2022 Ford Maverick
- A compact truck for everyone
- Standard hybrid engine nets 42 mpg in the city
- Smart storage solutions in the interior and truck bed
- Appeals to DIYers
- Pricing starts at $19,995 (plus $1,495 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See 2022 Ford Maverick models for sale near you
There’s a compact model that’s all-new for 2022 that has gotten a lot of people’s attention. It comes standard with a hybrid powertrain that’s EPA-rated for fuel economy as good as 42 mpg around town. Its starting price is less than $20,000. Based on this description, you might be asking yourself which hatchback we’re talking about. Guess what? It’s a truck, the 2022 Ford Maverick, and it’s this year’s Best New Model in the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards program.
A Smart Buy for Everyone
If you look solely at what the 2022 Ford Maverick has to offer, its appeal goes far beyond that of people looking for a truck. Just look at the basics. This is a 5-passenger vehicle with a choice of two impressive engines, as well as the option of all-wheel drive. Its starting price is below $20,000. For that price, you get 42 mpg fuel economy in the city. The Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features comes standard. And if you happen to want to haul payload or tow, you can do that, too. Those are attributes that would appeal to just about anyone in any age group who is shopping for an affordable new car. It just so happens that this one is a truck.
An Impressive Small Truck
And an impressive truck it is. We also named the 2022 Ford Maverick as our Compact Truck Best Buy. It’s equally as groundbreaking in the truck world, as it does a top-notch job of bringing back the truly affordable small truck. It has a comfortable ride. As we pointed out in the Expert Review, “The Maverick rides on Ford’s C2 platform, which also underpins the Bronco Sport and Escape. As a result, the Maverick drives a lot like them, especially the Escape. The chassis and suspension are both tuned for comfort. In a normal truck, you might feel a jarring bump in the road, but the Maverick absorbs much of that. As a result, this compact truck is a smooth operator and will make for a good road trip vehicle.”
It rides like an SUV, but it has the light-duty capability that covers everything a small-truck buyer would need. It can carry 1,500 pounds of payload and tow 2,500 pounds in hybrid form. With the optional 2.0-liter turbo engine, that towing capacity can go as high as 4,000 pounds. Then there’s the Flexbed. This is a 4.5-foot-long bed that comes with a 110-volt power outlet, up to 10 tiedowns, and a handy available tailgate.
The interior has its own charms, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto running through an 8-inch touch screen. The eye-catching design has cool accents and materials and includes all of the conveniences you would hope for in a small vehicle. There are plenty of storage spaces in the doors and under the rear seats. You can even get the FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System), which lets you fit accessories like a trash bin, grocery hook, and extra cupholders to the back of the center console.
Impressive Features and Options
If you want a few more goodies on your Maverick, you can move up the trim line from the XL to the XLT and the top-of-the-line Lariat. You can get niceties like Bang & Olufsen premium audio, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a moonroof, wireless smartphone charging, and much more. Or if you prefer, you can add some do-it-yourself touches to the truck bed. Just scan the QR code in the bed and you’ll find a ton of great ideas.
An Undeniable Value
There aren’t many vehicles out there that offer this level of capability, fuel economy, and features for such a low price. Reviving the compact truck segment after years of its absence was impressive enough. But with the 2022 Maverick, Ford hit it out of the park, developing a small truck that will appeal to everyone, not just truck buyers. That’s why the Ford Maverick is Kelley Blue’s Best New Model for 2022.
Photo Tour: 2022 Ford Maverick
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