2022 Ford Maverick: Choosing the Right Trim

Ford is taking a giant leap of faith, rekindling an old idea with a new twist. The 2022 Ford Maverick marks the rebirth of the compact pickup, but with a standard hybrid powertrain, impressive EPA-estimated city fuel economy of 42 mpg, and a sub-$20,000 starting price.

The compact pickup all but disappeared by the early 2000s, with pickups like the Ford Ranger, Tacoma, and Frontier morphing into midsized trucks. However, Ford believes there’s a market for a smaller, lighter, yet still capable pickup, and we think they’re right.

The Maverick already has some impressive off-road credentials based on the same platform that hosts the Ford Bronco Sport. It also offers the option of a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder that bumps towing from 2,000 pounds to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. The payload for both engines remains at 1,500 pounds.

For now, the Maverick is a 5-passenger, 4-door pickup with a 4.5-foot bed. Its front wheels pull the Maverick, but all-wheel drive is available only with the 2.0-liter. The hybrid powertrain uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) while the 2.0-liter EcoBoost motor employs a more robust 8-speed automatic.

In a brief test drive of the Maverick hybrid, we learned that it indeed feels like a pickup, one that’s firmly sprung and ready to work but comfortable enough for everyday use. Brake response, however, sometimes can be a bit grabby, owing to the constantly changing blend of regenerative and traditional friction braking. Find a 2022 Ford Maverick  for sale

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2022 Ford Maverick XL (Starting at $19,995)

The 2022 Ford Maverick XL is an entry-level model with some very un-entry level features. First, beginning under the hood, we note that the Maverick’s standard powertrain setup consists of a 2.5-liter hybrid engine attached to a CVT powering the vehicle’s front wheels. This combo delivers 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 42-mpg city and a cruising range of more than 500 miles.

A 250-hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is optional and only available when ordering all-wheel drive. The hybrid 2.5-liter engine comes with a 13.8-gallon fuel tank, while the EcoBoost gets a larger 16.5-gallon tank.

A quick look at the XL’s exterior reveals LED headlights, stamped steel wheels, black mesh grille, black door handles, and black manual side mirrors. Around back, the Maverick XL features a locking tailgate and a single-piece bed and cab with no gap between the two. In addition, black bed rail caps extend to the rear window, helping protect the bed’s metal sidewalls from scuffs and dents when loading.

The Maverick’s 4.5-foot “Flexbed” includes such clever touches as slots stamped into the bed, allowing the use of 2x4s or 2x6s as dividers. This design helps when creating custom utility racks, beds, or shelving. The bed features six tie-downs for securing items and a built-in pre-wiring console for DIY electrical projects, such as bed lighting or accessories. No more hacking into your taillight wiring harness!

The Maverick’s tailgate can lower and anchor to hold more weight, essentially extending the bed length to 6 feet. The tailgate opens normally but also included a halfway position helpful when needing to carry longer items securely.

The Maverick XL goes above and beyond the mandatory traction control systems and side airbag protection when it comes to safety. It features Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assists. Included in the package are forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and auto high-beam headlights.

An optional Safety Package adds blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a full-size spare tire, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning.

Moving to the comfort and convenience side of the XL equation, you’ll find cloth bucket manual front seats with driver and passenger manual lumbar support and a 3-passenger flip-up rear bench seat. In addition, the XL comes equipped with power windows, power door locks, manual air conditioning, variable intermittent wipers, remote keyless entry, and a tilt/telescoping steering column with steering wheel audio and Bluetooth controls.

Like the Maverick’s bed, the interior features numerous unique storage solutions, such as the divided door armrests that allow for a 1-liter bottle to hold in an upright position. Two 12-volt outlets, one in front and one rear, are also standard.

The infotainment system features an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot. A six-speaker AM/FM stereo includes two USB ports (1 USB-A and 1 USB-C).

Also standard is a rearview camera and instrument cluster 4.2-inch color productivity screen. Ford’s FordPass can find the truck, start or turn off the engine, lock or unlock the doors and check fuel levels, all from an app on your phone.

An optional 4K Tow Package (requires the 2.0-liter gas engine) adds a trailer hitch with a 7-pin wire harness, transmission oil cooler, larger capacity radiator, upgraded cooling fan, and upgraded drive ratio on models with all-wheel drive.

Standalone options of note include a manual sliding rear window, 4-corner strobe lighting system, spray-in or drop-in bedliner, a pickup box extender, a power moonroof, a variety of tonneau covers, plus cargo management and bed organizer systems.

With Ford’s $1,495 destination fee, the 2022 Ford Maverick XL costs $21,490. With no money down, a 60-month loan at 3% financing has a monthly payment of $386. Find a 2022 Ford Maverick XL for sale

2022 Ford Maverick XL includes:

• Hybrid engine – delivers good power and excellent EPA-estimated fuel economy: 42 mpg city/33 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.
• Automatic emergency braking – monitors traffic in low-speed conditions, with the ability to slow or stop the truck helping avoid a collision.
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – allows streaming apps, music, maps, and text message from your smartphone to the Maverick’s infotainment screen.
• Stamped bed slots – allows configuration of the truck bed using 4x2s to create storage bins, homemade shelving, or other DIY features.

2022 Ford Maverick XLT (Starting at $22,360)

Moving up to the XLT trim brings a lot more in features, technology, and style, although the engine and drivetrain options for the XL remain the same.

The XLT includes 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, a power tailgate lock, power mirrors, and the SecuriCode keyless entry keypad with a perimeter alarm. In addition, there are four D-rings in the cargo bed, along with a storage cubby.

The XLT’s cab gets a more colorful interior, with rear under-seat storage and fold-down rear seat center armrest with cup holders. Cruise control is added to the XLT’s feature set, as are wiper-activated headlights.

The XLT opens the door to more optional equipment, beginning with the FX4 Off-Road Package. Requiring AWD and the 2.0-liter gas engine, this package includes 17-inch aluminum wheels, all-terrain tires, a 6.5-inch productivity screen, front tow hooks, FX4 decals, hill descent control, skid plates, and trailer hitch receiver with a 4-pin wiring harness.

The XLT Luxury Package ups the Maverick’s game with an 8-way power driver’s seat, two 110-volt 400-watt AC power outlets (one at the rear of the center console and again in the truck bed), rear-seat USB ports, bed tie-down locking rails with two locking brackets, and a spray-in bedliner. Also included are body-colored heated side mirrors, a full-size spare (standard on the hybrid), heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icers, remote start, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, LED cargo box lighting, and a trailer hitch receiver with a 4-pin wiring harness.

With Ford’s $1,495 destination fee, the 2022 Ford Maverick XLT costs $23,855. With no money down, a 60-month loan at 3% financing has a monthly payment of $429. Find a 2022 Ford Maverick XLT for sale

2022 Ford Maverick XLT includes:

• Wiper-activated headlights – This helpful feature lights the way once the wipers are engaged, helping to see better in dark and stormy weather.
• Cruise control – set it and forget it (until you need to stop). Cruise control makes long trips less arduous and also helps conserve fuel.
• SecuriCode keyless keypad – makes it possible to leave your keys in the Maverick when hiking or rafting. Then, when it’s time to go, just punch in the six-digit code, and the doors unlock.
• Available FX4 Package – A must-have for the off-road enthusiast, this package adds skid plates and all-terrain tires, among other things.

2022 Ford Maverick Lariat (Starting at $25,860)

The top-line Lariat is exactly what one expects of a pickup carrying one of Ford’s best-known trim names. It’s luxurious, well-equipped, and a head-turner. However, unlike its big F-150 cousins, this Lariat snags a very reasonable price.

The Lariat includes ActiveX synthetic leather seat material that helps repel liquids and dirt. Also included is a 6.5-inch productivity screen, 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, and 6-way power passenger seat with manual lumbar. Furthering the Lariat’s appeal is dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, proximity key fob with push-button start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power-sliding rear window with defrost.

Body-colored side mirrors with integrated spotter mirrors help with blind spots or when backing up with a trailer.

In addition to the XLT’s 4K Tow Package and FX4 Package, the Lariat offers the Lariat Luxury Package. Included in this upgrade are the contents of the Safety Package and two 110-volt 400-watt AC power outlets (one rear of the center console and again in the truck bed). Also included is adaptive cruise control with stop/go feature, lane centering, post-collision braking (standard on the hybrid), rear parking sensors, and Ford’s Evasive Steering Assist. The bed gains tie-down locking rails with two locking brackets, LED lighting, and a spray-in bedliner.

The Luxury Package continues with an 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio upgrade along with SYNC 3 infotainment and SiriusXM, a wireless charge pad, a heated leather steering wheel, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icers, and a full-size spare tire (standard on the hybrid). The package finishes with a remote start and a trailer hitch receiver with a 4-pin harness.

Saving the best for last, the Lariat includes a one-year-only First Edition Package comprised of a black painted roof and side mirror caps, a power moonroof, a soft-touch tonneau cover, First Edition decals, and unique 17-inch wheels (18-inch for the hybrid).

With Ford’s $1,495 destination fee, the 2022 Ford Maverick Lariat costs $27,355. With no money down, a 60-month loan at 3% financing has a monthly payment of $492. Find a 2022 Ford Maverick Lariat for sale

2022 Ford Maverick Lariat includes:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control – allows driver and passenger to set individual climate zones.
• ActiveX upholstery – This synthetic faux leather seat fabric resists stains and cleans up better than leather.
• Intelligent Access – a proximity key fob that allows the doors to unlock and the vehicle to start without the need to remove it from your pocket.
• Power-sliding rear window – allows easy access to the bed from the cab and improves airflow through the cabin.

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