2022 Ford Maverick: The Truck for the Majority of the Population

The 2022 Ford Maverick may just be the perfect truck for the majority of the population. Built on the same platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport, the Maverick is a unibody pickup just like its chief competitor, the Hyundai Santa Cruz, and the larger Honda Ridgeline. Take a closer look at the truck and you’ll immediately notice that Ford didn’t even attempt to make the bed separate from the cab. Although it’s designed like a traditional pickup, there’s no hiding the unibody roots.

Under the hood of the 2022 Ford Maverick, you’ll find a standard hybrid system shared with the Escape. That means a 2.5-liter four-cylinder coupled to an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery, and a CVT for a total system output of 191 hp. Ford says this combination is targeting 40 mpg in the EPA’s city rating and 37 mpg combined. However, the electrified Maverick is FWD only. Payload capacity stands at 1,500 pounds while towing capacity is 2,000 pounds. If that’s not enough for you, a 2.0-liter turbo-four paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission will also be available. This engine makes 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque and is the only way to get AWD and a 4,000-pound towing capacity. The latter requires choosing the 4K Tow package.

The Maverick’s interior layout is similar to the Escape. You get a standard floating 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility standard and an optional digital gauge cluster on higher trims. There’s a storage cubby to the right of the main display but it appears that can be deleted in favor of a larger one. You get extra utility features like a fold-up rear bench with storage and lots of places for bottles and small items. Ford won’t offer leather in the Maverick, opting for leatherette upholstery instead. You get a cool multi-tone interior option in Lariat complete with brown seats and geometric patterns on the doors.

Looking at the 2022 Ford Maverick, you’ll notice that its exterior looks like a blend of Bronco Sport and F-150, which isn’t a bad thing. This gives the truck the family look yet it has a character of its own. A 4.5-foot (or 54.4-inch) bed is your only option in the Maverick but it’s not 4.0 feet wide (42.6 inches wide). The tailgate also has a secondary position to help support longer items you put in the bed. In terms of exterior footprint, the Maverick is longer than the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Three grades will be available: XL, XLT, and Lariat. The best part? the $19,995 starting price. Yes, you read that right, the 2022 Ford Maverick will be one of the least expensive trucks you can get for the money and it’s also one of the most efficient if you get the hybrid. However, Ford’s CoPilot360 driver assistance suite isn’t standard even on the range-topping Lariat trim. The 4K Tow package also includes a four-in wiring harness instead of a seven-pin one. Cruise control is also not standard on the base XL trim, hinting that Ford may have omitted certain options to get to that super low starting price.

The arrival of the 2022 Ford Maverick is another step in the revival of the compact truck segment. This gives Ford a full lineup of trucks with something for every need (and want). It’s also the type of vehicle consumers have been looking for, especially the hybrid model. Hopefully, Ford will also add AWD to the hybrid model because that would make it more appealing.  More pricing details should be announced closer to the Maverick’s on-sale date.