Quick review of my 2022 Ford Maverick

[Hermann]

XL Model with front wheel and hybrid checks all the boxes for me.

Everyone seems to be repulsed by the steel wheels it comes with. I would take mine directly to discount tire and get some 17 inch wheels put on the stock tires and call it a day.

40 mpg

I'm a member of the MaverickTruckClub.com forum, the consensus on the steelies is that they are quite popular.

 

[Pleease]

Hi all. So I posted a different thread asking opinions on replacement tires for my 2022 Maverick and someone asked for some thoughts on the truck. So here ya go. **EDIT - Dang that turned out much longer than I had planned...sorry.

I ordered my Maverick at the end of June (before they started producing them) and received it at the end of October. I have put just under 3k miles on it. It is an XLT AWD with the 2.0 Ecoboost and 4K tow package. I have had zero problems out of it in the brief time that I have owned it and haven't really done much to it other than window tint and replacing the factory wheels with a set of Bronco Sport wheels and upsized Michelin Defender tires. In the last year I have owned a 17 F150 5.0 and a 21 Ranger XLT. I traded the Ranger for the Maverick after 6 months of ownership and do not particularly miss it. It is my primary source of comparison.

What I like about the Maverick:
I love the ride height. I'm young(ish) so getting in and out isn't an issue but the Maverick is the perfect height for ease and comfort and also for loading and unloading things to and from the cargo bed. I like the size. The interior dimensions of the Maverick and Ranger are practically identical (the Eco Mav actually has more rear legroom) but the Maverick manages to do so in a much smaller exterior package that actually feels more open than the Ranger. I like the ride quality and handling...as compared to the Ranger in particular. The Maverick is a good blend of sport and comfort with a slight nod toward sport. It's no sports car but it feels like one in the curves compared to the Ranger. The Ranger was a roll machine. I like the styling, both inside and out. The exterior is nice and squared off which lends to a slightly aggressive look and the interior is very practical. Everything is placed appropriately and designed very simply and utilitarian. The interior materials, while on the cheaper end, are also very outside the box which keeps it from being boring. I like the overall build quality. I had some panel gap misalignments and complaints about the finishes (such as the door handles and window trim) on the Ranger but none of that with the Maverick. Panel gaps are spot on and materials, while not high-end, are at least better than the Ranger. I like that the Maverick has more rear under-seat storage and that the rear windows roll all the way down into the doors. I like 24 mpg in town and on backroads where the Ranger struggled to hold 19. I have only really taken the Maverick on one short road trip and it got 28 running 70-80mph. I like the price of the Maverick. I lost just a little bit of money trading in the 6 month old Ranger and still came out owing over $6k less on the Maverick.

What I don't like or would like to see improved:
My two biggest complaints involve sound. The Maverick transmits a fair amount of road noise into the cabin. It's pretty quiet on smooth surfaces but older rough or course asphalt makes a good bit of road noise. It's not the tires. I have been through three sets at this point...the OEM Falken Wildpeaks, 600 miles on a set of Firestone Destination LE3s (satisfaction warrantied...see my other post), and now the Michelin Defenders. The Defenders have quieted it the most but it's still there and therefore I believe to be just a characteristic of the truck. Not terribly surprising at this price point. The other complaint regarding noise is the engine. It's actually really quite 90% of the time...quieter than the Ranger. But it has an annoying 4cyl buzz right around 2500 RPM. Thankfully, the truck doesn't cruise at this RPM even at 80. But you do hear it briefly as it goes through the gears. Power wise, I've never found myself wishing it had more power. It is perfectly suitable and then some for everyday driving. But the Ranger spoiled me here. It was downright quick. Quick enough that it encouraged you to goose it occasionally and have a little fun...maybe challenge and surprise someone at the stop light, lol. The Maverick doesn't really inspire that same feeling. It's just average. The base stereo in the XLT is also weak, the speakers in particular. The one in the Ranger was good but Ford saved some money in this area with the Mav. I'll be replacing the door speakers and if that doesn't get me where I'd like to be, maybe adding a small sub later.

Final thoughts:
I've seen several people shopping or waiting for a Maverick and end up with a Ranger or the new Nissan Frontier. I don't understand this. If you need the towing capacity of a body on frame pickup or plan to hardcore off-road, then certainly. Despite my dislikes of it, I would own another Ranger if I needed it. But if you don't need the capability of a body on frame truck, you are giving up so much by buying one. That leaves you shopping the Maverick, Ridgeline, or Santa Cruz for the time being. The RL is technically in a different class because it's a good bit larger than the Maverick and SC. I get that but they are all unibody pickups so for my own comparison, they are the same. I never even considered the SC...could anyone produce an uglier truck?? I test drove a 20 RL extensively and am here to tell you that it's a great truck. More space than the Maverick, the cool bed trunk thingie, higher quality materials, and the ride is phenomenal for a truck. It gets a 10 on the comfort scale. I also think the redesigned 21+ RL is just a good looking truck. But the V6 probably won't entirely match the Maverick's fuel mileage (at least in town), it's physically larger overall, and the biggest drawback is the price. An entry level RL is around $12k more than what I paid for my Maverick and that's if you can find one at MSRP right now.

Final final thoughts:
If you need to tow more than 4K pounds or off-road, buy the Ranger or something similar. If you value top of the line comfort and higher material quality and don't mind paying up for it, buy the RL. I have zero plans to get rid of my Maverick but if I did or when I do, a new RL is at the top of my list. If you want something practical and very everyday user friendly and have the proper expectations of a brand new sub-$30K vehicle, buy a Maverick...if you can find one.

I will try to post some more pics later. The weather has been so nasty here for the last few weeks that I'm kinda ashamed to right now. It's filthy in this photo.

Nice, balanced, interesting - thanks for sharing.

As a 2019 Ridgeline owner, I appreciate the way you give credit to other trucks for what they do well, etc. - a much more enjoyable (and learning) exercise than the my-brand-vs-your-brand approach.

 

[starquestbd22]

I am wondering if the higher end models will have any more sound insulation?

My understanding is probably not. The Lariat has the acoustic windshield but I think that’s it. I had a Lariat owner agree with my assessment on one of the FB pages.

 

[starquestbd22]

Maverick is new. So no idea on if it will be reliable. I like the choice. But demand is so high that dealers are charging thousands of additional profit. Other than that if could be a great family vehicle.

Maverick is new but the engine, trans, and chassis are not. I’m hoping that’s worth something.

 

[starquestbd22]

Is there a sport mode? Our Edge has one but sometimes they can go to far the other way. I drive my Jetta in sport 100% of the time. Its so tuned for economy that sport is just right for normal driving.

Yes, my Ecoboost has Sport mode. But I don’t really care for how it hangs on to gears and rev hangs needlessly.

 

[starquestbd22]

Nice, balanced, interesting - thanks for sharing.

As a 2019 Ridgeline owner, I appreciate the way you give credit to other trucks for what they do well, etc. - a much more enjoyable (and learning) exercise than the my-brand-vs-your-brand approach.

I’ve honestly been window shopping (kinda, maybe) RLs over the past week or two. I’ve been offered $3k over what I paid for my Maverick and the RL is a slightly bigger, much more refined and higher quality Maverick. I may pull the trigger if I can find the right one.

 

[SatinSilver]

Had to go back to the OP again and look at the picture which looks awesome.

 

[meep]

Yeah it looks sharp… I think they nailed the looks. Hate to see the OP might trade it. I didn’t think the SC looked bad either, though I’m not sure if I could deal with a solid LCD cluster. i wanted to like the 2nd Gen volvo S60 and just couldn’t do it after looking at them several times over several years.

 

[Pleease]

I’ve honestly been window shopping (kinda, maybe) RLs over the past week or two. I’ve been offered $3k over what I paid for my Maverick and the RL is a slightly bigger, much more refined and higher quality Maverick. I may pull the trigger if I can find the right one.

I had an '07 RL and now a '19, and am addicted to having a trunk and two-way tailgate. However - and obviously you know this - it's going to cost some $ to make that move. Either way, hope it works out great.

 

[KCJeep]

Yes, my Ecoboost has Sport mode. But I don’t really care for how it hangs on to gears and rev hangs needlessly.

Too aggressive then, understood.

 

[kkreit01]

Nice review. I've had one on order since 12/17: XLT, Lux, AWD, Tow Package, rear slider. It will never come. I gave up. I recently purchased a new Edge SE AWD for about the same price. The Edge comes standard with a 12" screen, push-button start/walk-up entry, 360, etc. It's has an acoustic windshiled, and is very quiet on the road. It's much more quiet than my Grand Cherokee Limited (+$10k). The Edge is a few hundred pounds heavier than Maverick, so it's not quite as quick, and gets -1 mpg on highway. My Maverick may arrive one of these months. If it does, the dealer will make a nice $6k profit.

 

[RooflessVW]

I love the Maverick.

I'll take a base hybrid in blue

 

[benjy]

i HATE 4 door pickups!!! they look bad + shorten the much needed box-hauling area!!! not an automatic guy either!!! best thing is the price!! with all new frontiers being V-6 + just over + under 30 thou that would be my choice!!

 

[JustinH]

i HATE 4 door pickups!!! they look bad + shorten the much needed box-hauling area!!! not an automatic guy either!!! best thing is the price!! with all new frontiers being V-6 + just over + under 30 thou that would be my choice!!

30k is only 50 percent more than 20k.

I think the price is the difference and they are going to sell every one of them.

Put this in perspective, I am seeing ads on the TV for new KIA soul for 21k out the door.

 

[Zee09]

My friend got his blue Maverick Hybrid yesterday and his dealership delivered it dirty without gas, no manual, one key fob and tried to stick him with $6k of added on warranties and slop.
This is his first new vehicle in 36 years.

He called me and said he loved in anyway but had bad vibes about it all.

His wife demanded to use it that day to take her friends shopping and he couldn't say no.
Three hours later she ran it off the road and wrecked it....

He is ready to jump....
You can't make this stuff up..Sad!!!

 

[RooflessVW]

My friend got his blue Maverick Hybrid yesterday and his dealership delivered it dirty without gas, no manual, one key fob and tried to stick him with $6k of added on warranties and slop.
This is his first new vehicle in 36 years.

He called me and said he loved in anyway but had bad vibes about it all.

His wife demanded to use it that day to take her friends shopping and he couldn't say no.
Three hours later she ran it off the road and wrecked it....

He is ready to jump....
You can't make this stuff up..Sad!!!

 

[loneryder]

Maverick is new. So no idea on if it will be reliable. I like the choice. But demand is so high that dealers are charging thousands of additional profit. Other than that if could be a great family vehicle.

So if you ordered one when they were announced, isn't the price locked in? Are dealers jacking up prices when they arrive??

 

[odie]

The hybrids already have a recall on the gas tank . Not sure if it applies to the 2.0 Ltr..

Reason for recall is ...

 

[andyd]

I'm sorry, my pickup truck, if I ever buy another, has to be RWD, monocoque body/chassis is fine. How the heck can you really ( over) load a FWD truck and expect it to steer?

 

[dishdude]

I'm sorry, my pickup truck, if I ever buy another, has to be RWD, monocoque body/chassis is fine. How the heck can you really ( over) load a FWD truck and expect it to steer?

The Maverick isn't meant to haul heavy loads. Don't RWD trucks still use the front wheels to steer?