced at $25.490. The Lariat version comes with 18-inch aluminum wheels, keyless entry, push start button, and a lot of new cool features.
It is already on the road so look out for the quick little Ford.
