Looking for opinions on the Ford Maverick

[STREGA]

The wife and I are thinking of getting a second vehicle. After discussing what we would like or need in a vehicle we are leaning toward a Maverick. Never been a Ford guy but I have to admit I kinda like this small pickup thing. The one thing that I’m not sure about is the turbo charged engine, will it be problematic? Seems that a lot of new vehicles are going that route. Not interested in the hybrid engine.

Stopped by the Ford dealer in Flagstaff today to look at one up close, they had a couple on the lot. They looked better in person than on the website IMHO. Both were XLT trim level, with one having the Tremor package the other had the FX4 package. Didn’t have a lot of time to look at it much today so no test drive but did sit in it to see if I even fit in it comfortably which I did. At 6’ tall I don’t fit in a lot of small cars comfortably and getting in and out of them is hard and getting harder the older I get. The Maverick passed that test.

I would like to hear from anyone who owns a Maverick and what your experience has been with it so far good or bad. Opinions on the engine and transmission would be helpful for me in deciding if this is the right choice for our next vehicle. Also did like the Tremor package which makes it a 4wd, gets a tow package but hurts the mpg’s a bit. Pre-thanks for any input.

 

[Rovertrader]

No personal ownership experience but have two buddies with them, and both are very pleased! About 2 years each no issues, both are ‘car guys’ and live basicly in town- great runabouts with light hauling capability. Both tow boats short distances- again without issue…

 

[SDDiver5]

Definitely go with the Tremor package. Gives some great upgrades and still has the high MPG. The turbo engine should not be an issue. I have not heard of any serious issues with them. Ford has had the turbo eco boost engines for a long time now and it seems they have work any bugs.

Also No personal experience other than test driving one, neighbors and friends that have them and seeing them in the desert but from what I can tell is it's a very specific truck that wont suit all truck guys needs, but if it fits your needs, it's the perfect truck.

I imagine it would do great in Flag as well.

 

[MisterNoisy]

It's basically the (now-discontinued) Escape, but with chunkier styling and a bed. The platform and powertrain are well-sorted by now, and in particular, that 2.0L EcoBoost is solid - I caned the absolute hell out of the one in my Focus ST (including a handful of track days) and it never gave me a single issue over the five years I owned it.

I think they're great-looking neat little trucks - perfect for what most people actually use trucks for (trips to Home Depot, fishing trips, maybe some mild off-roading, etc.) and in AWD + Tremor guise they're totally reasonable for fire roads and the like. I particularly like the straightforward and utilitarian interior - auto journos complain about hard plastics and whatever, but I actually prefer that to the 'fancy' soft touch materials that scuff and scratch too easily.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

I think some models have a cvt and some a regular automatic?

 

[chet6.7]

Do you plan to put a shell on it? I don't know if this applies, but here is some info.

 

[STREGA]

I think some models have a cvt and some a regular automatic?

The gasser gets a 8 speed auto.
Hybrid gets the CVT.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Do you plan to put a shell on it? I don't know if this applies, but here is some info.

That’s the Ranger- not the maverick. But it does seem odd that a new Ranger can old hold up 88lbs of weight on the bed rails.

 

[chet6.7]

That’s the Ranger- not the maverick. But it does seem odd that a new Ranger can old hold up 88lbs of weight on the bed rails.

That's why I said I don't know if this applies.

 

[plh]

Its a car (common with Ford Escape and Bronco Sport) platform Ford C2 with a pickup box. I don't own one, but know a few who do and they like them.

 

[STREGA]

Do you plan to put a shell on it? I don't know if this applies, but here is some info.

No plans for a shell, want to leave the bed open for hauling stuff. Keeping visibility out the rear window is desirable for the wife.

 

[STREGA]

It's basically the (now-discontinued) Escape, but with chunkier styling and a bed. The platform and powertrain are well-sorted by now, and in particular, that 2.0L EcoBoost is solid - I caned the absolute hell out of the one in my Focus ST (including a handful of track days) and it never gave me a single issue over the five years I owned it.

I think they're great-looking neat little trucks - perfect for what most people actually use trucks for (trips to Home Depot, fishing trips, maybe some mild off-roading, etc.) and in AWD + Tremor guise they're totally reasonable for fire roads and the like. I particularly like the straightforward and utilitarian interior - auto journos complain about hard plastics and whatever, but I actually prefer that to the 'fancy' soft touch materials that scuff and scratch too easily.

Feeling better about the durability of the 4cyl. Turbo engine. Being on top of engine maintenance would go along ways in preventing it from grenading itself. Also this is going to be the wife’s truck mostly and she has good mechanical sympathy for the most part, It will be my job to blow the “cobwebs” out once in awhile.

With the Tremor package it would make a good soft roader IMO, and one of the stipulations the wifey has is no modifications to her truck. Okay, with the Tremor package it won’t need anything else really so no mods needed. The biggest downside of the Tremor package is it hurts the combined mpg’s by about 5 mpg.

The other request from the wife is it has to have heated seats, which means it will have to have the XLT luxury package option also. Not sure exactly why we need heated seats when we live in Yuma, Az. But she likes her creature comforts, okay I like them too. Actually were not always in Yuma just happen to be here this weekend and it’s a cool 108 degrees today 😎. There will be a time and a place where heated seats would be nice.

The local Ford dealer here has a Tremor with the Lux package on the lot, window sticker says MSRP is 36.5K, Ouch! To dang hot out to want to go kick the tires today.

 

[MisterNoisy]

Feeling better about the durability of the 4cyl. Turbo engine. Being on top of engine maintenance would go along ways in preventing it from grenading itself. Also this is going to be the wife’s truck mostly and she has good mechanical sympathy for the most part, It will be my job to blow the “cobwebs” out once in awhile.

With the Tremor package it would make a good soft roader IMO, and one of the stipulations the wifey has is no modifications to her truck. Okay, with the Tremor package it won’t need anything else really so no mods needed. The biggest downside of the Tremor package is it hurts the combined mpg’s by about 5 mpg.

The other request from the wife is it has to have heated seats, which means it will have to have the XLT luxury package option also. Not sure exactly why we need heated seats when we live in Yuma, Az. But she likes her creature comforts, okay I like them too. Actually were not always in Yuma just happen to be here this weekend and it’s a cool 108 degrees today 😎. There will be a time and a place where heated seats would be nice.

The local Ford dealer here has a Tremor with the Lux package on the lot, window sticker says MSRP is 36.5K, Ouch! To dang hot out to want to go kick the tires today.

I will say that I was (and still am) very aggressive about maintenance and oil changes in particular - turbos are very tight tolerance widgets and the penalty for not keeping up with maintenance is severe.

 

[vintageracer]

I've had my 2023 Maverick for almost 1 year. Has 7K miles on it. I have an AWD XLT EcoBoost Gas with FX4 Off-Road, 4K Trailer Tow, Electronic Door Keypad, Factory Rubber Floor Mats in Hot Chilli Pepper Red (Optional Color). MSRP sticker was $30,500. I paid $29,500 last September 2023 when delivered.

The Hybrids have had quite a few recalls and software issues. Most buyers of Mavericks (70+%) have ordered the cheap XL Hybrid. Ford STILL does not have enough capacity to fill those orders. Most buyers of Mavericks have never owned a truck before. The Hybrid 50 MPG city fuel mileage, 4 doors and small bed has a lot of appeal to buyers.

The Maverick is nothing more than the repackaging of a FOUR DOOR CAR WITH A SMALL BED instead of a trunk-lid or hatchback. The continuing evolution from a 4 door car with a trunk-lid to a 4 door SUV with a hatchback and now a 4 door "Trucklet" with a bed.

For ME the Maverick must haves were the 250 HP Gas Engine, AWD and the 4K Tow Package Capable of towing 4000 lbs versus the standard 2000 lb tow capacity on the FWD 250 HP Eco-boost gas Maverick and the 180 HP FWD Hybrid Maverick. With the 4K Tow package you get additional oil and transmission coolers, factory brake controller and a different gearing. In 2022-2024 the 4K Tow option was only available on the gas Eco-boost AWD Maverick.

For 2025 you can now get AWD and 4K Tow when ordering an AWD Hybrid Maverick. I have a 2025 AWD, 4K Tow equipped Hybrid Maverick on order. No FX4 Off-Road package available on the AWD Hybrid in 2025. Too Bad! I may or may not take it when it shows up. We'll see!

On the surface the Tremor looks like a great package which it is HOWEVER Maverick Tremor sales are far below sales expectations given the price and what you CANNOT GET on the Tremor package. The BIG ONE being the 4K Tow package. Most folks in the Maverick community say the Eco-Boost AWD with 4K Tow and FX4 is a much better package for all but the most off-road type of buyer. I would agree!

The Tremor package has some neat stuff such as a shiftable AWD and a kinda locker that will certainly get you deeper into trouble but not that much deeper. Poor suspension travel and other issues will severely limit where you can go. Hence the opinion that the AWD Eco-Boost with FX4 and 4K Trailer tow is a much cheaper and better combination.

I originally was going to order a Tremor when it was first announced. When I decided to order a Maverick I did not order the Tremor for 2 reasons. One, which did not happen was I thought everyone would order a Tremor and it would take forever to get one. Never happened. I still waited over 1 year from order to delivery for my 2023 AWD FX4 Maverick. Two, I could not get the 4K tow package on a Tremor which was mandatory for me.

In the end as stated above the Maverick Tremor sales are FAR BELOW expectations because of the none availability of the 4K Tow package and only the standard 2000 lb tow rating being the #1 quoted reason for slow Tremor sales along with high cost of the Tremor option. Super happy I DID NOT order a Tremor!

The Maverick is a GREAT $30K vehicle. The Maverick is NOT a great $40K vehicle which is where you can easily get to with the vast option list. Most any Tremor, Lariat equipped Gas/Hybrid or optioned up XLT are NOW $35K to $40K+. No longer a good deal in my opinion.

Leave it Ford screw up a good thing with massive MSRP price increases from the original launch price of $19,999 for an no option XL FWD Hybrid.

Do I like it?

You bet I do!

My only complaint with my Maverick is every Ford XLT truck ever built had a leather wrapped steering wheel. Not the Maverick. You get the same HARD PLASTIC steering wheel like the XL. You have to order a Lariat to get the leather wrapped steering wheel! Other than that I am completely satisfied!

The "Trucklet" is everything I expected. Runs 80 MPH all day and gets 28 MPG. Tows the boat or the pair of Jet Ski's no problem. It could tow my 1957 R20 Avion camper as it only weighs about 3000 lbs loaded however I have plenty of other trucks better suited to that task. The stock seats are comfortable and the XLT has everything you could want stock. Windows, locks, tilt, cruise, radio, power mirrors and more. The AWD Eco-Boost runs and drives great with plenty of power and comfort. I have not had any problems or issues with my Maverick.

A GREAT $30,000 vehicle.

Above that price point there are many other great vehicles to choose from!

 

[vintageracer]

This is the most up to date information on Maverick production from Ford.

Kinda interesting.

You can see Ford NOW has capacity for 55% of the total Maverick production to be Hybrid (up from 45% previously) with orders now at 64% of total production for the Hybrid. Their production is still oversold on the Hybrid by 9%.

At one time orders for Hybrid Mavericks was over 80% of all Maverick orders. Ford offered a deal for buyers to switch from a Hybrid Maverick to a Eco-Boost Maverick for those with Hybrid orders saying the buyer would get a Eco-Boost Maverick much quicker than a Hybrid Maverick. In reality the wait was over year+ for most folks who ordered any Maverick. My 2023 gas Eco-Boost Maverick was on ordered on the first day of 2023 ordering in early September 2022 and it took over a year before delivery in late September 2023.

XL trim series orders (The Cheapest) account for 84% of all Maverick orders with a production capability of only 23%. They are oversold by 61% on XL trim Mavericks!

Ford has a 10% capacity to build Tremors with only 1% of Mavericks ordered being Tremors. The XLT package has a production capacity of 29% with orders for XLT's at just 19%. A 10% difference. Also look at the Lariat as build capacity for the Lariat is 25% of capacity with only 2% ordering the Lariat trim package. A 23% difference!

Overall people WANT TO BUY CHEAP HYBRID FWD MAVERICKS which Ford does not have the capacity to build at this time so they say AND most likely what Ford DOES NOT WANT TO BUILD as there if far less profit in low trim level cheap Mavericks.

Far Less Profit in a XL trim package versus a XLT, Tremor or Lariat trim package!

With MSRP price increases of over $5000+ in 3 model years it's still:

ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!