Overview Americans love pickup trucks, but the size and price of a full-size version can be intimidating. For those who don’t need something the size of an F-150, the 2026 Ford Maverick is an affordable, practical alternative. The Maverick is at its most fuel-efficient when equipped with the standard hybrid powertrain, but a nonhybrid turbocharged four-cylinder is also offered and offers speedier acceleration. Towing capacity is as high as 4000 pounds, which, although short of the F-150’s maximum, is still enough to pull a small boat or utility trailer when needed. The cabin is perhaps a bit too spartan on the base model, but mid- and high-end Mavericks impress with both build quality and available equipment.What’s New for 2026?Since the Maverick was given a styling refresh just last year, we expect to see no changes for 2026.Pricing and Which One to BuyThe price of the 2026 Ford Maverick is expected to start around $30,000 and go up to $44,000 depending on the trim and options.XL$30,000 (est)XLT$33,000 (est)Lobo Standard$38,000 (est)Lariat$41,000 (est)Tremor$43,000 (est)Lobo High$44,000 (est)Ford offers the Maverick in five trims—XL, XLT, Lobo, Lariat, and Tremor—with the XL being the best choice for keeping the price as low as possible. It lacks basic creature comforts that most buyers consider necessities, but it could make for a good work truck. Going with the XLT adds features such as 17-inch aluminum wheels, cruise control, a power lock for the tailgate, and power exterior mirrors, making it the value-oriented model. Now that the hybrid powertrain is available with all-wheel drive, it’s an even more compelling option. We’d also order the Tow package to unlock the maximum Maverick towing capacity of 4000 pounds.Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Maverick’s base engine is a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that’s assisted by an electric motor for a combined 191 horsepower. This setup comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). A spunky 250-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder is optional and comes lashed to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard with the turbo-four and optional for the hybrid, which comes standard with front-wheel drive. To provide its impressive payload capacity, the Maverick’s suspension is fairly stiff, which leads to a somewhat rough ride over broken pavement. The Lobo sport truck comes with the turbo four-cylinder and all-wheel drive but drops the eight-speed in favor of a seven-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Ford has given the Lobo a lowered suspension, upgraded brakes, cool 19-inch rally-inspired wheels, and a special Lobo driving mode that encourages the rear end to drift when exiting a corner. When we drove the 2025 Maverick, we found the hybrid model to drive mostly the same as before and enjoyed the sprightlier handling of the Lobo, which corners well for a truck.0–60-MPH TimesOn the road, the Maverick feels downright peppy with the optional turbo four, which zipped to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds in our testing. The front-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain is less perky and needed 7.7 seconds to reach 60 mph at our test track, but nonetheless gets the job done. We haven’t yet tested the all-wheel-drive hybrid setup or the Lobo trim, but we’ll update this section with results once we do.More on the Maverick Pickup TruckTowing and Payload Capacity Both the hybrid and nonhybrid Maverick models offer 1500 pounds of payload capacity and 2000 pounds of towing capacity. With the optional Tow package, the Maverick can tow up to 4000 pounds. Looking to tow even more with a small pickup? The Hyundai Santa Cruz is rated to tow up to 5000 pounds.Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGThe EPA hasn’t released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Maverick yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings as high as 42 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined for the hybrid and 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for the nonhybrid. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, our all-wheel-drive XLT FX4 model with the nonhybrid powertrain got 29 mpg, but the hybrid was off the EPA’s mark with only a 30-mpg result. The Tremor model, with all of its added off-road equipment, managed only 26 mpg in the same test. For more information about the Maverick’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.Interior, Comfort, and CargoAll Mavericks are crew cabs, which means four doors and a back seat with an adequate but not generous amount of room. Ford has incorporated many storage cubbies and bins throughout the cabin, including some large areas under the rear seat. Base models are far from plush but do offer standard niceties such as a tilting and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats. More features come standard or as part of option packages on the XLT and Lariat trims, including dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and power front seats. Ford says the Maverick’s 4.5-foot bed can fit up to 18 sheets of four-by-eight-foot three-quarter-inch plywood without having to load them at an angle. The bed also features a 12-volt power outlet, with a 110-volt outlet offered as an option.The Car and Driver DifferenceInfotainment and ConnectivityA 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on all Maverick trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard features, and even the base model comes with an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Options include SiriusXM satellite radio, an upgraded B&O Play stereo system, and wireless smartphone charging capability.How to Buy and Maintain a CarSafety and Driver-Assistance FeaturesThe Maverick offers several driver-assistance features, but to unlock a more advanced adaptive cruise control system, you’ll have to spring for the Lariat or Tremor model. For more information about the Maverick’s crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance CoverageThe Maverick offers the same standard warranty package as other new Fords, which is fairly basic. There’s no complimentary scheduled maintenance program.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid component warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
SpecificationsSpecifications
2025 Ford Maverick
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup
PRICE
Base: XL, $28,590; XLT, $31,090; Lobo Standard, $36,850; Lariat, $38,885; Tremor, $41,945; Lobo High, $42,345
POWERTRAINS
DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter inline-4, 162 hp, 155 lb-ft + AC motors, 105 and 126 hp, 48 and 173 lb-ft (combined output: 191 hp; lithium-ion battery pack); turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 250 hp, 277 lb-ft
Transmissions: continuously variable automatic, 8-speed automatic, 7-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 121.1 in
Length: 199.8–200.9 in
Width: 72.4 in
Height: 67.7–69.4 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 55/47 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3700–3900 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 5.9–7.7 sec
100 mph: 16.4–20.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.5–15.9 sec
Top Speed: 110 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 23–38/21–42/27–35 mpgMore Features and Specs
Source: caranddriver.com
