OUR LONG-TERM FORD MAVERICK HYBRID CAN'T SIT STILL

10,000-Mile Update

It's hard to keep tabs on our 2024 Ford Maverick. It's been west to Wisconsin, south to Virginia, and up in Northern Michigan to hang out with a pig that goes by the name Marshmallow. It's here, it's there, it's everywhere. It goes without saying that the now-three-peat 10Best winner is in high demand. And rightfully so. It's the mini-Leatherman utility tool of the vehicular world.

Much of the Maverick's popularity can be attributed to its versatility, but sipping fuel in the process is a welcome bonus. Our front-wheel-drive Maverick hybrid averaged 33 mpg on our 75-mph highway test, making it good for 450 miles between fill-ups of its 13.8-gallon fuel tank. (It would have an even more camel-like range if the hybrid powertrain got the 16.5-gallon tank that accompanies the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four powertrain.) With more city driving mixed in, our observed fuel economy is up to a stellar 35 mpg overall. To date, nearly every tankful is averaging 30 mpg or better.

So far, we have yet to test the Maverick hybrid's lowly 2000-pound towing capacity (2025 Maverick hybrids equipped with all-wheel drive can tug up to 4000 pounds), but we've put its 4.5-foot bed to use. We've used it to move; thrown three mountain bikes over the tailgate and headed to the trailhead; strapped down a motocross bike; and hauled trash, lumber, and just about whatever junk or landscape supplies you might toss into a truck bed.

While its light-duty versatility is a boon, a few of us have penned minor grievances. In today's screen-thirsty world, some find the 8.0-inch infotainment display too small, though others find it just the right size for a small truck. Plus, it's straightforward and easy to use. The small cubby to the right of it is basically useless for anything other than a pack of gum. And while some would like an inductive charging mat for their smartphone, those who use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto—both of which require a corded connection—say, "What's the point?" The 2025 model remedies all of this, by the way. The screen stretches to 13.2 inches (removing the useless cubby), and the Apple and Android interfaces are cord-free.

We've addressed our soft tri-fold tonneau cover that flaps in the breeze at highway speeds by installing a roll-up Bak Revolver X4s bed cover, part of our roundup of the best tonneaus for 2025. At $1244, it's on the pricier end of the spectrum, but we're impressed by how easy it was to install, its ease of use, and more importantly that it lies flat at highway speeds. The downside is that when it's rolled up it blocks a good portion of visibility through the already-squinty rear window.

With the arrival of winter, we've mounted a $695 set of Firestone Winterforce 2 UV snow shoes. We're anxious to get the Maverick into some powder to see how a front-wheel-drive truck tackles the slippery stuff. We're also curious to see whether the higher-rolling-resistance tires, coupled with cooler weather, eat into our fuel economy.

On the maintenance front, Ford calls for a pit stop every 10,000 miles. Our first service visit included an oil and filter change, inspections, and tire rotation that set us back $95. While in for service, the dealer updated the powertrain control module to remove the low-speed shudders we had previously experienced and update a body control module. Both actions were covered under warranty.

We look forward to pushing ahead to the Maverick's 40,000-mile end point. As little as this micro-truck sits, it won't take long.

Months in Fleet: 6 months Current Mileage: 16,907 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 35 mpg

Fuel Tank Size: 13.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 480 miles

Service: $95 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Damage and Destruction: $0

Introduction

The Ford Maverick pickup may be small, but it's made a big splash. The compact hauler can be quick or efficient; it instantly won over consumers and us alike, earning back-to-back 10Best awards. Initially the Maverick was nearly impossible to come by. Demand was high, and supply was low. And just as many would-be adopters, we eagerly waited for our truck to arrive after placing our order. Then in early March, our Atlas Blue Metallic Maverick was born in Hermosillo, Mexico. After a train ride north, our mini-truck arrived at headquarters for a 40,000-mile test.

The process of ordering our Maverick caused a few scuffles around the office water cooler. The all-wheel-drive model's 5.9 second rip to 60 mph, courtesy of a 2.0-liter turbo four, was appealing, as was its 4000-pound towing capacity. Still, others advocated for the front-wheel-drive hybrid version—Ford has added an AWD hybrid model for 2025—which sips fuel but can only tug 2000 pounds. When the dust settled, we agreed to go with the powertrain that has proven more popular: the 191-hp hybrid.

When the Maverick launched, the hybrid was the base powertrain. Perhaps in response to its popularity, Ford did a switcheroo. Now, the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is the base engine, and the hybrid is a $1500 upcharge. The Maverick also has gone up a few thousand dollars in price. Although every Maverick features an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connections, the base XL is otherwise, well, really base. Moving up a rung to the $28,015 XLT (plus the extra $1500) opens the door to more options to coddle us over 40,000 miles. Specifically, the XLT Luxury package ($2275) adds heated seats and mirrors, an eight-way power driver seat, remote start, a trailer hitch with a four-pin connector, a drop-in bedliner, LED cargo-box lighting, a full-size spare, and a 110-volt inverter with cab and bed outlets. We also tacked on Ford's Co-Pilot360 ($650) for its blind-spot detection and lane-keeping assist, then added a tri-fold soft tonneau cover ($590) to keep our gear dry. All in, our Maverick came to $33,030.

Our initial impressions picked up right where we left off. We love this little truck. The steering has just the right amount of effort, and though the ride is on the stiffer side of the spectrum and high-frequency bumps rattle the Maverick's cage, it's generally agreeable in most use cases. While the bed isn't huge, it's great for weekend projects that involve moving dirt or playing in it; a motocross bike, gear, and fuel can fit great with the tailgate down. And the fuel economy merits mention: Over the first few thousand miles we've averaged an impressive 34 mpg.

After some miles to let the Maverick's mechanical bits become friends, we headed for the test track. With what we assumed was a fully charged battery (there's no gauge), the Maverick reached 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and did the quarter-mile in 15.7 seconds at 90 mph, 0.3 and 0.2 second better than our test of a 2022 model. At the skidpad, it held on at 0.78 g and stopped from 70 mph in 181 feet. That's 0.03 g less grip and a lengthy 23-foot-longer stop than our previously tested truck, which has us wondering what type of special sauce that earlier Maverick XLT hybrid was sipping.

Even with all the greatness the Maverick delivers, we managed to sniff out a few dislikes. When new, the off-gassing of the recycled plastic interior bits smells a bit like a burro pasture on a hot summer afternoon. Plus, those plastics scratch too easy. The stinkiness goes away, but we've yet to find a cure for the scratches. Passenger space in the rear is tight, and installing rear-facing child seats forces front-seat riders to slide their chairs far forward. The tri-fold soft bed cover lacks attachment points to crossmembers, so at highway speeds it balloons up in the rearview. And we've noticed an occasional shudder from the powertrain during low-speed braking events, so we'll have the dealer check into that in the weeks to come.

An interesting aspect of Maverick life is the 3-D printing of interior accessories that utilize the Ford Integrated Tether System. Over the course of the next few months, we look forward to diving into the world of dimensional printing. Do you have a favorite printer? Maybe you've printed some Maverick knickknacks. What are the must-haves? Comment below with your favorites. In the meantime, we'll keep piling the miles and the smiles.

Months in Fleet: 1 month Current Mileage: 3772 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 34 mpg

Fuel Tank Size: 13.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 460 miles

Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Damage and Destruction: $0

Looking to purchase a car? Find your match on the MSN Autos Marketplace

2024-08-05T17:48:04Z