Engineers at the blue oval have been busy as of late preparing a slew of new and redesigned vehicles to land at dealerships for the 2022 model year. Highlighting the long list of upcoming changes is the release of the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick small pickup. It’s a great time to be a Sacramento Ford dealer because this truck represents everything residents of the City of Trees want.
The go-anywhere, do-anything Ford Maverick is equally at home on busy city streets and remote dirt trails. With its unique geography, the California state capitol city of Sacramento is the perfect backdrop for the Maverick’s capabilities. We’re a stone’s throw away from expansive national parks, and our busy city streets are easy to navigate behind the wheel of the just-right-sized Ford Maverick.
Built Ford Tough isn’t just a clever marketing tagline – it’s an engineering mission. Ford truck owners know they can count on consistently rugged capability even during the dirtiest jobs. Legions of loyal Ford truck owners have put their faith in the American automaker’s promise to build quality trucks that deliver, mile after punishing mile, and now, the 2022 Maverick brings that toughness to the small truck category.
2022 Maverick Highlights
Ford truck enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the Maverick’s arrival, and now that it’s here, they can’t wait to claim one. Sure, it’s technically a compact pickup truck, but with comfortable seating for 5 in a crew cab body style, the Maverick still feels roomy for passengers. The Maverick’s configurable 4.5-foot bed and multi-position tailgate work together to make loading and stowing cargo a breeze.
The best compact pickups perform well both on and off the trail. The 2022 Maverick’s available FX4 Off-Road Package outfits your truck with the equipment necessary for serious off-roading. After a mud-soaked day in the mountains, the available 250 horsepower EcoBoost engine delivers smooth acceleration and equally impressive on-the-road driving enjoyment.
Offered in three trims plus one limited edition launch trim, the Maverick starts at a wallet-friendly price hovering around the $20,000 mark. Buyers looking for a little luxury will love the high-end Lariat and Lariat First Edition trims. Its unibody architecture eliminates the typical back seat center hump, expanding available legroom and making space for additional in-cabin storage.
Tech-seeking buyers will appreciate the Maverick’s standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen that runs on Ford’s lightning-fast SYNC 3 operating system. An available 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system pumps out 660 watts of sound, and other cabin luxuries like a heated steering wheel, power moonroof, and ambient lighting are also available.
Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Powertrain
By far, the most exciting and unique feature found on the 2022 Maverick is its class-exclusive standard hybrid powertrain. All Maverick trims come with a 2.5-liter FHEV hybrid electric and gas power plant, making it the only hybrid compact pickup on the market. You’ll get a fuel-sipping estimated 40 MPG of fuel economy in the city without sacrificing power and performance. The inline four-cylinder gas engine is augmented by a 94kW battery pack for a total of 191 horsepower.
Buyers looking for more power can outfit their Maverick with an optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Going this route will optimize towing and payload capacity to 4,000 pounds and 1,500 pounds, respectively. Hybrid powertrains are mated with a continuously variable transmission to optimize fuel economy, while the optional 2.0-liter engine comes with a conventional 8-speed automatic.
Ford’s forward-thinking strategy to equip the Maverick with a hybrid powertrain feels right to Californians at a time when gas prices are soaring, and carbon emissions continue contributing to climate change. Also, increasingly stringent fuel economy standards from states like California and even the federal government have prohibited many manufacturers from adding compact pickups to their lineups. Ford’s hybrid design overcomes that hurdle.
The demand for compact pickup trucks hasn’t subsided, but because efficiency standards are set based on a vehicle’s footprint – or its length multiplied by its width – compact-sized vehicles are expected to achieve higher fuel efficiency ratings. Unfortunately, finding an engine powerful enough to handle pickup truck capability demands yet efficient enough to meet regulatory standards proved elusive. That’s where Ford’s brilliant hybrid strategy comes in.
Priced and Sized Right
Many would-be pickup buyers are thwarted by the high starting price tag of a full-size truck. Even the mid-size Ranger starts at over $25,000, a price that budget-minded buyers can’t quite afford. The 2022 Maverick finally puts a capable pickup within reach. The base XL starts at right around $20,000, the mid-range XLT at about $22,000, and the Lariat starts at just over $25,000.
The Maverick features a 121.1-inch wheelbase (the measurement between the center of the front tires and the center of the rear tires). For comparison, the Ranger’s wheelbase comes in at 126.8 inches, and the full-size F-150 Crew Cab ranges from 145.4 inches to 157.2 inches. The overall length is 199.7 inches on the Maverick, which is significantly smaller than the Ranger’s length of 210.8 inches.
The most interesting comparison is the scant 5-inch wheelbase difference between the Maverick and the Ranger, which hints at Ford’s masterful use of the smaller Maverick’s interior cabin space. The front headroom measures 40.3 inches, slightly larger than the Ranger’s 39.8-inch dimension. The Maverick’s expansive interior cabin doesn’t take away from bed capacity, with a standard 4.5-ft bed across the entire trim range.
Speaking of the truck bed, the 2022 Maverick features Ford’s exclusive FLEXBED, a fully configurable system complete with up to 10 tie-downs, and an expandable tailgate for hauling long cargo. The bed easily accommodates bicycles or ATVs and includes a 110v outlet that comes in handy during outdoor activities like camping and tailgating. Opt for the optional bed lighting, and your Maverick becomes the nighttime campground social hub.
Style and Capability Converge on the Maverick
Not all compact truck buyers are seeking capability; some just prefer the pickup truck body style. Ford offers 10 exterior color options for image-focused buyers, including an eye-popping Cyber Orange. For a more subdued look, the available Cactus Gray or deep Alto Blue subtly show off the Maverick’s angular lines. Whatever color you choose, the Maverick retains its rugged pickup appeal.
Ford gets it right for a full spectrum of buyers with the Maverick and resurrects a segment that has for years been dormant. That the Maverick is the first-ever hybrid compact pickup is the cherry on top. Ford calls the Maverick “the truck for people who never knew they wanted a truck,” and that’s an apt description for a vehicle that combines compact car efficiency with pickup truck utility. The standard 5 passenger crew cab body style even qualifies it for family vehicle status.
First-in-line buyers can select the First Edition package, a special equipment group that’s only available for models sold during the Maverick’s inaugural year. It features a special glossy black painted roof, custom graphics, and a soft tonneau bed cover, and buyers can choose from three exterior paint colors: Carbonized Gray, Area 51, and Rapid Red. It’s yet another example of how Ford is celebrating the launch of its innovative Maverick compact pickup.
Are You Ready?
The Maverick marks a new era in the innovation of trucks from Ford. Its compact size and standard hybrid powertrain fit it into an entirely new niche that other companies can’t even hope to compete with yet. It is a prime example of the amazing things that have come and will come from Ford in the years ahead.
