2022 Ford Maverick First Look: Small Truck, Small Price, Big MPG

Where did all these Ford game changers come from all of a sudden? The 2022 F-150 Lightning electric pickup offers up to 563 hp, 300 miles of range, and 10,000 pounds of towing capacity, and it affordably ($41,669 to start!) electrifies the best-selling truck in the world. And now this truck, the new 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup, looks like it will shake up the smaller end of the spectrum.

If its 1,500-pound payload, 4,000-pound max towing capacity, and DIY-ready 4.5-foot bed don’t catch your eye, its standard hybrid powertrain with up to 40 mpg or starting price of just $21,490 ought to make you think twice. Indeed, with the new Maverick, Ford hopes to sell small pickups to a whole swath of people who have never considered one before.

Why Should I Care About the Maverick?

For years, American automakers generally thought the public was uninterested in any truck smaller than a half ton—that’s F-150, Silverado, and Ram 1500 territory—leaving the midsize segment largely to Nissan’s Frontier and Toyota’s Tacoma. The thinking was that such trucks were too small, too expensive to build and buy, and not capable enough. The introduction of the Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup in 2015 changed that, and it won our Truck of the Year award. Within five years, the segment was revitalized with more than half a dozen entries, as it turned out plenty of folks don’t need (let alone want) a full-size truck. With the new Maverick, Ford is betting that for some, even a midsizer is too much truck.

Ford promises the Maverick’s cabin will be just as useful as its bed. The four-door has room for five, and there’s hidden storage throughout the cabin. Most notable are what Ford calls “FITS” or “Ford Integrated Tether System” slots in the back-seat area. Found at the back of the center console and underneath the rear bench, items including cupholders, trash bins, grocery-bag hooks, and storage dividers will be available. Ford also says it’s working to publish the slot geometry so people can 3-D-print their own FITS accessories.

Elsewhere, the front door pockets are sized to fit 1-liter water bottles and smaller laptops or tablets, and the rear under-seat storage is said to be large enough for laptop bags, rollerblades, and, strangely, a fully inflated volleyball—you know, all the tools you’d need for your day job. The rear bench also folds down, though not flat.

As for the traditional bits, Ford says it designed the Maverick’s cabin to be functional and durable, with form following function. The surprisingly spacious cabin gives passengers a commanding view of the road and features high-quality cloth or synthetic leather upholstery, tons of storage cubbies, and mixed materials on the dash and doors, all designed to be easy to wipe down and clean. The dash topper—inspired by synthetic countertops—is off-white and pleasing to the touch; it is complemented by different accent colors depending on which trim you spec. Maverick XLTs, for instance, get orange accents, while higher-spec Maverick Lariats get a neat rose gold look.

On the tech front, an 8.0-inch center screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, as is Fordpass Connect Wi-Fi. The automaker’s Ford Co-Pilot 360 system featuring automatic emergency braking and automatic high-beam assist is standard. Optional active safety extras include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and lane centering.

How Much Is the Ford Maverick and When Can I Buy It?

Prices for the Ford Maverick start at $21,490 for the entry-level Maverick XL. Ford hasn’t yet announced pricing for Maverick XLT, Maverick Lariat, or 2022-only Maverick First Edition pickups, but you can expect a fully loaded Lariat or First Edition to top out at around $35,000 or so. The Maverick is expected to hit Ford dealers this fall, and reservations and orders can be placed today.

By: Erika Pizano
Title: 2022 Ford Maverick First Look: Small Truck, Small Price, Big MPG
Sourced From: www.motortrend.com/cars/ford/maverick/2022/2022-ford-maverick-compact-pickup-truck-first-look-review/
Published Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2021 10:00:03 +0000