FORD MAVERICK OVERVIEW
The Ford Maverick was originally a small muscle car from the 1970s, but is being reborn as a small pickup truck for the 2022 model year. Another name that was proposed for this product was the “Courier“. Ford Motor Company has described this vehicle as a “white space” product in its official presentations, as it will offer customers a truck that’s both much smaller and more affordable than the current T6 Ford Ranger, which is considered to be a midsize truck today, growing significantly from its more utilitarian size it was known for between 1982-2011.
The Maverick will enter the US and Canadian market widely uncontested from other major American auto companies that have otherwise specialized in pickup trucks and SUVs. Its only rival that has been confirmed is the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
SPECS
The 2022 Ford Maverick will be sold exclusively as a four-door crew cab unibody design, with a front engined layout that with either be FWD or AWD. The new truck will utilize Ford Motor Company’s C2 vehicle architecture, which is shared with the Ford Escape and Ford Bronco Sport.
The truck measures just 199.7 inches in length, basically the size of today’s Dodge Charger sedan, while standing only 68.7 inches high, which is shorter than the Ford Bronco Sport, its platform mate. The Ranger seems genuinely large comparatively, measuring in at 210.8 inches long and 71.1 inches high.
Compared to the bygone, last-generation Ford Ranger that was discontinued in 2011, the Ford Maverick is a just four inches shorter than a Ranger SuperCab, but two inches taller. Effectively, this is the true replacement for the last-gen Ranger in the Ford lineup, in terms of size.
The truck does have a short bed, which measures only 4.5-foot bed in length. That said, it is wide enough to accommodate 4×8-foot sheets of plywood, or an average single-seat ATV.
FORD MAVERICK PAYLOAD AND TOWING
The Ford Maverick payload capacity is standardized across both the 2.5L FHEV hybrid and the optional 2.0L EcoBoost engines, both of which come in at a firm 1,500 pounds. That’s roughly 37 bags of 40-pound mulch, or topsoil, or compost if you prefer. It can also fit your average ATV in the bed, making it a solid choice for those weekends up north.
The towing abilities of the new Ford Maverick pickup truck remain standardized among the two engine trims at 2,000 pounds. However, the optional 4K Tow Package bumps the tow rating to 4,000 pounds. To compare, the Santa Cruz and Ridgeline counterparts both top out at 5,000 pounds of tow, edging it by a hefty thousand pounds.
ENGINES
all Ford Maverick trim levels come standard with the 2.5L Hybrid engine and Ford’s electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the 2.5L Atkinson cycle I-4 engine puts out 162 hp @ 5,600 rpm and makes 152 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm, when combined with the 94 kilowatt electric motor, the Maverick makes 191 hp. By comparison, the 2011 Ranger base engine delivered just 143 horsepower, with 154 lb-ft of torque.
As an option, there’s the 2022 Ford Maverick EcoBoost, which features a 2.0L turbo-four engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels as standard, or all of them as an option. Regardless how many wheels you want to propel, the 2022 Ford Maverick EcoBoost makes 250 hp @ 5,500 rpm, and 277 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. That’s nearly 50 more horsepower than the 2011 Ford Ranger with a 4.0L V6, and about 30 more torques. In fact, the power figures of the Maverick EcoBoost really aren’t too far off from the 2021 Ranger (270 hp).
FORD MAVERICK FUEL ECONOMY
According to Ford, the Maverick is expected to have EPA-estimated rating of 40 miles per gallon and can go 500 miles on a single tank. For a comparison, the Tesla Model 3 can only do up to 250 miles on a single charge. Even the Tesla Model S Long Range tops out at 402 miles.
TRIM LEVELS
The 2022 Maverick features a similar trim level structure to the Ranger and F-150. These trims include XL, XLT, and Lariat to start, while an FX4 package is expected at launch, as well. There may be a few unique packages and trim levels for the new truck, as well.
TECHNOLOGY
The Ford Maverick is expected to deliver a mix of technology that will appeal to both fleet owners and workers, as well as casual commuters who are seeking something utilitarian with a truck bed. The Maverick could feature Pro Power Onboard outlets in the truck bed that first debuted on the 2021 Ford F-150, but is likely to feature a lower power output than the full-sized truck. The interior will likely feature similar tech as the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, which would include rotary shift dial, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, the latest Sync system, as well as Ford Co-Pilot360 active driver assist system (ADAS) on well-equipped models.
FORD MAVERICK PRICE
A base Ford Maverick XL starts at $19,995, and comes standard with front-wheel drive, as well as the 2.5L hybrid powertrain. Should you want a 2.0L EcoBoost, the price jumps up to $21,080 before options. The range-topping Ford Maverick Lariat starts at $25,490 with the hybrid powertrain, and $26,575 with the 2.0L EcoBoost. The Ford Maverick price can crest $40,000 fully loaded.
PRODUCTION
The Ford Maverick pickup truck will be produced at the Hermosillo Assembly plant in Mexico. The facility also builds the Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Escape. Formally, Hermosillo Assembly built the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Job 1 prototypes of the truck were photographed on the assembly line by a supplier, confirming that the truck will be built in Mexico before Ford was ready to announce it. Production of the 2022 Maverick is expected to commence in the second half of 2021, with deliveries happening in the fall.
RELEASE DATE
The 2022 Ford Maverick will debut on June 8, 2021, and will begin sale in the second half of 2021.
FORD MAVERICK PHOTOS
