This week get some very limited seat time behind the wheel of the Maverick hybrid pickup truck – probably the hottest vehicle Ford have produced in decades. People have ordered their Maverick back in July 2021 and still haven’t received them yet – almost a year later. Due to the shortage of any available, we had to grab a quick test – courtesy of our local Ford dealership, (Grimsby Ford), so a big thanks to them. The order books closed for 2022 Maverick’s in February, so it looks like most people are going to be getting 2023’s…when they eventually arrive.

Why the mad scramble to buy the Maverick? Well, for one it’s a steal at $25,995 for the base version; two – it’s the perfect weekend warrior truck for those that don’t want or need a big truck and especially don’t need the towing or payload those trucks bring…and finally – the base model is a hybrid!!

What Is It?

Compact Hybrid pickup truck
First-ever standard Full Hybrid pickup in Canada/USA
Unibody construction – like a car, not a truck
Perfect size for everyday use
We’re driving the XLT model
2.5 L iVCT Atkinson-Cycle I4 Engine
FWD
E-CVT Transmission
Eco, Normal and Sport along with Snow/Sand Assist and Slippery driving modes
Also available as a 2.0L EcoBoost gas engine with either FWD or AWD and 8-speed auto
Towing capacity: 2,000 lbs (907 kg) / Payload: 1,500 lbs (680 kg) – same as 2.0L w/out tow package
Cargo Box (4.5-ft bed): Volume: 33.3 cu. ft. / Length: 54.4” / Width: 53.3”

How Does It Look?

We LOVE the look of the Maverick
There’s an endless amount of customization options for the Maverick, either from Ford or aftermarket
17″ machined-face aluminum wheels come standard and are the only option on the Hybrid

What’s It Like Inside?

Interior layout is great – it feels very roomy and open – everything is easy to understand and use at a quick glance
It feels a lot roomier than it’s stablemate the Ranger
Not entirely sold on the blue and grey denim interior with the orange piping or the hard plastic light grey dashboard
Tons of storage and cubby spaces throughout the vehicle
The 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen comes with SYNC 3 that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto + FordPass Connect (Wi-Fi Hotspot)
The driver gets a very useful 4.2” digital instrument cluster
The front seats are very comfortable – they don’t even have a lumbar adjustment and they feel just right
The XLT Luxury Package adds 8-way powered driver’s seat and 6-way manual passenger seat (manual lumbar adjustments)
Heated seats and steering wheel also come with the XLT Luxury package
FordPass Connect – download the app onto your phone and turn it into a key or an information centre – very cool
In the U.S. they have the optional B&O Sound System available, but in Canada we’re stuck with the stock AM/FM unit with 6-speakers that is surprisingly good! Sound is nice and clear with enough bass – we were VERY surprised – and impressed
Rear seating is somewhat upright, but still comfortable
There’s plenty of knee and legroom for rear passengers with a virtually flat floor
Rear seat also flips up, offering additional storage

So How Quick Is It & How Does It Handle?

I stomped on the throttle and it was very brisk at getting to 80 km/h from 5km/h – no sluggishness or waiting for the transmission to drop and then upshift – one of the big benefits of a CVT transmission
Driving it like a normal person would, it was surprisingly “switched on” and nowhere close to being a ‘boring hybrid”
Steering is predictable and well balanced
Switching to Sport mode improved it dramatically – at a cost to the fuel economy, obviously
Braking is superb – very easy to balance and doesn’t feel anything like the hybrids of old
Sport Mode is by far the most entertaining/fun mode, but I wish it didn’t have to be reset every time you turn the vehicle back on! Ford isn’t alone with this complaint. It’s 2022, why can’t I set my preference and it locks in – until I decide to change it?

Related: 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid – Road Test

Horsepower: 162 (191 combined) @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 155 @ 4, 000 rpm (engine only, not combined output)
94 kW/173 lb.-ft. battery peak
Top Speed: 177 kph / 110 mph (gov ltd)
0-60 mph (sec): 7.7

What Does It Cost?
For up-to-date pricing and options visit: www.Ford.ca

To Buy…
Base Price: XLT – $29,650
As Tested: $33,802
> XLT Luxury Package – $3,150
> Co-Pilot360 Assist+ / Adaptive Cruise Control w/Stop’N’Go – $850
> Keyless Entry Keypad w/Remote Start – $152

To Operate…

Rated at (L/100 km): City – 5.6/ Highway – 7.1/ Combined – 6.3
We didn’t have the Maverick long enough to actually calculate fuel economy
Owners are claiming 4.7 L/100 km combined is easily attainable

Warranty:

Basic: 3 years/60,000 km
Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km
Roadside Assistance: 5 years /100,000 km

The Competition…
The only REAL competition is the Hyundai Santa Cruz as the Honda Ridgline is much bigger
Hybrid CUV’s: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Niro, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota RAV4

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good: Outstanding fuel economy, and price point
The Bad: Defaults to Normal drive mode every time you start it
Bad: Cheap plastics on the dash, door handle etc – BUT at this price, you can’t expect luxury
The Ugly: Very hard to actually purchase/lease

What’s The Verdict?
What a terrific truck!!! Size is perfect, ingress and egress are great. The driving position is perfect. It’s comfortable, peppy, fun to drive and great on gas. We love the way it’s customizable – this is going to have a HUGE cult following, it already has and people can’t even get their hands on one! Would we buy one? Yep, got our names on the list already…