Benna Ford is pleased to announce that Car and Driver placed the Ford Maverick on its 10Best list for trucks and SUVs. In describing their decision, the publication took more than one swipe at the “bigger is better” ethos regarding pickup trucks for the last several years. As they put it: “This upsizing in the name of payload and towing one-upmanship has created a vacuum at the bottom, a white space in the product landscape that the Ford Maverick slides into neatly.”
Crossover Platform
The Maverick, of course, represents more than just a smaller pickup truck. It has a car-like unibody construction and is built from a front-wheel-drive platform. Specifically, it rides on the same platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport. While this may seem like heresy in the truck world, Car and Driver points out that there is no shortage of people driving crossovers with the same characteristics, and they like them just fine. Some of them would simply like not to have the cargo hold confined to an enclosed space. Of course, the reason why the automotive world outside of trucks and large truck-based SUVs has this configuration is for a smoother ride, lighter weight, and better fuel economy. The Maverick is for people who don’t want to give up the comfort of a crossover ride just because they occasionally put a couple of mountain bikes or a washing machine in the back.
Hybrid Power
Of course, unibody construction is not the only unique Maverick feature. A hybrid drivetrain is a major upgrade to the Maverick lineup. This is not unique among trucks anymore, but the Maverick’s hybrid drivetrain stands out for its dedication to efficiency rather than overt power enhancement. The system involves a 162 hp 2.5-liter inline-4 combined with two AC motors for a combined 191 horsepower. As is often the case with hybrids, this powertrain is combined with a continuously variable transmission. The result is the Maverick hybrid’s outstanding 37 combined EPA estimated mpg, with it also being rated at 42 in the city and 33 on the highway. No other pickup comes close to those figures.
EcoBoost Power
Neither the engine nor motors power the rear wheels, however, so the hybrid Maverick is strictly FWD. For AWD, or just more power, there is the EcoBoost turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The power is managed by an 8-speed automatic transmission. With front-wheel drive, the engine produces a still respectable EPA city / highway / combined mpg estimate of 23 / 30 / 26. AWD models drop each figure down by one mpg. When properly equipped, an EcoBoost-powered Maverick with AWD can tow up to 4,000 pounds, which is about 500 pounds more than most crossovers of its size.
Car and Driver’s description doesn’t even mention affordability, but it is hard to ignore when the MSRP starts at $23,815 for an EcoBoost FWD model. The hybrid drivetrain, which is available on all three (XL, XLT, Lariat) trim levels, starts at $25,315.
For a great many households, the Maverick is all the pickup truck they need, making it a top purchase for the occasional haul but still a comfortable ride. If Car and Driver’s 10Best Maverick sounds like it may work for you, stop by Benna Ford for a close look and a test drive.
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