The trucks are too big. Truly. I’ve owned three “half-ton” pickup trucks that were exactly what I needed, but fairly excessive for the average driver who just wants a tough, spray-out bed for homeowner duties and hauling some bikes around. Ford attempted to rectify this with the Ranger, though it’s still the size of a nineties F-150. There’s enough market demand for small trucks that are actually small, and Ford has unveiled their response to such demand in the form of the 2022 Ford Maverick pickup truck.
Traditional truck buyers, hold your nose. The 2022 Ford Maverick is a unibody pickup, just like Honda’s Ridgeline and Hyundai’s upcoming Santa Cruz. Unibody trucks aren’t new, either. Remember the Volkswagen Caddy or Dodge Rampage? They work for the right buyer, and I’m glad to see the 2022 Maverick show up as a new, truly compact pickup truck offering.
Let’s dive in to the information Ford provided and see what the 2022 Maverick actually is.
2022 Ford Maverick Dimensions
The 2022 Ford Maverick sits on a 121.1″ wheelbase and is 199.7″ long overall. That’s about seven inches less wheelbase than Ranger and ten inches less than the shortest-wheelbase F-150. Overall length is also down by 11.1″ compared to Ranger or 32″ compared to the average F-150.
It’s also a bit shorter than the other trucks, at just 68.7″ tall. Coming in below six feet in height helps with bed loading and squeezing in old, tight city parking garages.
Ford provided this graphic, which shows how the 2022 Maverick stacks up against their other trucks:
2022 Ford Maverick Drive Wheels, Engines, Transmissions, Horsepower, and Torque
Given the 2022 Maverick is based on a front-wheel drive unibody platform (which we’d guess is shared with both Escape and Bronco Sport), it’s no surprise that the Maverick will also be sold as a front-drive truck. All-wheel drive is optional.
Every trim level of 2022 Maverick will come standard as a hybrid, offering up to 40 miles per gallon of city fuel economy, per Ford. This is the same hybrid system seen on the 2022 Escape, which means buyers will get a 2.5 liter Atkinson-cycle four cylinder paired to an electric motor and continuously-variable transmission. The Maverick hybrid will produce a total of 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. Every hybrid Maverick will remain front-wheel drive.
If 191 horsepower doesn’t sound like enough, skip the hybrid drivetrain and choose Ford’s 2.0 liter EcoBoost turbocharged four cylinder instead. As in the 2021 Bronco Sport, the 2.0 produces 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic.
The 2.0 EcoBoost can be had in front-wheel drive or “intelligent” all-wheel drive.
Ford is offering both hybrid and EcoBoost engines in all trim levels of 2022 Maverick, and AWD can be added to any trim level of EcoBoost-powered Maverick.
2022 Ford Maverick Towing Capacity and Payload Capacity
Every 2022 Ford Maverick carries the same 1,500 pound payload capacity, regardless of trim level or drivetrain you choose. The Maverick’s bed is 4.5′ long, and provides a 6′ length with the tailgate dropped. Ford is offering an optional bed extender, akin to that of the old Explorer Sport Trac, which will help keep cargo in the bed with the tailgate lowered.
The Maverick’s bed, while short, appears to be pretty clever. Ford has included spaces for 2×4 and 2×6 pieces of wood to be dropped in, helping segment the bed for various needs. It’s also possible to add your own 12 volt electrical items to the bed without cutting up any factory wiring, as Ford has included an access panel on either side of the bed. That panel can be removed for the factory box lighting, or you can do your own thing – but you get a dedicated 12 volt fused circuit to start. Dubbed FLEXBED, the Maverick’s truck bed also includes two tie-downs and four D-rings.
Ford claims the Maverick hybrid can tow up to 2,000 pounds. Properly-equipped Mavericks can tow 4,000 pounds, which requires the EcoBoost engine and optional 4K Tow Package. Interestingly, while the 4K Tow Package changes the Maverick’s final drive ratio, it’s only changed on the all-wheel drive models. Otherwise, the 4K Tow Package adds a trailer brake controller, 7-pin wiring harness at the rear bumper, a transmission oil cooler, larger radiator, and upgraded engine cooling fan.
2022 Ford Maverick Trim Levels, Options, and Colors
Ford will sell the 2022 Maverick in XL, XLT, and Lariat trim levels, mirroring those of the larger Ranger. Even the XL is well-equipped, with automatic LED headlights, an 8″ infotainment screen running Sync 3, and pre-collision assist with emergency braking. Ford’s CoPilot 360 driver assistance package is optional on Maverick XL, as is the 4K Tow Package if you choose the EcoBoost engine. I’m a fan of the Maverick XL’s standard 17″ steel wheels.
Stepping up to Maverick XLT, buyers get 17″ aluminum wheels alongside such luxuries as a power tailgate lock and power-adjustable mirrors. Ford offers an XLT Luxury Package, should you desire a power driver’s seat, heated front (cloth) seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and remote start.
Maverick Lariat adds ActiveX leather-esque seat coverings, ambient lighting, and a power-sliding rear window. A Lariat Luxury Package is available, which includes adaptive cruise control (with lane centering), Bang & Olufsen sound system, and wireless charging pad as notable features.
Ford is offering an FX4 Off-Road Package on every all-wheel drive Maverick, which adds skid plates, all-terrain tires, and recovery hooks to the Maverick.
Maverick XL in Velocity Blue 
Maverick XLT in Cyber Orange 
Maverick Lariat in Cactus Grey
Paint colors have not been officially released, but from various renders provided to us, the 2022 Maverick paint color options should include Cyber Orange, Cactus Grey, Velocity Blue as well as the expected black and white. A first-year-only “First Edition” trim will be sold in Carbonized Grey, Area 51, and Rapid Red. Images shared for this article also include a metallic orange that is too dark to be Cyber Orange and too orange to be Rapid Red.
Interior color choices will include a two-tone heather gray with orange accents – shown here on the front-drive Maverick hybrid – and a two-tone brown and black ActiveX leatherette on the Lariat. There may be other interior colors available, but they weren’t disclosed to us as of this writing.
Maverick XLT (Hybrid) 
Maverick Lariat
2022 Ford Maverick Pricing and Availability
As every new vehicle seems to carry a price tag higher than the next, it’s refreshing to see Ford come in with Maverick’s starting price of $19,995. Granted, that’ll be for a basic front-drive Maverick XL – though it’ll be a hybrid. Pricing has not been shared for higher trims or various options.
The 2022 Ford Maverick will go on sale this fall, and the build-and-price tool is live now.
