Affordable, compact and flexible, enter the new age of compact pickup truck with the award-winning 2022 Ford Maverick. When I first heard that the Maverick was coming, I couldn’t have been happier. It had been teased for months and spoken about like a child of the golden age of trucks come to life.
I had seen it in person first at the 2021 MAMA Rally in Wisconsin, and after a few minutes in it, I knew it was going to be a winner. It hit all my initial checkmarks for a compact pickup truck. It was neatly finished, didn’t look fragile and looked like the ride would be comfortable. After taking a quick look around and putting a few miles on it, I could see the buzz was worth the hype.
Quite simply, it was a truck that does what it said it was going to do and could fill a void in the truck market.
FILLING VOIDS
We call North Texas home, and even we’ve noticed that the size, price and fuel consumption of the mainstream pick-up has grown dramatically since the 90s. They are getting bigger and brawnier. Looking at the current line ups, they seem to be dancing more and more into the large daily driver-family vehicle terrain than the workhorse powerhouse lane with each passing model year. That being said, more and more people {thank you, Covid} are heading into DIY and toy valleys than ever before. As a result, many car buyers are becoming first time truck buyers to meet the need for versatility empowered with towing capability.
These new needs have buyers clamoring for a new type of vehicle, though #cartwitter will remind you of the Subaru Baja in the compact pickup space. It is no surprise that the demand for the compact pickup has rapidly grown to the point where it has outstripped supply and pre-sale orders for the new Maverick were halted to allow production to catch up. Sales have made it abundantly clear that the new generation of truck shoppers want vehicles that let them keep it moving and don’t cost a literal fortune. They want a truck that will do the job, regardless of whether they want to make a hardware store run for lumber and supplies or put their bike in back and escape off of the grid for an afternoon. The Maverick is Ford’s answer to the call for freedom, flexibility and ease.
HACKING RIDES
The same collective breath that made the isolation of Covid increase sales of toys like ATVs, campers and trailer-towed recreation vehicles also spurred on an increase in at-home modifications to every vehicle known to man. From Hack My Ride to YouTube University lessons on how to rewire your truck bed to rig your air pump, enthusiasts have made true the phrase, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” The Team at Ford decided there is a better, safer way and worked that human impulse to create into the design of the vehicle.
“People have forever been hacking into their wiring harness to run things like lighting, air pumps and other useful accessories,” said Grajales. “This is a better solution – we’re enabling customer needs while protecting the taillamp wiring and creating a fused circuit to avoid compromising the overall electrical system. With this, you have the option to select the factory-available box lighting or install your own home-built lighting setup, or even invent a whole new use for the 12-volt access points.”
Gaby Grajales is an electrical engineer who helped develop the standard built-in 12-volt electrical power prewired to the Maverick’s removable cover .
Taking cues from the enthusiast community at large, Ford jumped on the bandwagon and created their own set of ‘Hack Your Maverick’ videos to spur on the ingenuity that Ford Nation is known for. Here’s one for you to take a look at. Fair warning, you’ll find yourself watching them all and getting inspired along the way. It is a video reminder that the options are endless and limited only by your imagination and drive to innovate.
THINGS TO LOVE IN THE MAVERICK
Delivering a startling 42mpg in the hybrid model and around 25mpg in the Ecoboost, the 2022 Ford Maverick is a compact truck for those that want a petite truck to do truck things with.
It’s compact.
Size wise, the Maverick is petite. Smaller than its larger Ford Truck siblings, the Maverick is closer in size to the Escape and the Edge, as shown in this picture below for size comparison. The drive is also closer to those two as well. Lightweight, nimble and simple to park, the Maverick has a tow capacity of around 2000 pounds, though in the Ecoboost version you can get the optional 4K tow package added to the vehicle. Also, the cabin while small, it will easily seat 4 and a car seat or 5 snuggled in.
The bed is around 4’5” and let’s you be creative with your space, your haul coverage and your usage. The unibody double cab pickup comfortably fit my family of 4, including 2 growing teens and a young ‘big kid’ that comes with gear in tow.
The seating in both editions we tested, the Lariat and the Base, are comfortable, cushioned and provide plenty of leg space for 4 — or in my case 3 adult sized humans and a kid with a booster seat. The anchors are easy to find making for simple safety seat installation. The detailing in the interior is clean, simple, unfussy, wipeable and functional with a modern industrial vibe.
It’s smart.
Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment center and the driver assistance/ safety tech suite that you would expect from a Ford Truck. Standard in the Ford Co-Pilot system for the Maverick comes Automatic High Beams and Lamp, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Dynamic Brake Support and Rear-View Camera combined these offer a layer of confidence-inducing support that add to the overall captivating package that is the Maverick.
There are simple but smart cargo holds for your phone, cords, change, toll tag and other random gear that you might have. The USB and USB-C outlets mean that you don’t have to search for a special charger for your phone, just grab the nearest one and go. Cupholders are where they need to be to be within easy reach of all passengers and tall things like water bottles or your favorite Yeti can fit in the door holds. The single panel sunroof adds light and openness as well as brings a feeling of casual comfort that is welcome.
In the rear, there is a single USB port, a 12V plug to power laptops and the like, cupholders in the door pockets and in a fold-down console as well as removable floor mats. While the FLEX-Bed has a multitude of tie-down anchors, a spray-in liner for easy care, a 12V wired plug and slots that can be used to subdivide the bed space.
It’s gently priced and offers a clean variety of options.
Starting at less than $20K, the Maverick hits the sweet spot for many buyers. You’ll have the choice of choosing between a 2.0L Ecoboost Engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission or a 2.5L FHEV Hybrid engine with an electronic continuously variable transmission called PowerSplit to suit your level of eco-consciousness and budget. You’ll also get the choice of choosing between the seating fabrics and other interior features depending on the trim that you choose. Available in three trims, XL, XLT and Lariat, the compact, practical yet still fun 2022 Ford Maverick has won fans around the world as the latest member of the Ford Trucks family.
To learn more about the 2022 Maverick or to schedule a test drive, visit here.
