The 2022 Ford Maverick is the newest entrant to the small pickup truck segment and is here to compete with the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, which turned out to be quite a successful new model ever since its launch last year. Offered with three trim configurations, two powertrain options, and unibody construction, the 2022 Ford Maverick feels quite similar to regular cars in terms of driving dynamics and handling, and it is frugal too.
Offered for a base MSRP of $19,995, it has more than enough towing capacity and payload capacity on offer, making it a versatile proposition for those who plan on using it as a work truck. The elegant interior and exterior design, a feature-rich cabin and infotainment system, and more than enough space also make this pickup truck hard to overlook. Here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Ford Maverick.
10 Has More Than Enough Grunt
Coming with two powertrains to choose from, the 2022 Ford Maverick is a solid performer. The base motor is a 2.5-liter hybrid inline-4 producing a combined output of 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. This comes mated to a CVT automatic and FWD. The performance is not going to excite anyone, but it is more than capable for most potential buyers.
If you want a bit more zest out of this small pickup truck, get the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Coming with an 8-speed automatic transmission and FWD or AWD drivetrain options, the performance is very brisk. Put your foot down and the broad power spread provides excellent drivability. The 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds is very quick indeed.
9 Good Towing And Payload Capacity
Being part of the small pickup truck segment, the 2022 Ford Maverick is a reasonably versatile offering. It can do most of the things done by its bigger siblings, the Ford Ranger and the Ford F-150, and that is one of the biggest attractions of the Maverick. This truck has a maximum towing capacity of 4,000 lbs if you opt for the turbocharged AWD variant.
The best-in-class payload capacity of 1,500 lbs is impressive too. However, if you opt for the cheaper hybrid variants without the AWD drivetrain option, the towing capacity reduces to just 2,000 lbs. Hence, we would recommend you get the XL AWD trim, since it is the cheapest variant with the 2.0-liter motor and AWD drivetrain. In comparison, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has a slightly higher towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.
8 Handsome Exterior Design
Similar to the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, the Maverick also comes with butch exterior design language, making it very handsome. Coming in with 11 exterior color choices and a host of optional packages and features including First Edition Package, multiple wheel designs, tonneau pickup box covers, and many more, it does manage to stand out from the bigger trucks out there.
The class-leading width, height, and wheelbase also add to the character. Apart from that, one look at the front-end is all that is needed to notice the excellent design due to the blacked-out grille and air dam, LED headlights, and the masculine hood. The minimalist profile is highlighted by the 18" aluminum wheels and subtle fender flares. However, the rear-end looks a bit bland due to the conventional taillights and the blacked-out bumper.
7 Harsh Ride Quality
Since this is a pickup truck, the ride quality is not going to excite anyone. Like the Ford Ranger and the Ford F-150, the suspension setup of the 2022 Ford Maverick is tuned to the stiffer side to improve the payload and towing abilities, and that does take a toll on the comfort factor quite a bit.
Potholes and road irregularities do filter into the cabin at slow speeds, and the passengers are likely going to complain if those broken roads are taken at speed. Even when driving on the freeways, the ride doesn't feel very refined, as you would expect from a pickup truck with a stiff suspension setup, and body roll is on the higher side too.
6 Quite A Spacious Cabin
Coming in the SuperCrew form only, the 2022 Ford Maverick is fairly spacious. Open the front doors and get into the wide cabin, and you'll notice the superb headroom and legroom on offer. This helps in accommodating even the tallest of folks, and the wide center armrest coupled with leatherette upholstery makes the traveling experience pleasant.
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The cabin also comes with multiple cupholders, bottle holders, and other cubbyholes, making it pretty versatile during those long road trips. The rear seat compartment is also spacious, even though we found the Santa Cruz has slightly better shoulder room. However, the cargo capacity of 33.3 cu ft is better than what Hyundai offers.
5 Respectable Driving Dynamics
The 2022 Ford Maverick is based on the Ford Bronco Sport, hence the driving dynamics are also very similar. The unibody construction of the 2022 Maverick does help it to retain the car-like driving dynamics, which you won't get with the Ford F-150. The chassis is reasonably light and stiff, making the Maverick corner quite confidently.
The stiff strut front suspension and multi-link rear setup with coil springs and anti-roll bars allow the 2022 Ford Maverick to be driven enthusiastically. The truck does understeer when being pushed hard, especially when fitted with the FWD drivetrain. However, the Hyundai Santa Cruz also behaved similarly, but this is expected as these are trucks, not sports cars. The steering is very precise and communicates reasonably well too.
4 Good-Looking Interior
The cabin quality and design are not going to turn off any prospective buyers. Even though the design doesn't stand out like that of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, the light gray and beige or desert brown color combination (depending on the trim that you opt for) coupled with silver inserts and the leather-wrapped steering wheel all look upscale.
The infotainment system is neatly integrated into the center stack and the dashboard and door cards look butch as well, in keeping with the overall design theme. In comparison, the Santa Cruz looks more futuristic, and that makes it look more like a family car than a work truck. The interior of the Maverick is respectable for this price point, with mostly good quality plastics used for the majority of construction. However, the Santa Cruz is still a notch above in terms of overall interior quality.
3 Infotainment Has All The Required Features
The 8" touchscreen infotainment system comes as standard with all the trims of the 2022 Ford Maverick, and it turned out to be pretty impressive in terms of interface and features. Everything is laid out neatly and is very easy to use. As a result, even the most technically-challenged people would have no problems with operating this infotainment system.
There are no major stutters or lags anywhere as well when you operate it. It comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and many more. The optional Bang & Olufsen audio system is top-notch too.
2 Impressive Braking Performance
In terms of braking performance, the 2022 Ford Maverick has got more than enough stopping power. This small pickup truck comes with a 4-wheel disc brake setup and gets all the other braking features like ABS, EBD, automated emergency braking, brake assist, and many more as standard.
A slight dab on the brake pedal is all that is required to stop in most cases, as the initial bite is strong. The braking progression is excellent too and front-end dive is well under control, unlike the bigger Ford F-150. The Maverick can achieve 70-0 mph braking in a decent 172 feet, making it nearly identical to the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
1 Many Driver-Assistance Features Are Optional
This is one area in which the 2022 Ford Maverick managed to disappoint us. This pickup truck doesn't get many driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control as standard, which is a bit disappointing. In comparison, the Hyundai Santa Cruz gets many of these as standard, even with the base trim.
Nevertheless, the 2022 Maverick has the expected (mostly mandated) safety features like airbags, side-impact beams, parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring system, backup camera, and many more. The build quality is excellent too. However, the NHTSA and the IIHS haven't crash-tested this truck yet.