Ford Maverick Hybrid: A Year Later, Still the Smartest Buy?
Dan Kowalski
· 5 min read
After 12 months and 22,000 miles with our long-term Ford Maverick Hybrid, we're more convinced than ever: this is the smartest vehicle purchase in America right now.
The numbers speak for themselves. We averaged 42 mpg in mixed driving — that's better than most compact cars, in a pickup truck. Over the course of a year, we spent approximately $1,800 on fuel, compared to an estimated $3,200 for a comparable gasoline mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma. For contractors, small business owners, or just average homeowners, those savings are impossible to ignore.
The 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine paired with an electric motor produces a modest 191 hp, which is perfectly adequate for daily driving and light hauling. The CVT transmission is unremarkable but reliable. It won't win any drag races, but it merges onto the highway without drama and cruises comfortably at 75 mph.
The real genius of the Maverick is its packaging. The 4.5-foot bed sounds small, but it's incredibly versatile. With the multi-position tailgate and the built-in 12-volt wiring hacks, we've hauled everything from a dozen sheets of plywood to a pair of dirt bikes. The cabin is equally clever, utilizing cheap but durable plastics molded into fascinating textures, and featuring numerous storage cubbies and water bottle holders.
What makes the Maverick special is its value proposition. At $28,595, you get a hybrid powertrain, a usable bed, and running costs that embarrass vehicles twice its price. Ford has sold over 200,000 units since launch, and the waiting list still stretches months.
Our only complaints: the infotainment system is sluggish and prone to crashing when using Apple CarPlay, and the base cloth seats show wear quickly. The lack of an all-wheel-drive option for the hybrid model (until recently) was a major sticking point for northern buyers. However, these are minor quibbles for such an outstanding, deeply rational package. The Maverick isn't just a good truck; it's a brilliant piece of product planning.