2023 Ford Maverick
Overview
Although it might not look it, the 2023 Ford Maverick is a workhorse pickup that earns its place next to the Ranger and the F-150 with a novel design and a surprising level of usefulness. The standard powertrain is a fuel-efficient hybrid system with front-wheel drive, but a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and all-wheel drive are both optional. Payload capacity is more than enough for a weekend’s worth of home improvement supplies, and the Maverick can be equipped to tow up to 4000 pounds. It shares its platform with the Bronco Sport SUV, so it has four doors and its interior is a fairly spacious, with several clever storage solutions throughout. The Maverick’s only competition in the recently revived compact pickup truck class is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, and although that truck can tow more and offers more luxury features, it also costs more and has a smaller bed.
What’s New for 2023?
A new Tremor Off-Road model joins the Maverick lineup for 2023. It wears more rugged exterior styling and is based on either the XLT or Lariat trim. It is only available on models with the nonhybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain. A revised suspension gives the Maverick Tremor a one-inch lift over the standard truck, and Ford has upgraded its transmission cooler and half shafts so it can tackle more demanding conditions. The all-wheel-drive system also sees some tweaks, with a twin-clutch rear drive allowing the rear differential to be open or locked based on traction needs. The Maverick Tremor comes with Ford’s Trail Control system too, which acts as a sort of low-speed cruise control for trails. Although the Tremor Off-Road model already comes with styling upgrades, the optional Tremor Appearance package adds even more in the form of gray-painted roof and mirror caps and black body-side graphics.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
XL
$23,000 (est)
$25,000 (est)
Lariat
$29,000 (est)
XLT Tremor Off-Road
$31,000 (est)
Lariat Tremor Off-Road
$34,000 (est)
Ford offers the Maverick in three trims—XL, XLT, and Lariat—with the XL being the best choice for keeping the price down as low as possible. It lacks basic creature comforts that most buyers consider necessities but could make for a good work truck. Going with the XLT adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, cruise control, a power lock for the tailgate, power exterior mirrors and more, making it the value-oriented model. We’d upgrade to the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder for its punchier acceleration. To unlock the Maverick’s maximum towing capacity of 4000 pounds, we’d also order the Tow package.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Rather than start with the Bronco Sport’s turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the standard powertrain, Ford has gone hybrid with the Maverick’s base powertrain. All trims come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that’s assisted by an electric motor for a combined 191 hp. This setup only comes with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission. A nonhybrid powertrain is available as well, which swaps in a spunky 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is optional with this powertrain. On the road, the Maverick feels downright peppy with the optional turbo four. At our test track, it reached 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The hybrid powertrain is less perky and needed 7.7 seconds to reach 60 mph in our testing, but it nonetheless gets the job done. To provide its impressive payload capacity, the Maverick’s suspension is fairly stiff which leads to a somewhat rough ride over broken pavement. Once we get a chance to test the Maverick at our test track, we’ll update this story with results.
More on the Maverick Pickup
Towing and Payload Capacity
Even with the base hybrid powertrain, the Maverick offers 1500 pounds of payload capacity and 2000 pounds of towing capacity. With the turbocharged four-cylinder and the optional Towing Package, the Maverick can tow up to 4000 pounds. Looking to tow even more with a small pickup? The Santa Cruz is rated to tow up to 5000 pounds.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates that hybrid variants of the Maverick are good for 42 mpg city and 33 mpg highway; the nonhybrid is rated for 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with all-wheel drive. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, our all-wheel-drive XLT FX4 model with the nonhybrid powertrain matched its 29 mpg EPA rating, but the hybrid was off the EPA’s mark with only a 30 mpg result. For more information about the Maverick’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
All Mavericks are crew cabs, which means four full-sized doors and a fairly roomy back seat. Ford has incorporated many storage cubbies and bins throughout the cabin, including some large areas under the rear seat. Base models are far from plush, but do offer standard niceties such as a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats. More features are offered as standard or part of option packages on the XLT and Lariat trims, and include dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and power front seats. Ford says the Maverick’s 4.5-foot bed can fit up to 18 sheets of 4×8-foot three-quarter-inch plywood without having to load them at an angle. The bed also features a 12-volt power point, with a 110-volt outlet offered as an option.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on all Maverick trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard features and even the base model comes with an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Options include SiriusXM satellite radio, an upgraded B&O Play stereo system, and wireless smartphone charging capability.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Maverick offers several driver-assistance features but many of the most sought after items will require an option package or springing for a more expensive trim. For more information about the Maverick’s crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Maverick offers the same standard warranty package of other new Fords, which is fairly basic and offers no complimentary scheduled maintenance program.
Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles Hybrid component warranty covers 8 years or 100,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $23,885/$26,645
POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4, 162 hp, 155 lb-ft + 2 AC motors, 105 and 126 hp, 48 and 173 lb-ft (combined output: 191 hp; 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack)
Transmission: continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/torsion beam
Brakes, F/R: 12.8-in vented disc/11.9-in disc
Tires: Continental ProContact TX
225/65R-17 102H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 121.1 in
Length: 199.7 in
Width: 72.4 in
Height: 68.7 in
Passenger Volume: 96 ft3
Curb Weight: 3720 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.9 sec @ 90 mph
100 mph: 20.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.8 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.7 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 110 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 158 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.81 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 32 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 30 mpg
Highway Range: 410 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 37/42/33 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
2022 Ford Maverick XLT FX4
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $27,880/$30,235
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled inline-4, aluminum block and head
Displacement: 122 in3, 1999 cm3
Power: 250 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 277 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.8-in vented disc/11.9-in disc
Tires: Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
235/65R-17 104H M+S 3PMSF
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 121.1 in
Length: 199.7 in
Width: 72.6 in
Height: 68.7 in
Passenger Volume: 102 ft3
Curb Weight: 3800 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.5 sec @ 95 mph
100 mph: 16.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.2 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 110 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.82 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 29 mpg
Highway Range: 470 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 25/22/29 mpg
More Features and Specs
