If you’ve secretly yearned to own a pickup, the Ford Maverick can fulfill your desires. This affordable rig offers enough capacity for small to medium loads and will look good doing it.
If the Maverick name sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because Ford once applied it to a compact car back in the late-1960s. Back then it was one of the least expensive Fords. The same goes for the 2024 Maverick, which has garnered plenty of attention from both traditional and non-traditional pickup buyers.
The Maverick, which was new for the 2022 model year, has a standard four-door crew-cab body style with seating for five passengers. This makes it family-friendly as well as practical.
The 4.5-foot-long bed is about 15 centimetres longer than the one that comes with the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup and is also slightly longer than the Honda Ridgeline’s box. Ford claims the Maverick can carry up to 18 4x8-foot sheets of three-quarter-inch plywood lying flat on the load floor (with the tailgate lowered).
The Maverick’s roots originate with the Ford Bronco Sport and Escape’s unitized (frameless) platform, but the Maverick has been strengthened to accommodate payloads of up to 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds). The bodywork has nothing in common with the Escape, but it does display a passing resemblance to the full-size F-150 pickup.
The minimalist interior fits with the Maverick’s purpose in life. Knobs and buttons control most functions, including the audio and ventilation systems plus an oversize rotary control for gear selection. Even the gauges and standard 8.0-inch touchscreen are none-too-fancy and are easily mastered.
The rear seat cushion flips up to reveal storage bins for valuables.
For 2024, Ford has reversed the standard and optional powertrains so that base models now come with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder rated at 250-horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The optional hybrid system consists of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder teamed with an electric motor that produces a combined 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque.
An eight-speed automatic takes care of the shifting duties for the 2.0 while a continuously variable transmission is standard with the hybrid.
All-wheel drive is standard, but only with the turbo 2.0. The system lacks a two-speed transfer case, which means you can’t shift into low range when crawling through muck and mud.
The Maverick’s 2.0-litre engine can tow up to 1,820 kilograms, when properly equipped. That’s less than the maximum 2,270 kilograms that both the Santa Cruz and Ridgeline can pull but it's double the hybrid’s towing capacity.
Where the hybrid shines is in fuel economy, with ratings of 5.6 l/100 km in the city, 7.1 on the highway and 6.3 combined. The turbo powerplant earns ratings of 10.8/8.1/9.6s
Maverick pricing starts at $35,400 including destination charges ($35,900 for the hybrid) for the XL work truck. The standard equipment is not too inclusive, but the midgrade XLT gets upgraded seat coverings, rear-seat armrest, heated steering wheel, power-locking tailgate and 17-inch alloy wheels (steel versions are standard).
The top-end Lariat includes dual-zone climate control, leather seat surfaces (including power driver’s seat) power-sliding rear window and 18-inch wheels.
The FX4 Off-Road Package is available for all Mavericks with all-wheel drive. With it you get protective skid plates, higher-capacity radiator, unique aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires and hill-descent control that maintains the Maverick at a controlled pace when heading down steep inclines.
For 2024, a Tremor package can be added to the FX4ís equipment that provides 2.5 centimetres of ground clearance. You also get more aggressive 17-inch Falken-brand off-road rubber and part-time AWD with locking rear differential.
Now in its third model year, the Ford Maverick is practically alone in providing buyers with an economically priced pickup that can handle most basic towing and hauling chores while curbing its appetite for fuel and looking good at the same time.
