Top Gun
You know what they say. I feel the need…the need for practicality, utility, comfort, technology, fuel economy, value and livability. Speed is hardly a factor in the average Canadian’s daily driver. You don’t see F-150's being tossed around the Nürburgring after all...unless it's a special occasion. Even on the topic of the F-150. It’s our best-selling vehicle year after year. Fuel costs continue to rise, and in this current time, plenty of us are working from our homes. We’re not a country full of tradespeople – yet we seem to love our trucks, despite the gas pain they deliver every week. Surely there has to be a better way? There just might be – and you won’t even have to go to a different dealership.
The Maverick is Ford’s newest baby, and what a cutie it is. There is certainly a portion of truck owners that may feel the sting of emasculation driving a vehicle described as cute, but your fuel economy week over week will make anime eye filters increasingly tempting by the kilometre. Kawaii! By the end of our evaluation period, we averaged a seriously impressive 5.4 L/100km – with the only concession taken to boost efficiency being driving in eco mode, which essentially remedies leadfoot by calming throttle response. We would have liked to see an option to set Eco as the default drive mode – especially on the Hybrid trim where fuel economy may be top of mind. But the truck will still do well on its default drive mode as well.
The Maverick Hybrid is powered by a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine good for up to 191 horsepower. Sure, it may not sound like all that much, but it’ll still tow 910kg in hybrid form, and up to 1,800kg if you ditch the Hybrid trim and go for the more powerful 2.0L EcoBoost engine. It won’t fit Mr. Lift Kit Coal Rolling Truck Nuts’ definition of what constitutes a ‘real truck,’ but for the average buyer, it really is all the truck they actually need, and then some.
City streets and pickup trucks aren’t the greatest mix. But they’re a prevalent one. Navigating a Ram 2500 Power Wagon through a condo parking lot is an exercise in patience and precision. The Maverick? It feels as nimble and feisty as a hatchback. Fitting – as under the skin, the Maverick uses the same platform we once enjoyed on the Ford Focus. The hatch may be dead, but it lives on through the Maverick and Co., including Lincoln’s Corsair and Ford’s Bronco Sport. It’s a perfectly livable all-rounder, excelling at feeling accessible and usable. Nothing about its handling and performance will blow you away – and in a daily driver, that’s exactly what many of us need.
While the Maverick can be had in AWD configuration, our hybrid is only available in FWD, for now at least. There are unconfirmed rumours of a hybrid AWD trim in the works but for now, these are the choices presented to us – assuming you can even find one. Ford’s own site warns of high demand and low stock for the current model year. But for those lucky buyers who can snag one, a good set of winter tires, a gentle and careful foot, and perhaps cycling it into the ‘Slippery’ drive mode will more than likely provide all the confidence and traction needed to navigate a Canadian winter. We do understand that AWD gives peace of mind – but we promise, FWD can more than suffice.
Part of the pickup’s appeal is the sheer practicality of it. Ford’s Maverick can only be had in 4-door crew cab configuration. Parked next to most any modern car, the Mav is diminutive. But on the same train of thought as the original MINI, smart design can make something compact feel cavernous. The bed may measure a modest 4.5 ft, but a glance at available accessories include a bed extender, fitted to our tester, in addition to pivoting storage boxes, and even a collapsible shower and tent. On the inside, accessories include cupholders, trash bins, and a phone and accessory mount, which bear a strong 3D-printed look, hinting at the youthful demographic this truck is after. Even the name, Maverick, shows just who Ford want behind the wheel of the truck. Sure, it’s a name pulled from the company’s history, but that Maverick and this one bear little in common aside from name and maker.
We had no issues carrying a full load of passengers in our Maverick. It may start to feel cramped on a longer journey however, for anyone above average stature. We’re big fans of the funky grey and orange colour scheme going on with our tester. It works particularly well with colours like Hot Pepper Red or Alto Blue, but contrasts nicely and adds a pop of colour with more subdued finishes too. Although the interior does show where cost cutting measures were taken, it’s not done in a vulgar unpleasant way. The plastic surfaces are neatly and cleverly designed for storing water bottles, keys, phones, wallets etc., and allow for quick and easy door and floor cleanup. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto help keep the basic infotainment system from becoming obsolete any time soon too – assuming you stay out of the outdated graphics of the default system.
What competes with the Maverick? Maybe Ford’s own Ranger? Or Hyundai’s Santa Cruz? Right now, in North America at least, nothing that we’re aware of. With a starting cost of $27,750, it’s a reasonable and attractive proposition. No wonder Ford had to stop taking deposits. When you have a country that’s in love with pickup trucks, in a constant state of high gas prices with little to no reprieve, it’s a viable and affordable solution with little compromise - assuming you can even find one.
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