The return of the Maverick nameplate marks Ford’s re-entry into the compact pickup truck segment after a span of 10 years. Previously, the Ranger soldiered on for the Blue Oval for 29 years in this segment, but it was forced to take an eight-year hiatus in 2011 due to a decline in sales. The Ranger did return in 2019, but as it was bigger in size, it moved up a tier and joined the midsize pickup truck segment. Purists may scoff at Ford’s latest move to expand its pickup portfolio, especially with the F-150 reigning the roost, but Ford is moving with the times and believes that the Maverick will be an affordable and practical option for compact sedan buyers. How do things manage to come to a full circle? In the 70s’, the Maverick was a compact saloon and today Ford has brought back the Maverick badge to gun down the sedan segment in its new truck avatar.

Ford Puts It’s Money Where Its Mouth Is

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Via Ford

The compact pickup truck division is one demanding place where manufacturers are expected to roll out a stellar product on a tight budget and on top of that, it also steps on the toes of sedan territory. Nevertheless, Ford took the challenge head-on and returned with the Maverick priced from $19,995 onwards, making it the most affordable truck in the market undercutting its direct rival, the Hyundai Santa Cruz available at $23,990 and the popular Honda Civic sedan at $21,900.

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Via Ford

Even though the Maverick is an affordable truck, Ford insists that this vehicle has been tested on and off-road, under different weather and driving conditions like the other vehicles under the Blue Oval umbrella. Don't let the 'compact truck' term fool you as the Maverick is 11.1-inches shorter than the Ranger and the floor bed is 54.4-inches long ensuring it is capable of carrying 1,500 pounds. The USP of the Maverick is its versatile cargo box, which can be transformed into various DIY solutions like a cycle rack, false door with a drawer, place box dividers to have separate storage space, and numerous 2 x 4 pockets, bed tie-down, threaded holes, and bolt-in C-channel. The new pickup truck also comes standard with an in-built 12v electrical power at the back of the bed which will support DIY electrical projects and other types of equipment. As an option, two 110-volt 400-watt outlets are available – one in the bed and one in the cabin.

Related: Here's Why Ford Offers Free AWD Upgrade For Some Maverick Buyers

Redefining The Pickup Truck Genre

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Via Ford

With trucks being massive in size and having powerful engines under the hood, their kryptonite is fuel-efficiency, but Ford has taken a different approach by powering the Maverick with a hybrid engine. It is the first pickup in America with a standard full-hybrid powertrain. According to Ford, the 2.5-liter hybrid engine is rated for 40 mpg city fuel economy and offers 500 miles of range on a single tank of gas. Assisted with a battery, the total output of the hybrid version is 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque and it’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and is only available in front-wheel-drive. If you’re looking for more grunt and capability then one can opt for the 2-liter EcoBoost petrol powertrain that pumps out 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. It is mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission and is available in both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It offers an optional 4K Tow Package that doubles the towing to 4,000 pounds.

Based on the underpins of both the Bronco Sport and Escape, the Maverick gets a unibody platform, which may sound sacrilege to traditional pickup trucks owners, but it does have its advantages. This new truck drives and handles like a car and more importantly negates the evident body roll that one gets to experience from a heavy body-on-frame construction vehicle. With its compact dimensions and nimble handling capabilities, the Maverick's effortless driving experience will appeal to many.

Related: This Is Why You Should Buy A Ford Maverick Instead Of A Toyota Tacoma

Smart, Practical, and Tech Savvy

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Via Ford

The Maverick comes standard as a four-door cabin and offers plenty of legroom and headroom. There’s a lot of smartly-designed storage spaces like under the rear seat and the door armrests get a split design to house one-liter bottles. The cabin has a clean and user-friendly design while the plastic quality is solid and comes in different colors and textures based on the variant.

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Via Ford

The Maverick comes fully loaded with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, which is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an in-built wifi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices, and the smart FordPass Connect, which lets you find the truck, check the fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and start or turn off the engine via the mobile phone. In terms of safety, it comes standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and collision warning, while there are plenty of optional driver aids like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, or hill descent control, and much more is available in the technology package. The Maverick will appeal to a lot of new truck owners with its class-leading value.