What you get for $35,000

• The 2022 Maverick is Ford’s new, small truck — and it’s the perfect middle ground between an SUV and a big pickup. 
• It can be used as a bed or truck, without the bulk of full-size trucks. 
• The 2022 Maverick is priced at approximately $20,000. The Lariat model I tested was well-equipped and cost about $35,000. 

Driving a truck can be a bit like driving an automobile. 

These massive pickups are too tall for small spaces and hard to see. You can even practically use them! You can lose a whole kindergarten classThey are in one of their blindspots. People who don’t grew up in truck land and are used to smaller cars can find rolling around in pickups a constant source of stress. 

However, there is a new Ford Maverick on the market that could make me a truck man: it’s the Ford Maverick.

Let’s start with the basics

Ford’s new truck, the Maverick, was launched in 2021. It sits below the full-size F-150 and midsize Ranger in Ford’s truck range. The Maverick takes the utility of a pickup, shrinks it down to a smaller size, making it an ideal vehicle for those who love SUVs but need more power for weekend adventures or DIY projects. 

It’s approximately a foot shorter then the Ranger. body-on-frame truck. It was priced at $20,000 when it first launched, making truck beds more affordable for a wider audience. The Maverick is a small-pickup segment that’s not yet popular. There is also competition from the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is also new.

The Maverick is available in three trims: Minimized XL, the more comfortable XLT and the top-tier Lariat. The 2023 model year will see them cost between $22,000- $28,000 to get started. All models come standard with front-wheel drive as well as a hybrid engine.

For a weekend, the cost of the 2022 Lariat Ford I borrowed was approximately $35,000. This includes a destination fee, options like an all-wheel drive and a stronger engine. The F-150 Lariat costs $50,000. 

What is unique: Compact size, but with plenty of utility

The Maverick looks like an F-150 that was zapped by a shrink ray. 

Although it’s not as large as an SUV like Kia Telluride, the Maverick has a boxy appearance and trucky proportions. This makes it a cute pickup. The Maverick just wants you to grab its front fender, and tell it “You are a tough little truck.” You are.

One rides along with traffic instead of towering above it behind the Maverick. Mavericks have excellent visibility, so maneuvers that might be difficult with a larger pickup, such as parallel parking or squeezed by double-parked cars, are simple in Mavericks. 

It’s not as spacious and comfortable as the F-150’s living room on wheels, but it is still a truck. The truck has clever storage options and a unique design. 

You will find little pockets on the dashboard, and over the center console. There are also larger bins underneath the rear seats. Door pockets can hold extra large water bottles or are made for outdoor lifestyles. Every Maverick is packed with funky textures, interesting molded plastics and the Lariat that I drove was no exception. extra creature comfortsYou will find heated faux leather seats, dual-zone climate control and a wireless charging station. 

Although the back seats are large enough, the middle seat is too small for most people. 

Truck stuff

You might want to haul lumber, dirt bikes, or camping gear occasionally without damaging your SUV’s interior. This is the Maverick’s sweet spot. 

Even though they are smaller than others, they are still quite impressive. Pickup’s 4.5-foot-long bed fits my mountain bike perfectly(With the front wheels removed). Upgrades like a cubby or power outlet and in-bed lighting are also possible to improve functionality. 

Ford designed the Maverick’s bed for DIYers. The bed has access points to 12-volt power for wiring in lighting, and slots that allow owners to slide in inexpensive bed dividers or bike racks with 2x4s.

Mavericks can tow 1,500 pounds and carry 1,500 pounds. Ford states that this is enough to haul a few jet skis and a small camper. Buyers have the option to choose the turbocharged engine for an additional charge. This will give buyers twice the towing power, which I recommend. It handles highway merging and high-speed cruising much better than the hybrid. 

Our impressions of a truck for people who don’t drive trucks

Ford has been hesitant to offer the Maverick as an alternative to its dime-a dozen SUVs. It’s amazing that it makes sense. It turns out that people like the convenience of truck functionality without having to sacrifice their bulk. Ford claims that this is the case. More than 80%Most Maverick customers are first-time truck buyers. 

The Maverick is flying off lots and buyers are taking notice. Spending thousands more than MSRPYou just need one. Dealers stopped accepting orders for the model 2023 last month In less than one week. 

As a driver, the Maverick was a pleasure to drive. The biggest problem for buyers is likely to be finding one.