At a time when the world is all about SUVs, we see these rides take on all kinds of adventures. Yes, sports utility vehicles have always been for off-road driving, but lately, they have evolved into beastly rides you can take over rocks and other demanding terrains without breaking a sweat. However, as much as that is exciting, some may desire to step away from an overloading number of SUVs.
Ford (who else?) recognized this need of its customers and introduced a compact pickup truck to its lineup. The recently launched Ford Maverick is all about the flexibility and practicality of an SUV, yet it takes things one step further with advanced cargo space and off-road convenience.
But to be honest here, the 2023 Ford Maverick offers different trims and packages for diverse customers, so not all versions suit all off-road adventurers. If you desire to get this handsome and practical pickup truck to go on the most demanding adventures, you may want to consider specially designed off-road trims and packages.
Here's why getting the Ford Maverick FX4 makes the most sense for off-road enthusiasts.
What The Ford Maverick Brings To Adventurers As Standard
Throughout the 2022 and 2023 production years, the Ford Maverick pickup truck bears an unibody design and a standard full-hybrid powertrain. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combines with an electric motor to deliver 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque and pairs to a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. In this configuration, the compact pickup truck tows 2,000 pounds and ensures excellent fuel efficiency.
But off-road enthusiasts will like the 2.0-liter EcoBoost gas engine more as it delivers 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and offers standard front- or optional all-wheel drive. With this powertrain, the Maverick also offers the 4k Tow Package, allowing you to tow up to 4,000 pounds.
Across all versions and configurations, the Ford Maverick offers drivers a rugged exterior styling and a tech-loaded and intuitive designed interior. Inside, drivers will find a massive center touchscreen and an angled heads-up display, Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Navigation, and many other convenient features, including the Ford Co-Pilot360 safety and assistant technology.
Among all these, off-road enthusiasts may like the comfortable seating and the unique FLEXBED the most. The FLEXBED helps drivers and passengers use the already large bed (1,500 pounds capacity) in several convenient ways by allowing for better customization and organization. That makes it easy to load everything from food to bikes.
However, that's not all, and adventurers dealing with all kinds of demanding situations and weather conditions on the road can also get their Ford Maverick with advanced off-road packages.
Take A Look At The Advanced Off-Road Niceties Of The Ford Maverick FX4
The Ford Maverick FX4 is a package you should definitely get if you want to protect your vehicle and yourself off-road. Well, and boost convenience on your adventures, regardless of the outside conditions.
The Ford Maverick FX4 adds more capability to the lineup by providing all-terrain tires, suspension tuning, underbody protection, and off-road-focused drive modes. Firstly, you get two tow hooks at the front for the toughest situations when you have to lend a hand to a fellow truck or SUV. Then, there are four skid plates under your vehicle to protect the sensitive area when you want to get over bumps and rocks with your rugged all-terrain tires — and we all know how useful that can be.
Inside, you can make use of the hill descent control to ease going down the hill, as the vehicle will maintain the set speed for you so you can focus on steering without braking or speeding. Your digital instrument cluster also allows you to activate and switch between two driving modes specific to the Ford Maverick FX4 package: Mud/Ruts and Sand. All of this is available at a push of a button.
Now, Ford also included the Tremor package for the 2023 production year, bringing another set of off-road niceties to its popular pickup truck. If you want to see your Ford Maverick FX4 truly shine off-road, consider adding the Tremor to the picture.
How Can You Get The Ford Maverick FX4
The Ford Maverick is actually available in three trims, the XL, the XLT, and the Lariat. The FX4 adds only to the XLT and the Lariat of 2022 or 2023, as these are top-of-the-line trims more geared toward demanding road and off-road conditions. The caveat is that you also must get one of these two models with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine mentioned above and an all-wheel drive to acquire the FX4.
Still, if you think about it, when equipping your off-road pickup truck, you are likely to pick these specifications anyway. The only real downside is that picking a non-standard engine and all-wheel drive will set you back a couple of thousand dollars, and the XLT and the Lariat are already in the pricier range of the lineup. The Ford Maverick FX4 package itself costs $800.
Source: Ford