The Ford Maverick’s Rise To Midsize Pickup Truck Dominance

Summary

• The Ford Maverick is quickly becoming the most popular truck on sale, dominating the compact pickup segment with unrivaled performance.
• With exceptional gas mileage, affordable pricing, and great towing capacity, the Maverick stands out as the most economical truck on the market.
• Offering off-road packages, family-friendly usability, and a variety of trims, the Maverick aims to be the perfect compact truck for all needs.

Trucks and vehicles in general have been getting bigger and heavier over the years. Most compact vehicles are now as big as midsize vehicles of the early 2000s. But this increase in size also affects other vehicle classes above that have also become much larger and heavier. While there are many benefits to this like increased interior room and cargo space, there are also disadvantages like parking and maneuverability around towns and small cities. While there are smaller cars that can be used for city driving, trucks have never really had that option.

Since trucks became popular, they have grown bigger with almost no alternative to a compact city truck. The best-selling vehicle in America is the Ford F-150 truck, which is a full-size pickup truck, and is too big for everyday use, as some would argue. Ford saw the need for a compact truck and gave us the Ford Maverick. With this new truck, Ford is about to repeat the success of the F-150 with the Maverick in the compact/midsize truck segment.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Ford, and other authoritative sources including Ford Authority, MotorTrend, and fueleconomy.gov.

It Is Quickly Becoming The Most Popular Truck On sale

In this landscape of the ever-popular truck segment, it is quite hard for a new vehicle to come onto the scene and become an instant hit. In most cases, it takes a few years for people to fully understand the trucks’ purpose and then get huge sales, even if it’s from an established manufacturer. But Ford has been hitting the mark with everything they release, like the Ford Bronco.

Maverick Sales Vs Other Trucks

The table above shows how popular the Maverick has become since its introduction. It is the most popular truck on sale at the moment, even some new models of already existing trucks can’t seem to keep up, while others are declining. With this truck, it seems Ford took out time to look at what was missing in the marketplace and simply made it available. There were a few key areas Ford nailed with the Maverick and that is why it has surpassed other trucks.

The Ford Maverick Is A Small Pickup Truck That You Need

The F-series trucks are the best-selling vehicles for a very good reason; their usability and capability. The same goes for other trucks. The fact that they’re versatile and can be used in almost any application is why they’re so popular. But the biggest disadvantage is their size, which works well on highways but works against them around town.

This is where the Maverick steps in. It has the utility of a truck and the size of a small crossover which aids in driving around town and small cities. It is the perfect vehicle for the family and the wife can also drive without feeling like she’s trying to maneuver a small boat. For those who want a truck as a family car, the Maverick fulfills all domestic needs and a lot more.

A Functional Interior

The Maverick is an entry-level truck, so it doesn’t have as much technology as the F-150, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t well-equipped. Step inside, and you’re greeted with two screens, one being a small 4.2-inch instrument cluster with analog gauges on each side, and an eight-inch LCD infotainment screen. It features Ford’s latest SYNC 3 system for voice-activated controls with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There aren’t too many tech features beyond that, as the interior is quite simple, and physical buttons are evenly spaced, which makes it easy to get used to the controls.

Other interior features include:

• Manual Tilt/Telescoping steering wheel with Audio Controls
• Power Door Locks and Power Windows
• Two Front USB Ports (One Type-A And One Type-C)
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Cruise Control
• Rear Under-Seat Storage Bins
• Keyed Ignition
• Cabin Particulate Air Filter

It can seat five people comfortably and has the necessary features to make sure everyone is comfortable.

It Gets Great Gas Mileage

Engine Specifications

(Source: Ford)

Gas is a consumable you have to deal with every day and if you have a gas guzzler it can become expensive very quickly. The Maverick is available with two engine options; a 2.5-liter hybrid and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. If you value fuel economy, then the hybrid engine is your best bet as it gets as much as 40 MPG. With the hybrid’s 13.8-gallon fuel tank, it’s expected to have a range of over 510 miles on a single tank. This makes the Maverick the most economical truck on sale, which instantly translates to more savings on gas money.

The EcoBoost isn’t so bad either, with a combined 25 MPG and a 16.5-gallon tank which still gets you over 410 miles on a full tank. Compared with other small trucks like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Ranger, thhose can only manage 22 MPG at best. Ford’s V-6 F-150 hybrid can only muster 25 MPG. This huge difference means big savings for Maverick owners, as they can go almost double the distance on a full tank. But this comes as a trade-off as the hybrid is front-wheel drive only. If you need a bit more capability, then you need the EcoBoost engine with all-wheel drive and better towing capacity.

Towing Capacity and Payload

It may be a small truck, but it can still tow pretty well for its size. As standard, the Maverick can tow 2,000 pounds but if you want to tow more, then it has to be properly equipped. This includes ditching the hybrid powertrain for the EcoBoost and getting the “4K tow package” which then increases the towing capacity of the Maverick to 4,000 pounds which is on par with trucks in its class.

The Maverick Is A Good Off-Roader

A small truck like this would be great for tackling small and tight off-road trails where other trucks may seem very big. Ford has also provided two off-road packages that help make the Maverick even more capable. First is the FX4 off-road package which adds a tow hook, hill descent control, off-road tires, and extra off-road driving modes like sand and mud/ruts. This is an $800 option which is fair for extra off-road capability, but if you want more, then you opt for the Tremor package.

Ford Maverick Tremor

The tremor package is Ford’s off-road trim that’s available for almost every Ford truck in the lineup and the Maverick gets it too. It includes everything in the FX4 pack along with higher ground clearance of 0.8 inches, retuned off-road suspension, stronger half-shafts, a heavy-duty transmission cooler, trail control, and much more. All tremors also get unique interior and exterior designs to help differentiate them from other models.

But this is a more expensive option than the FX4 at $2,995, both are not available for the base trim but can be had on the higher trims. They are also only available with the EcoBoost engine and all-wheel drive, but give the Maverick more capability. Ford wants it to be an outdoor adventure vehicle and these off-road packages help it achieve that aim.

The Maverick Is Affordable

This is the main reason the Maverick is so popular and that’s its price. The average price of a new car in 2024 is now $48,000, which means cars are getting more expensive. But the Maverick is a brand-new truck with real usability and has a starting price of $24,000. This undercuts other trucks by a huge margin, the closest competitor which is the Hyundai Santa Cruz starts at $29,000, which already gets you into a Maverick XLT. It sits in a unique space of its own as the most affordable new truck with an MSRP well under $30,000.

This is the biggest advantage it has, along with its incredible gas mileage, off-road capability, and family-friendly usability. Just like other Ford models, if you want more equipment, then you have extra options; luxury trims, and packages. But depending on how you option your maverick, you’re still going to come out with a less expensive truck than what the competition has to offer. The combination of all these are why the Maverick is so popular and is set to dominate the compact/midsize pickup space.

Available Trims And Options

(Source: Ford)