Should You Buy a 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid?

• Pricing for the 2022 Ford Maverick starts at $27,750 in Canada and $20,995 in the US.

• There has never been a better small truck.

• It is truly capable, useful, and impressively efficient.

I’ve written this before and it’s been said countless times, but trucks are big and big business in Canada and the US. Although there’s no replacing a full-size truck with any other than another, the small truck segment is not quite so safe. Enter the Ford Maverick.

Hot Ford Maverick to get Even Hotter with a Tremor Trim

I say this expecting that in the near future, Ford will reveal a Tremor package for the Maverick. With a series of off-roading bits, the wee Maverick might not upset a TRD Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, or a Ranger Tremor for that matter, it will see one of its possible shortcomings be deleted.

Above all, the Maverick is the truck you thought you didn’t want but realize that, in fact, it is exactly what you are looking for. In the segment, there are numerous alternatives such as the Honda Ridgeline, GMC Canyon, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and the previously mentioned three.

2022 Ford Maverick Review: A True Independent

While I’m convinced it is the truck you actually want, as a do-it-yourselfer that does not need to tow 9,000 lbs or haul 4,000 lbs. To make things easier, here are reasons why you should and shouldn’t buy a Maverick Hybrid. Read on:

Why you should buy a 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid: 

• At just under $28,000, it is the least expensive small truck on the market.

• The standard 191-horsepower 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine delivers plenty of get-up-and-go.

• This same engine is also ridiculously efficient. It can and will consume on average only 6.3L/100km.

• The ride quality and driving experience are surprisingly good for an inexpensive small truck.

• Despite being only a hybrid, the Maverick can and will tow up to 2,000 lbs and haul up to 1,500 lbs. I had just over 1,200 lbs in the box and lived to write this story.

• The Flexbed, though only 4.5-feet deep, is designed with plenty of built-in hauling solutions.

• The cabin, though snug-ish, can still accommodate three regular adults on the rear bench.

• Ford’s conceived a number of storage solutions and accessories for the Maverick unique interior layout.

• Visually, the Maverick, especially in the base XL trim, looks cool. There’s no other way to describe it.

• For only about $2,500, the XLT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, and a few other useful features.

Why you should not buy a 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid:

• The Maverick Hybrid is not yet available with AWD. If (and when?) Ford offers the option; the game will have changed once more.

• Putting the Maverick hybrid regularly will negate the fuel efficiency advantage. If you tow or haul regularly, best to get the more powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

• If you are to use the Maverick as a family vehicle and like me have small children, fitting the baby seats will mean that the front passenger will need to move their seats way forward.

Conclusion:

The new Ford Maverick, no matter the powertrain, is brilliant. It is a perfect fit for so many applications and its success thus far is proof that Ford hit a homerun – especially when it was priced just under $20,000 upon its launch last year.

The hybrid powertrain is especially appealing for all regions below the snow belt where AWD is scarcely considered a nice-to-have. Above it, it’s a definite bonus, and that’s especially true in Canada. I suspect that Ford has not fitted the Escape hybrid’s AWD configuration on the Maverick for fear of riots at dealerships.

The Ford Maverick basically has no shortcomings other than being a “small” truck. In the segment, excluding specialized off-road trims, the Honda Ridgeline stands tall as a true family SUV and sedan replacement that can tow and haul. The big problem is that it costs $20,000 more than the Maverick.