As if the recent unveiling of the electric-powered F-150 Lightning wasn’t enough of a shock to the pickup truck marketplace, Ford has unveiled the 2022 Maverick, a compact-size pickup truck that the automaker says will seat 5 adults, will have a standard hybrid powertrain rated at 40 mpg in city driving, can carry 1,500 pounds in its bed or, with the optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, pull a 23-foot camping trailer on the weekend.
If you’re trying to do a quick conversion of that 1,500-pound payload to something practical, Ford suggests that it’s the equivalent of 37 bags of mulch, each weighing 40 pounds.
Ford adds that Maverick comes with an 8-inch touch screen with smart technology, automatic emergency braking, and a base price of $19,995.
The compact truck reportedly is based on the underpinnings of the Escape and Bronco Sport crossover utility vehicles.
“The Maverick product proposition is like nothing else out there,” Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager is quoted in the Ford news release. “It’s a great-looking truck featuring four doors with room for five adults, a standard full-hybrid engine with city fuel economy that beats a Honda Civic, plenty of towing and hauling for weekend trips or do-it-yourself projects, and it starts under $20,000.
“Maverick challenges the status quo and the stereotypes of what a pickup truck can be. We believe it will be compelling to a lot of people who never before considered a truck.”
Ford says the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain delivers through a continuously variable transmission 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Ford expects an EPA fuel economy rating 40 mph city and 500 miles of range on a tank of gasoline.
Also available is a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine rated at 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but the EcoBoost offers the option of all-wheel drive.
“One thing that’s non-negotiable is that Maverick is Built Ford Tough,” contends Chris Mazur, a third-generation Ford employee who led development of the all-new pickup as chief engineer. “Our engineers were unrelenting, putting it through a battery of vicious on-road, off-road, environmental and simulated customer use testing until we were satisfied. Ford trucks are Ford trucks – through and through.”
Underseat storage 
FITS system
Among other interior features, including storage under the back seat for tools, sports equipment, etc., Maverick offers what Ford calls FITS — Ford Integrated Tether System — which fits to the rear of the center console and accommodates various accessories. In addition to accessories from Ford, the automaker says it will publish “slot geometry” so people can used 3-D printers to create their own DIY accessories.
Ford terms the Maverick’s 4½-foot pickup bed the Flexbed with segmented storage features, tie-downs, D-rings, “and built-in threaded holes in the sides to bolt in new creations.” The bed has built-in 12-volt electrical power and offers the option of a 110-volt outlet.
Ford said Mavericks will be available in dealerships this fall.
Can I get it with a V8
Can you get a raincheck?
I wish people would stop marketing this truck for Ford. There will be no Maverick’s that hit the dealer lots under $30K. This is basically a little suv with a little box on the back. I have no axe to grind for Ford for bring it out, but they have created a lot of hype that simply is an illusion.
I couldn’t agree more – even Ford admits that this vehicle is nothing more than an Escape with a cute little dollhouse truck body.
If it’s not body-on-frame, and it runs a CVT, it just ain’t worth buying.
And let’s skip the crap of pulling a 23 foot trailer, please?
JPF ….If you order the Ecoboost engine it has an 8 speed automatic …THEN u can pull the little trailer…:)
They can come out with the maverick but I have been waiting on the bronco since 2019. I find Ford talks a lot but like democrats, don’t produce crap. I have a 2005 F-350 that I spent my retirement on fixing it with no help from Ford. I have a question from experience with Ford, do I give them another chance or take a loan fixing a vehicle again?
I would definitely be a serious buyer for a 2 door truck with a larger bed, 4 cyl, all wheel drive and most of the bells and whistles! I have an SUV and a small utility trailer. No four door truck in my future!!
The [old] Ford Ranger – which in reality was Ford’s world truck – was just such a truck. My 2008 Ranger 4 cylinder 5 speed was the best vehicle I’ve ever owned, and that includes my two vintage Alfas.
Ford missed the mark again. All the hype is more mpg. I have hybrid car that get 50+ mpg most of the time. What Ford needs to do is offer this hybrid with 4wd or awd but I guess the marketing head is a DA. So what if you loose 5 mpg my going to 4wd but what other 4wd pickup truck gets 35mpg. The people that want a 4 door pickup are family people that very seldom need a truck but they do like them. R & D get your head out of your back pocket and think. Hybrid pick up with 4WD.
Two door, basic golldang truck! Power steering and a/c and can carry a real payload! Don’t need all the bells and whistles (maybe heated seats hee hee). Just make it for the guy/gal that needs a real, small truck to get work done!!
Thanks
Two doors and a bit bigger bed. Would sell like hot cakes.
Ford should have never quit making the ‘Small” Ranger to begin with.The new Ranger cost about as much as a 150 now and is still a fairly large truck, so what is going to happen here now since the Maverick is coming out?
Amen.
Agreed…we really miss the small ranger……….. If going to the market for a small pickup…TACOMA ….period.
Why should anything be different now!
Three years of hype and big let down on the 2019 Ranger.
Three years of hype and a big let down on the 2020 Bronco.
Scrap the Maverick pick up program, fire the people in your R&D department and hire some people who know how to build a small truck that people want!!!
You had the two door regular cab long box in the 2019 ranger which you discontinued before it got into production. (WY) i’m sure it’s being built in some other country but not in the US!
It’s not that hard to figure out when are you people going to get with the program..
Real people that do real work need a regular truck with a 8 foot bed so they can swallow up construction materials and close the tailgate – they don’t need touchscreens and crap they don’t have time to fool with- are you reading this Ford people?
Simply sad they tagged the Maverick name plate to this… Nearly as horrible as using the Galaxie across the pond for a van…
Though the maverick was in no way a hard core muscle machine often sporting small displacement motors their size and range of possibilities were fantastic for those on budget with the notion to experiment.
Seen one that sported a 300 straight six punched out and fitted with a massive turbo that cranked out over 450 horses and laid down torque like a monster.
All that aside its just sad when iconic nameplates are rehashed into the general mill of today’s cookie cutter vehicles.
Maverick… Never once made me envision half a truck that dont even seem to be on par with the likes of the Subaru Baja. 4 doors, keg bed, and could actually get out of its own way with that full keg in the bed offering turbocharged small displacements and a manual gearbox .
Just saying… What a dismal use of a nameplate that could have been put to use to truly make a Maverick .
They should of named it Pinto pick up….it looks like it would be along the same quality as the Ford pinto…oh wait…Maverick also was a piece of junk.
Maybe Ford did there research and realized that it was going to be unreliable enough to use the Maverick name again. I drove a Maverick a for a few months until it fell apart…well to be fair I bought it used (6 months old) I got it with just over 5,000 miles on it….didn’t have a major problem until it hit 5,400 miles…good thing it was under warranty at that time…didn’t even have it for a year before it disintegrated.