Trucks are great. They have plenty of room for cargo, they can tow a load of weight, and they can hit the trails better than a regular car. Problem is, they’re huge and expensive, not to trending to get even bigger and pricier over time. That’s why it’s such a surprise to see the 2022 Ford Maverick buck the trend.
A true compact flatbed, the truck picks up where the old Ranger left off in 2011, giving motorists the utility of traditional trucks without the hulking size of modern pickups like the F-150, RAM 1500, and Silverado. Whether you’re looking for a vehicle with more cargo room, better off-road performance, or more versatile function, this thing gets you that without all the drawbacks of traditional pickup trucks.
The 2022 Ford Maverick is, basically, a full-fledged pickup truck, with four doors, five seats, and a flatbed stretching 4.5 feet long. Despite all this, it measures just 16.6 feet long and 5.7 feet tall, making it substantially more compact than most any modern truck you will find on American roads. Ford is able to achieve that size by building the truck on the same platform as the Ford Escape and the Bronco Sport, which is also the same reason they’re able to price it at a very competitive level.
Under the hood, it gets a hybrid powertrain that puts out a combined 191 horsepower, although it’s restricted to front-wheel drive only, which, we guess, is fair, since they’re likely targeting that for city folks who want a pickup for its versatile utility. According to Ford, that model gets 40 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 33 mpg in the highway, and 37 mpg combined, so it’s quite the efficient ride, too. Alternatively, buyers can opt for a more standard gas engine, which puts out 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, while coming with available all-wheel drive.
The 2022 Ford Maverick has a maximum payload of 1,500 pounds, which is not too shabby for a relatively small vehicle. On top of that, it can tow 2,000 pounds for the hybrid model and 4,000 pounds for the gas engine model, so you can use it to transport furniture, carry recreational vehicles, and even tow a camper with a full load of gear. The tailgate, by the way, can be dropped completely or locked at 45 degrees, with the ability to support up to 400 pounds in that latter position. According to the outfit, it can carry 18 sheets of 4 x 8 plywood with the tailgate locked at that angle, with molded locks for holding 2 x 4 lumber, optional racks, and optional tie-downs.
Sadly, it doesn’t get the advanced bed features available on the F-150, so you won’t be able to get it with tailgate work surface options, generator-style power options, and all that good stuff, although it does come with a 110-volt power outlet and a 12-volt port. Inside, it gets an 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, along with plenty of storage bins and cubbies scattered around the cabin.
The 2022 Ford Maverick goes on sale this fall, priced starting at $19,995.
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