2022 Ford Maverick: Low-buck truck with serious smarts
Packing a standard hybrid and unparalleled efficiency, America's least-expensive pickup is deeply clever and good to drive.
This is the 2022 Ford Maverick and not only is it America's least-expensive pickup, it's also America's cheapest hybrid vehicle of any type.
Pricing for this compact truck starts at a jaw-droppingly low $21,490 -- and that includes $1,495 for destination fee).
Combined with its 94-kW electric motor, the Maverick hybrid's 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder is estimated to return 40 miles per gallon in the city, as well as 33 mpg on the highway and 37 combined. That urban test figure is around double the fuel efficiency of Ford's own midsize ranger.
You can certainly option up the Maverick, however, including fitting a gas-only 2.0-liter EcoBoost powertrain. The latter is rated at 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, so it's much more powerful than the hybrid model, which only gets 191 hp and 155 lb-ft. It's also the only engine you can get with all-wheel drive.
Even base Maverick models include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. It's actually roomier than the midsize Ranger and feels more modern inside, too.
At its Nashville launch event, Ford let us test out the Maverick's towing, hauling and (modest) off-road capabilities.
Maverick's main competition is the recently launched Hyundai Santa Fe, which has a wilder design but is significantly costlier, plus it's a lot less efficient than Ford's hybrid.
The Maverick can be had with a 4K towing package, enough to tote a small trailer, boat or a pair of ATVs on a double-axle trailer.
See? Told you it could haul a small trailer.
While the base Mav starts at around $21,500, it's possible to option one to around $37,000 if you check enough boxes. That said, the base XL hybrid might be the best Maverick -- it certainly is in terms of bang for the buck.
Keep clicking and scrolling for more images from our first drive of the 2022 Ford Maverick.