Ford Maverick 2022 Review

Ford has resurrected a moniker from its largely forgotten 1970s compact car for its newest pickup truck: the 2022 Maverick. Based on the Ford Escape small SUV (which additionally supplies the architecture for the Bronco Sport), the Maverick is a small pickup truck that slots below the Ranger and the F-150 in Ford's lineup.

Its unibody construction differs from the Ranger's and F-150's classic body-on-frame construction, but the Ford Maverick pickup still delivers some impressive tow ratings. It also has lower pricing and a more nimble size than its larger siblings. This makes the Maverick a solid choice if you want the versatility of a pickup but don't need all of the capability offered by a midsize or full-size truck.

Also of note: The Ford Maverick can be a hybrid. It comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to produce a combined 191 horsepower. The EPA estimates this Maverick will get 37 mpg combined (42 city/33 highway), which is considerably better than other pickups. If you're looking for more power and a more traditional driving experience, there's an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 250 hp.

And what about doing pickup-type stuff? Well, there's a 1,500-pound payload across the lineup regardless of engine. That's respectable even by midsize-pickup-truck standards. Tow ratings are impressive too, at least when you consider the Maverick's small size. Maximum towing capacity is up to 2,000 pounds with the hybrid powertrain and as much as 4,000 pounds with the turbo 2.0-liter engine and optional towing package.

The Ford Maverick may be small, but it's no city runabout. From the way it drives to its few-frills interior, the Maverick feels like a truck first and foremost. This is a compact pickup for towing and hauling with confidence — just at a smaller size and lower price point than other trucks on the market. Check out our test team's Expert Rating to get our full evaluation of the new Maverick's performance, capabilities and more.

Which Maverick does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Ford Maverick is a compact crew-cab pickup that's available in three main trim levels: XL, XLT and Lariat. Each trim comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid system to produce a combined 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. This combo sends its power to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Optional is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 250 hp and 277 lb-ft. The 2.0-liter engine comes paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive.

XL This base trim includes features such as:

• LED headlights
• 17-inch steel wheels
• Cloth upholstery
• Power windows
• Air conditioning
• Rear underseat storage compartments
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Six-speaker stereo
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

XLT On top of the standard equipment, the midgrade XLT gets:

• Alloy wheels
• Upgraded upholstery
• Rear center armrest with cupholders
• Power-locking tailgate
• Cruise control

Lariat This top-of-the-line trim adds to the XLT's equipment with:

• Proximity keyless entry with push-button start
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Power-sliding rear window
• Rear-seat map pockets
• Upgraded driver information display
• Two rear-seat USB ports

Key optional packages for the Maverick include:

Lariat Luxury package

• Two household-style power outlets
• Spray-in bedliner
• Upgraded infotainment interface (Ford's Sync 3)
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• B&O premium sound system
• Heated seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Maverick and the car in front)
• Evasive steering assist (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)

4K Towing package

• Trailer hitch receiver with seven-pin trailer wiring harness connector
• Upgraded powertrain cooling

FX4 Off-Road package (requires all-wheel drive)

• All-terrain tires
• Exposed front tow hooks
• Hill descent control
• Skid plates

Ford Co-Pilot360 package

• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Maverick back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)