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With the 2022 Ford Maverick, consumers can blend the utility of a pickup truck with the price and sizing that comes with a compact vehicle.
Ford’s Latest Release: The Ford Maverick
A resurrected nameplate from the 70s, the 2022 Ford Maverick is now a compact pickup truck that fills a hole in the Blue Oval lineup since they’ve exited the sedan segment. Built on a unibody platform shared with the Ford Bronco Sport, the new Maverick is smaller than the Ford Ranger and is targeted at folks who don’t need, or want, the size and cost of larger pickups. Starting around $20,000, it should appeal to brand loyalists who no longer have the option to buy an inexpensive Focus or Fiesta.
Specs We Know
Three trims that will be familiar to Ford F-150 fans – XL, XLT and Lariat – are available with a hybridized or typical gasoline powertrain configuration. Touted for its 40 mpg efficiency in the city, the hybrid version features a naturally aspirated, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired with a single electric motor to produce 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. Power is run to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.
For $1,085 on any trim, buyers can opt for a two-liter, turbo 4-cylinder making 250 horses and 277 torques and adds an 8-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, but AWD can be selected for $3305 on all three models. The bigger motor can tow up to 4000 pounds with the $745 4K Tow Package that includes a 7-pin connector, beefier cooling capacities, and a trailer brake controller. The hybrid configuration can pull up to 2000 pounds. Both powertrains offer 1500 pounds of cargo payload capacity, just right for a weekend mulch run to Home Depot.
2022 Ford Maverick Features & Technology
With F150-meets-Bronco Sport styling, the base XL Maverick starts at $19,995 and comes with 17-inch steelies, cloth seating, and the lineup standard 8-inch touchscreen interface. XLT models start at $22,280 and add storage and cargo management capacity to the bed. Alloy wheels are included and an available $2345 Luxury package offers a 400W inverter and heating for the seats and exterior mirrors.
Top-line Lariats have easy to clean ActiveX upholstery, dual zone climate controls, and an upgraded Bang & Olufsen stereo among other niceties for around $25,000. First Edition trim can also be selected with the Lariat which nets body graphics, special wheels, and a gloss black roof. An $800 FX4 off-road package is available on XLT and Lariat trims that includes beefier tires, special suspension tuning, skid plates, and a higher capacity radiator.
All 2022 Mavericks feature Apple and Android smartphone integration and FordPass Connect, which handles Wi-Fi connections. It also allows owners to remotely access the trucks systems with their phone. Higher trims have features like Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment software, wireless charging, and remote start. Automatic high beam control and automated emergency braking are standard, but you’ll need the optional Co-Pilot360 suite for adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, and lane centering assist.
A Versatile Space for the DIY Crowd
Dubbed FLEXBED, the Maverick cargo area is geared toward the DIY-er. Integrated slots are made to fit lumber so owners can create their own setup for cargo management, not to mention homemade equipment racks. There are also a pair of prewired, 12V power sources that run on a fused, dedicated 20-amp circuit to encourage DIY electrical projects like adding custom lighting. A host of anchor points, D-rings and threaded holes further this approach.
Interior cargo space is aided by flip up rear seats that reveal large storage bins. The new, Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) features slots in the back seating areas to hold available cup holders, trash bins, and the like. Ford plans on publishing the slot geometry to encourage DIY, 3D printed accessories custom-suited to the owner. Cabin amenities like a leather steering wheel, acoustic windshield, and ambient interior lighting offer a touch of lux with Lariat trim.
All 2022 Ford Mavericks will have five, selectable drive modes with settings for Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Tow/Haul. The FX4 package adds Mud/Rut and Sand modes as part of its off-road focus. The unibody construction, while not as robust as the body-on-frame architecture of its pickup stablemates, will lend a more carlike driving experience to this new, compact four-door pickup. Available this fall at Ford dealerships, the new 2022 Ford Maverick can currently be configured and reserved on the Ford website.
