2024 Ford Maverick: A Comprehensive Guide On Features, Specs, And Pricing

The 1980s and 1990s golden era of the mini-truck was crushed under the weight of the massive pickup movement of the 2000s. Even the compact Ford Ranger and Toyota pickup grew to mid-size in this age of escalating mass, but small trucks are making a comeback. Ford introduced the Maverick in 2022, the same time Hyundai Santa Cruz came out, and it has jump-started a popular and tragically ignored segment. In the next couple of years, a half dozen compact pickups will hit the market, but they’ll all be trailing behind the Maverick.

In only its third year, the 2024 Ford Maverick isn’t quite due for a refresh just yet, but there are still a few tweaks and upgrades for this model year. A great new standard engine gives the Maverick all the pep it needs and there are plenty of new interior as well as exterior color combinations to make it unique. Ford nailed it with the attractive, sporty styling, and the general practicality of this compact pickup, so there weren’t any glaring issues that needed to be addressed in 2024.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Ford, NHTSA, and Fueleconomy.gov. Each model score is determined by Top Speed’s rating team, which factors in five different metrics. You can
read our Methodology page
for more information about our rating system.

What’s New For 2024?

The biggest change for the 2024 Maverick is that the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is now standard on all trims, with the hybrid being a $1,500 option. Ford added the Azure Gray Metallic and Terrain colors to the Maverick’s paint code options, while discontinuing Area 51, Avalanche Gray, Alto Blue Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, and Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat. On the inside, the exterior colors can be paired with Navy Pier/Medium Slate, Desert Brown, Black Onyx, and Black Onyx – Tremor for a variety of stylish combinations.

2024 Highlights

• Standard 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine
• Optional 2.5-liter I-4 hybrid
• Tremor off-road package
• New exterior colors
• New interior colors

Exterior Dimensions

Engine Specifications And Performance

The 250-horsepower, 2.0-liter, turbo EcoBoost, four-cylinder, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, is standard on all trims and the only set available with four-wheel drive. The 191-horsepower hybrid drivetrain merges a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor assist and a continuously variable automatic transmission. The gas engine is available on front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, while the hybrid comes only in the two-wheel drive configuration.

Performance Specifications

Towing Capabilities And Payload Capacity

The standard towing capacity of either engine is 2,000 pounds, but there is a package for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost that cranks up the total up to 4,000 pounds. With either engine, the payload is 1,500 pounds. These are not spectacular capabilities, but this is a compact truck, and that’s about what can be expected from one. Besides, the Ford Maverick is not a toy hauler, it’s the toy, and even so, it is capable of pulling some bikes or small boats and campers.

Off-Road Capability

The Maverick with front-wheel drive was not made for taking off the paved surface, and even the four-wheel drive on most trims is not recommended, because it can be a rough ride. In order to achieve the payload and towing capacities, the suspension was made quite stiff. While this makes for an enjoyable drive on the road, it can be a teeth-shattering experience on rocky terrain, and any sodas or beers in the cooler are going to get all shook up.

The XLT Tremor Off-Road and Lariat Tremor Off-Road trims, however, were made for 4x4ing, as their names would suggest. With a suspension that includes independent multi-link trailing arm with mono-tube hydraulic gas-pressurized dampers with hydraulic rebound stop, coil springs, stabilizer bar, steel sub-frame and cast knuckle, as well as 18-inch aluminum wheels, the Tremor trims can drink mud and chew rocks.

Interior Technology And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 Ford Maverick

• Standard folding rear bench seats
• Available heated, eigth-way adjustable power driver bucket seat
• Standard 8-inch LCD touchscreen
• Available power moonroof
• Standard 4.5-inch digital instrument cluster

It may have taken eons, but Ford has finally gotten rid of their cheap plastic interiors that have kept all of ther vehicles from ever being considered luxury rides. The 2024 Ford Maverick feels a lot classier than older Ford models, as well as being more current. The cab, which seats five (four comfortably), is surprisingly roomy for a compact pickup. It is also laid out in a way that combines practicality with comfort. Every square inch of the interior, from the seats to the sound system, are upgradable and, with the affordable base model price, won’t break the bank to go option-crazy.

Technology

The 2024 Maverick comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and there are no bigger upgrades. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot, even in the base model trim. Ford isn’t bragging about the available apps, but presumably there is navigation, and for sure, SiriusXM satellite radio is available with a subscription. The Maverick comes standard with a six-speaker AM/FM radio that can be upgraded to a chest-thumping B&O Play stereo system. There are several power points and ports standard, with an optional wireless phone charger.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

There have been a couple of recalls on the Maverick already, one involving a potential leaky gas tank, and the other with non-fuctioning turn signals. Those have been worked out and the EcoBoost engine has proven itself to be a reliable engine, so the Maverick should deliver years of trouble-free fun and function. As a compact pickup, the Maverick obviously doesn’t offer the same kind of protection as a full-size, but it ranks high on all the collision metrics, so it’s as safe as anything in its class.

Driver Assistance Features

The 2024 Maverick offers several driver assistance features, but almost all of them are options or available on higher trim levels. While it does come standard with a rear-view camera, there are no parking or trailer hitching assists. The available adaptive cruise control can detect speed limit signs and adjust the vehicle’s speed accordingly. Emergency breaking is standard, but most detection warnings and lane assists are optional.

• Standard emergency breaking
• Available blind-side warning with cross-traffic alert
• Available lane-departure warning
• Available lane-keep assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

IIHS Crash Testing

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

• Recalls (NHTSA): 2 – Fuel tank leak, non-functioning turn signal
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 3 – Gas leak, unexpected engine shut-off, extreme loss of power
• Awards: None

Warranties

The 2024 Maverick comes with all the standard Ford warranties, which are on par with the industry standards. The corrosion warranty ups the coverage from Chevrolet, which caps the miles, by offering unlimited mileage. The hybrid component warranty extends to 8 years or 100,000 miles. Sadly, there is no complimentary maintenance visit, but otherwise it offers solid coverage.

2024 Ford Maverick Versus Its Competitors

For the 2024 model year there are only two compact pickups available in America, and they are the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. In the coming years, this segment is going to get crowded with many more entries, but for now it is a two-vehicle competition. To find a second competitor for the Maverick, it is necessary to look in the mid-size truck line-up with the Honda Ridgeline. With a 125-inch wheelbase, it is the smallest of the bunch and the closest to the Maverick’s diminutive size.

How The Maverick Compares To The Hyundai Santa Cruz

• 	2024 Ford Maverick	2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz
  Model	Ford Maverick	Santa Cruz
  Engine	2.0-Liter | 2.5-Liter Hybrid	2.5-liter I-4
  Transmission	8AT | CVT	8-speed automatic
  Horsepower	191 – 255 HP	191 @ 6100
  Torque	155 – 277 LB-FT	181 @ 4000
  Driveline	FWD | AWD	FWD/AWD
  MSRP	$23,815 – $34,855	$28,275
  Towing Capacity	Up To 4,000 Pounds	3,500 pounds
  Payload Capacity	Up To 1,544 Pounds	1,515 pounds

Hyundai is as visionary as Ford in hitting the underserved compact pickup segment with the Santa Cruz in 2022. Essentially the truck version of the Hyundai Tuscon SUV, this compact drives like a car, but can do all the things a pickup is supposed to do. It’s as good of a grocery getter as it is a hauler or tower, and offers some decent off-road trim options. The only real drawback is that it’s a bit short and the cabin doesn’t have nearly the roominess of the Maverick.

In terms of towing, the 5,000 pounds pulled by the base model Santa Cruz far exceeds the Maverick’s standard 2,000 pounds or even the optional 4,000 package. The Maverick, in certain trims, is probably a better off-road vehicle and has a more aggressive styling. Price wise, across all trims, the trucks run even, but the Santa Cruz runs away with a much smoother driving experience. Either one is a solid compact pickup, so personal preference plays a big part in choosing between them.

How The Ford Maverick Compares To The Honda Ridgeline

• 	2024 Ford Maverick	2024 Honda Ridgeline
  Model	Ford Maverick	Honda Ridgeline
  Engine	2.0-Liter | 2.5-Liter Hybrid	3.5-liter V-6
  Transmission	8AT | CVT	9-speed automatic
  Horsepower	191 – 255 HP	280 HP @ 6000 RPM
  Torque	155 – 277 LB-FT	262 LB-FT @ 4700 RPM
  Driveline	FWD | AWD	All-wheel drive
  MSRP	$23,815 – $34,855	$39,750 – $46,350
  Towing Capacity	Up To 4,000 Pounds	5,000 LBS
  Payload Capacity	Up To 1,544 Pounds	1,583 (max)

While it’s not entirely fair to compare a compact pickup with a mid-size, the Ford Maverick doesn’t have many peers and the Honda Ridgeline is the closest in size, having a slight 4-inch wheelbase advantage. The Ridgeline is, however, still a bigger truck and has more power, cargo space and towing. It also costs more, starting above the highest Maverick trim level. On the other hand, the Ridgeline doesn’t have a spectacular off-road package like the Maverick, and is really more of a street vehicle with a truck bed.

The compact truck is not just a personal statement, but a lifestyle, and the Honda Ridgeline doesn’t capture any of those vibes. Honda makes solid, reliable vehicles, and the Ridgeline is certainly a part of that, but there are better mid-size trucks available, like the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger. Even the Maverick delivers a lot more truck for the buck than the Ridgeline. There’s probably not many pickup shoppers that have both the Maverick and the Ridgeline in their “maybe” column, but for a well-equipped small truck at a reasonable price, the Ford can’t be beat.

How Much Does A Year Ford Maverick Cost?

The 2024 Maverick price structure is very attractive for the budget-conscious consumer. Though the base model XL is pretty stark in terms of features and luxury, it’s still a solid truck with plenty of power. Creeping up the trims, for more luxury and capabilities is still quite affordable and offers more for the price than virtually any other vehicle. The top trim Lariat Tremor Off-Road, starting below 40k, has more performance and luxury than similarly priced, stripped down, entry-level mid-sized trucks.

Fuel Economy

The Maverick’s standard 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine has some okay fuel economy, but it’s definitely not something to brag about. There will be some sting at the pump, but that’s the price of a ride that can rip a 14.5 second quarter-mile. The hybrid engine offers much less power and acceleration, but crushes it in the city with 42 miles per gallon, which is the benefit of fewer ponies under the hood.

GAS/HYBRIDS

Is It Worth Buying A Ford Maverick?

Anyone in the market for a compact pickup in 2024 has the choice between a Maverick or a Santa Cruz and the Ford is the better choice for most things that matter in the segment. The Maverick is the superior off-road machine, and, while subjective, has a sportier, more aggressive style to boot. The Maverick also matches the spirit and fun of the classic mini-trucks with modern luxury and performance.

For those simply looking for the best value for their money, the Maverick offers the most features and capabilities per dollar of any vehicle on the market. In the $25,000 to $35,000 range, there is no other vehicle, truck or otherwise, that offers the power and comfort of the Maverick. With a five-person seating capacity, tons of storage, and an engine with some serious zip, shoppers of sedans and SUVs may want to take a look at the Maverick as a budget alternative.