Lucas Bell 
The 2022 Ford Maverick is a very different type of pickup truck than we are used to seeing come from the Dearborn automaker. Based on the same C2 Platform as the Escape and the Bronco Sport, this new pickup features a unibody construction, as well as standard front-wheel drive. The 2022 Ford Maverick is clearly not going to be as capable as a more traditional Ranger or F-150, but Ford is more than confident in what they’ve created. Despite the fact that the Maverick doesn’t pack conventional truck features, the Blue Oval stuck to the same Built Ford Tough principles that have bolstered the F-Series and Ranger lineups success. To put it another way, Ford didn’t go easy on the new Maverick during their testing by any means.
2022 Ford Maverick Developed With “Built Ford Tough” Criteria
“Built Ford Tough is our language… it’s how we develop the products,” said Maverick and Ranger marketing manager Trevor Scott in an Interview with MC&T. “One of the key advantages we have are the strong brother and sister products above us, and 40 years of truck leadership… the challenge really is starting with the audacious goal of developing a truck with this much capability at a price starting under $20,000, with a standard hybrid.”
That challenge is one that the automaker was able to meet however. The 2022 Ford Maverick is the cheapest pickup on the market, with a starting price of just $19,995. It’s hybrid powertrain is a legitimate selling point as well, thanks to EPA-estimated figures of 40 mpg in the city. That said, development wasn’t solely focused on making an affordable product. The Maverick needed to feel like a Ford truck, and Scott noted that customers will notice the consistency between the products.
“There’s very similar testing and construction of the truck bed and the gate,” said Scott. “You wouldn’t know if you were testing a Super Duty, or a Maverick with some of these tests.”
Engineering A Capable Machine
Speaking of similar testing to the Super Duty, the engineering team made sure that the Ford Maverick was up to task when it comes to pickup truck duty. This of course means that the new compact truck needs to be able to confidently handle itself when meeting its maximum tow and payload capacities. These limits are admittedly smaller than the other Ford trucks on offer, but the approach from Ford was the same.
“The goal of the team was to bring the concept of “Built Ford Tough” into a smaller scale,” said Maverick vehicle engineering manager Klaus Palo de Mello to MC&T. “The idea was let’s do the same things as the other trucks, with adjusted payload and tow capability. We go over Davis Dam just like the Super Duty with towing… the (C2 platform) architecture proved to be very capable at delivering these Built Ford Tough elements with just minor adjustments and with reinforcing the structure. All of the powertrains, the engines and the setup of the vehicle makes you feel like you have more headroom to go than our declared limits.”
Pickup Capabilities, Downsized:
The Ford Maverick does bring some legitimate capability despite its smaller size. Maximum payload capacity is rated at 1,500 pounds regardless of the powertrain configuration. That figure compares nicely to the Ranger’s 1,770 pound rating. Towing figures vary depending on your configuration, with FWD hybrid models slated to handle up to 2,000 pounds. The 2.0L EcoBoost models match that rating unless you spec the 4K Towing Package, which doubles the maximum capacity to 4,000 pounds. Not quite as good as other trucks out there, but likely sufficient for most customer needs. As Palo de Mello noted however, the truck will feel sufficiently competent even when pushed to its prescribed limits.
“That’s a great feeling to have,” said Palo de Mello. “Your performance feels confident, your brakes feel confident, and your chassis feels confident under maximum towing and payload… we’re really happy with the results.”
Maverick: A New Type Of Ford Truck
The 2022 Ford Maverick may be a new approach to the pickup truck, but the work behind the scenes was the same. And while it’s true that this compact offering likely won’t entice long-time truck owners, the capability will surely prove interesting to first-time truck buyers. Combine that with the budget-friendly asking price and the fuel-efficient powertrains, and this new Ford truck has the chance to be a genuine hit. The Blue Oval is known for their trucks more than any other type vehicle they offer, and we’re sure this new one will keep that tradition alive.
