2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid
Ford came up with another great idea that arrived just in time. The idea of a small pickup truck – smaller than their Ranger – is just right for city dwellers and small businesses alike.
The popular and desirable Ford Maverick was developed from a compact SUV platform – the same as the Escape and Bronco Sport - built as a unibody pickup truck. It comes only in a four-door cab integrated with a 54.4-inch bed. You do have a choice of two engines, one of which is a hybrid gas-electric driveline.
This compact pickup truck has already captured the hearts and minds of customers since its introduction. So much so that they are still hard to find. If you’re one of these people who really want one, we tested the latest 2024 model to see if it is still worth the wait.
The unibody SuperCrew cab and integrated bed is a simple, straightforward design. The profile matches any modern pickup truck, but down to a smaller footprint. The front end is blunt, but with some distinctive Ford truck design elements, including a set of split LED headlamps.
In the bed, you do not get any special storage or a tonneau cover in the Maverick. The bed’s floor loads flush with the tailgate. Ford created a FLEXBED system that makes organizing cargo, including a way to haul bicycles without losing key space.
Our XLT tester came with a set of dark finished 17-inch alloy wheels and some trim upgrades. In all, you might just like the Maverick for the way it reminds you that it is indeed a pickup truck.
Inside the XLT SuperCrew cab is an interesting approach to practicality throughout the cabin. The door cards may seem “unfinished,” but they use a mix of materials to create spaces for water bottles and other items. These materials are found throughout the instrument panel and center console – a mix of grays and a burnt orange. Most of plastics are of a better quality.
The instrument cluster is a mix of analog dials and a small comprehensive digital information center. On top of the center stack is an eight-inch touchscreen driven for Ford’s SYNC 3 system. You also get Ford’s customary rotary shift knob and solid controls and switches.
The Maverick seats five using a multi-tone cloth upholstery. These seats are comfortable up front with manual adjustments for height, rake, and recline. There is some support in the front seats. Rear seat room is fine for average-sized adults with plenty of headroom to spare.
Powering our tester is the newly optional 2.5-liter four-cylinder Hybrid driveline. With the electric motor, the Hybrid puts out a combined 191 horsepower. Power is sent only to the front wheels using a continuously variable transmission.
When you select the Hybrid driveline, you can tow up to 2,000 pounds and can carry up to 1,500 pounds in payload.
Out on the road, the Hybrid driveline does a solid job in motivating this compact pickup truck. On the highway, the Maverick did fine to manage the highway and around town. As for fuel economy, we averaged 39.2 MPG.
The ride quality felt better than its larger pickup truck brethren. The Maverick manages rougher surfaces quite well. Handling is quite good. It corners well, but it does lean and roll at the limit.
You will also find a tighter steering radius than most pickup trucks. Response to the wheels is quite good and does not require a lot of turning to get to a tight spot. On-center feel is fine, with minimal play at the steering wheel. The brakes were also decent, with some delayed hybrid feedback at normal and panic stops. Pedal feel is quite good, however.
The 2024 Ford Maverick is available in one configuration – the SuperCrew with the 54-inch bed. You can choose between three trim levels, two engines, and an available all-wheel drive with the standard EcoBoost engine. Pricing starts from $23,815. Our XLT tester came with a sticker price of $32,470.
Currently, there is only one vehicle that is in the Maverick’s size class – the Hyundai Santa Cruz. However, some customers actually compared the Maverick to the larger Honda Ridgeline.
While we wait for more new entries in this segment, Ford has the most truck-like entry in its size class. An advantage the Maverick enjoys over all other pickup trucks. That is why it is still in high demand with waits stretching into months. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you will love the Ford Maverick.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
