2022 Ford Maverick Launches as a Clever, Efficient Pickup

Ford’s newest pickup is for those who want or need less truck.

The 2022 Ford Maverick joins Ford’s lineup as a step down from the Ranger, with a scarcely believable sub-$20K starting price, three trim levels, and two engine options. In hybrid guise, Ford claims the thing is good for 40 mpg city.Ford

With its upcoming revival of the Maverick nameplate, Ford has unleashed a truck that stands out from the brutish brodozers we’ve come to expect. The 2022 Ford Maverick shares its chassis with the Escape and Bronco Sport, which means it rides on front-wheel-drive architecture. That may be jarring for hardcore truck enthusiasts, but don’t let it stop you from giving it full consideration. If the platform doesn’t impress, the numbers will.

The interior of the 2022 Ford Maverick looks way more like a crossover than a truck. We suspect that’s the point.Ford

The Maverick starts under $20,000 and is capable of 40 mpg city. The hybrid model nets that impressive gas mileage figure with a 2.5-liter four-banger that makes 191 hp and 155 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up to the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine drops fuel economy, but delivers 255 hp and 277 pound-feet. Payload capacity is 1,500 pounds and it can tow up to 4,000 pounds. The Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow more, but the Maverick is less expensive and more efficient.

2022 Ford Maverick.Ford

There’s more here that we like. The 4.5-foot bed grows to a full 6 feet with the tailgate down. Ford says it has “the volume to carry a standard ATV.” Additionally, what Ford calls Flexbed allows owners to segment the bed and add elevated floors. Those creative solutions continue inside, with cubbies and hidden storage aplenty.

The 2022 Ford Maverick will swallow a standard-size ATV, and has a feature called Flexbed, which allows you to segment the bed or add elevated floors.Ford

Although the Maverick isn’t a replacement for a full-size truck like the F-250 King Ranch Tremor we recently tested, it’s another strong option in the quickly-growing small pickup market and will slot in nicely for those who want or need a bed but not the massive vehicle to which they usually are attached.

The 2022 Ford Maverick will be available in XL, XLT, and Lariat trims. Off-roaders will be happy to know there is an optional FX4 package. This could be the perfect solution for the buyer who wants a carlike ride for daily life and the ability to tow a light trailer with their UTV or ATV on it come the weekend. That the fuel economy and starting MSRP are so low is a bonus. We look forward to seeing these on the road and at the trailhead.

It’s not an F-150 in terms of capability, and it’s not supposed to be. The 2022 Ford Maverick hits the market as a utilitarian, handy vehicle for those who don’t want the compromises that come with a full-size truck.Ford