The Ford Maverick is an attractive offering for those who would like the functionality of a truck but not the enormity and ruggedness of a conventional pickup.
Maverick’s size is compact, and it has car-like unibody construction rather than truck-style body-on-frame.
You get a quiet and comfortable ride, easy maneuverability in crowded parking lots, even a modicum of fun on winding roads, yet still reap the many benefits of having an open bed for cargo hauling.
Maverick is available in XL, XLT, and Lariat trim levels. All three versions have the same configuration: a four-door crew cab with a 4.5-feet bed.
For 2024, Ford has done a switcheroo with Maverick’s powertrains. The previously standard 2.5-liter hybrid is now an extra-cost option, and the previously optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is now standard.
For this report, I drove a 2024 Maverick Lariat with a hybrid powertrain and front-wheel drive. Payload capacity for this setup is 1,500 pounds and towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.
With its 191 horsepower, the hybrid delivers respectable performance, about eight seconds at full throttle to go from zero to 60 mph. It shines more brightly in its fuel economy: 42 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined.
My test truck was tricked-out with an optional Black Appearance Package ($1,645) featuring 18-inch black wheels, black Ford exterior logos, a black grille, and other black accents inside and out.
Standard niceties of note on my test truck were a FlexBed storage system, power sliding rear window, power tailgate lock, a friendly Ford Sync 3 infotainment system, Android
Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, Bang & Olufsen eight-speaker audio, SiriusXM, voice activated navigation, and a wireless charging pad.
Maverick’s four-door cab has seating for five, but the back seat bench is suitable mainly for kids and cargo. The seat bottom can be lifted up manually to access a good-sized stowage area for securing valuables out of sight.
Designers worked some magic with Maverick’s interior. With not a lot of space to work with, they created a center console and doors with multiple bins and cubbies, perfectly sized and shaped to accommodate items I always have on board, such as a phone, charging cable, notepad, pen, sunglasses, reusable Voss glass water bottle, binoculars, purse, a book, trash, and a couple of Catholic talismans for safety’s sake.
2024 FORD MAVERICK LARIAT FWD HYBRID
Base price, including destination charge: $36,450
Price as driven: $37,510
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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