Trucks

Ford Maverick returns as a compact pickup truck

By Sagar

Posted on June 9, 2021

The Ford Maverick was a compact car — a 4-door sedan and a 2-door coupe — that existed in the ’70s. Since not everyone requires the massive F-150, Ford decided to revive the Maverick nameplate for a compact pickup truck that is more suited for urban life. The truck goes on sale in America this fall and the pre-orders have already commenced. There are three trims to choose from: XL, XLT and Lariat, with prices starting at $19,995, $22,280 and $25,490, respectively.

There’ll also be the Maverick First Edition based on the Lariat trim, available for one year. It gets decals on the hood and the lower part of the doors, a gloss-black-painted roof, black mirror caps, and gloss-black-painted and machined 18-inch wheels for hybrid and unique 17-inch aluminum wheels (with all-terrain tyres) for the gas AWD model. The exterior colors Carbonized Gray, Area 51 and Rapid Red are unique to the First Edition.

Unlike the original Maverick which was built on a rear-wheel-drive platform, the new Maverick is underpinned by a front-wheel-drive-based unibody platform that also underpins the Escape and Bronco Sport. The designers have done a good job in giving the Maverick a traditional pickup truck styling which kinda looks cute when compared to the cumbersome-looking F-150.

For those interested to know the dimensions, the Maverick measures 5,072 mm long, 1,844 mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1,745 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,076 mm.

An FX4 package is available for all-wheel-drive XLT and Lariat trucks that promises to add more off-road capability with rugged all-terrain tires, suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, off-road-focused drive modes like Mud/Rut and Sand, as well as the addition of Hill Descent Control.

Let’s talk a li’l bit about the bed. In the Maverick, the bed is branded as ‘FLEXBED’, where the design allows the owners to neatly organize things. Owners can create segmented storage, elevated floors, bike and kayak racks and more by sliding 2x4s or 2x6s into slots stamped into the side of the bed, Ford said. Two 12-volt outlets come standard, while there’s an option for a 110-volt 400-watt outlet.

The cabin too offers generous practicality with various storage options including the one under the rear seats that can accommodate a fully inflated volleyball, laptop bags, and roller blades. The door pockets can store a tablet or notebooks and the door armrests have a split design to hold a one-litre water bottle upright. Other features include an 8-inch central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, two USB ports, and standard FordPass Connect with embedded modem and Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices. Options include wireless smartphone charging, four USB ports and a 110-volt outlet.

The standard Ford Co-Pilot suite includes Auto High Beams, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (includes Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Dynamic Brake Support) and a rearview camera. Options include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Evasive Steering Assist, Lane Centering, Reverse Sensing System, Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keeping Aid and Hill Descent Control.

Moving on to the juicy bits of the story then, buyers get to choose between a hybrid powertrain and an EcoBoost. The Maverick Hybrid combines a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and a permanent magnet electric motor. The ICE outputs 121 kW (165 metric hp) and 210 Nm (155 lb-ft) of torque, while the e-motor develops 94 kW (128 metric hp) and 235 Nm (173 lb-ft) of torque. The hybrid system output, however, is 142 kW (193 metric hp). An e-CVT drives the front wheels. Ford is targeting an EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg city fuel economy, and 500 miles (805 km) of range on a single tank of gas.

Those who want more can go for a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder EcoBoost (turbo) petrol engine that develops 186 kW (253 metric hp) and 376 Nm (277 lb-ft) of torque. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox that drives the front wheels. AWD is optional.

As standard, the Maverick is claimed to tow 907 kg (2,000 lbs). Download the spec sheet here.