Jun 17, 2022 at 12:48pm ET Show The Ford Maverick is one of the Blue Oval’s newest offerings, and it’s been a hot seller since it went on sale. The bite-sized pickup is available with a hybrid powertrain that powers the front wheels, but an all-wheel-drive version with electrification might be in the works. New spy shots have captured a Maverick out testing with some odd and revealing modifications. The pickup has a junction box attached to the rear door with writing on it that raises a few questions. It clearly reads “PHE-V” and “2.1L,” suggesting that this has a 2.1-liter PHEV powertrain. The box also has writing on it that appears to indicate the truck’s “Base Weight” went from “1684” to “1790,” which makes sense if these figures are in kilograms. That new base weight translates to 3,946 pounds. Gallery: Ford Maverick Plug-In Hybrid Spy Shots
That might seem portly for the pickup, but it seems reasonable compared to the other Maverick variants. The gas-powered all-wheel-drive Maverick tips the scales at 3,731 lbs (1,692 kg). Adding the PHEV hardware would increase the weight, as would the apparent all-wheel-drive system and a larger battery. This Maverick sports an independent rear suspension that indicates Ford is powering all four wheels. Ford partially covered the truck in camouflage, with the front clip and doors still wrapped. This looks like an early test vehicle, as the truck sports stand-in headlights, and there’s a lot of cladding over the front end. The truck also has a bed cap that might be hiding some new hardware from curious eyes. However, Ford shouldn’t have to modify the truck much to accommodate additional EV hardware. More Maverick Headlines: Ford designed the Maverick to accommodate a second battery underneath the floor, but it only has a 1.1-kilowatt-hour battery in the hybrid. The extra space would be perfect for expanding the truck’s all-electric range. The Escape PHEV offers 37 miles (59 kilometers) with its 14.4-kWh battery pack, and we will have to wait and see if the Maverick PHEV can match it. If this isn’t a PHEV variant, then adding an all-wheel-drive Maverick hybrid should be welcomed. Source: KGP Photography Pickup trucks make up a huge part of the lifeblood of the American car industry. They've been around for decades, and they continue to sell in their millions upon millions. However, just about everything in the automotive industry has changed over the past few decades, and that includes pickup trucks. A while ago, pickup trucks only did pretty heavy-duty things, and not much else. If there's one common downfall that all modern pickup trucks share, it's sizing. They are truly massive, especially the heavy-duty ones, and that makes it difficult to use them every day, no matter how luxurious they may be. Ford has a solution to this problem. A car-sized pickup, in the form of the Maverick. Key Features
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2023 Ford Maverick Overview
The new Ford Maverick arrived back in 2021 for the 2022 model year. The Maverick name has appeared on several different Ford models, including at one point, an entry level sporty car that sat below the Mustang in the lineup. Now, the Maverick name goes on the back of Ford's smallest pickup truck. It sits below the Ranger in the lineup, and the intent is to provide people with a pretty good chunk of what they love about pickup trucks, in a much more affordable and compact package, perfect for crowded city streets. Frankly, it's surprising that most other automakers haven't gone through with this idea. The Maverick's design is pretty in line with Ford's other trucks, but it does have its own visual identity. The grille on the front end places the Ford logo right in the center, with a bar that cuts into the headlights and separates them from the running lights and turn signals. The Maverick does offer some pretty cool paint colors as well. There's a very simple side profile, and depending on the trim, there's a sticker on the sides of the bed that denote various trim packages. The rear end mounts the license plate on the side of the rear bumper. For 2023, alongside the XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, Ford is now offering a Tremor off-road package for the Maverick. At the moment, the only true competitor to the Ford Maverick is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, a small pickup that we love. 2023 Maverick Engine Options For EveryoneOne of the aspects about the Maverick that makes it so appealing is the standard hybrid powertrain. Almost every other pickup truck, or car for that matter, offers a hybrid powertrain as an option. In the Maverick, it's standard. The powertrain in question pairs a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, for a total output of 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. It's not a plug-in hybrid, but you do get a tiny electric-only range, and more importantly, class-leading fuel economy. The EPA estimates the hybrid's gas mileage at 37 MPG in combined driving, with up to 42 MPG in the city, which is seriously impressive. The hybrid is FWD only, and it sends power to the wheels through a CVT automatic transmission. However, if you want your Maverick to be a little faster, have AWD, and be able to tow and carry a little more, you'll have to step up to the turbo engine. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder eschews the hybrid component, but power jumps to 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Once again, you have to get this engine to get AWD, as well as to be able to equip the FX4 Off-Road package that Ford offers. This one distributes power to the wheels through a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. If you're able to live with the slightly worse fuel economy, the turbo engine is the one you want for actual pickup truck duties. If your pickup truck duties are lighter and less frequent, and you would like better gas mileage, the hybrid is the one you want. The EcoBoost is also the only way to have the new Tremor off-road package, which adds Trail Control, a 1-inch lift kit, four-wheel drive lock and special off-road-tuned suspension. If you opt for the appearance package, you also get various orange accents on the outside, like the recovery hooks, the wheel spokes and the decal on the rear. A Daily-Driver With High Tech Features
Even though the Maverick's interior is on a slightly lower level compared to some of its competitors, or other models in Ford's lineup, it does have everything you need. There's a full-color display in between the gauges, an 8-inch infotainment system running Ford's latest software, as well as automatic climate control. There's a small chasm next to the infotainment display, where Ford says you can mount accessories, and it also leaves room for a larger screen in future models. One of the main draws of the interior of the Maverick are those accessories, as you can download the models from Ford and 3D print them. In terms of safety, the Maverick is pretty well sorted. Automatic high beams and auto emergency braking are all standard, and you can also option adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and much more. It seats five passengers, whereas the bed boasts 33.3 cubic-feet of cargo volume. The Maverick is only available with a crew cab (SuperCrew in Ford parlance), and a 4.5 ft bed, but an accessory bed extender is available. The maximum payload capacity is 1,500 lbs, whereas the maximum towing capacity is 4,000 lbs if you opt for the Tow Package. 2023 Maverick Pricing And Launch
Production on the 2023 Maverick models will begin in fall of 2022, and they should reach showrooms by the end of the year or early next year. Ford hasn't announced pricing yet, but the 2022 Maverick XL starts at $20,995, the XLT starts at $23,360, and the fully-loaded Lariat at $26,860. For the Tremor package, you have to start with at least an XLT-trimmed Maverick with the turbo four and AWD. The Tremor package in itself will cost $2,995, and the appearance package will cost $1,495. For a small pickup truck with cool styling, good equipment, and a surprising amount of practicality and usability, that's pretty good money. Will the 2023 Maverick be a plugIn the Maverick, it's standard. The powertrain in question pairs a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, for a total output of 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. It's not a plug-in hybrid, but you do get a tiny electric-only range, and more importantly, class-leading fuel economy.
Will there be a plug in Ford Maverick?Currently, the 2022 Ford Maverick is offered with a standard hybrid engine, but it is not electric. Apparently, spy shots have been seen that may change that though. As a PHEV, the Maverick would gain the ability to drive with all-electric power.
Can the Ford Maverick run on electricIn addition to its fuel economy when using gas, we've also been impressed with how often the Maverick functions in its electric-only mode and doesn't use fuel. Some of our staff have completed short errand runs using only electric power by being judicious with the gas pedal.
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