2023 Maverick Rumors
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The 2023 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck can be used for work as well as play, whether that’s on the road or off. Prices start at $22,195. After several years of no new compact pickups, they’re once again a thing. And the Ford Maverick is a fine example. Launched last year, it won Best New Model in 2022’s Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards. A hybrid drivetrain is standard in the Maverick, which we also rated as the most fuel-efficient truck. So, it’s safe to say that even though there are a lot of great pickups around, we definitely like the Maverick a lot. About that off-roading reference above, XLT and Lariat trims can now come with the Tremor Off-Road and Tremor Appearance packages. These are more specialized than the still-available FX4 bundle. The Tremor Off-Road package has a dedicated suspension setup with a raised ride height and an advanced all-wheel-drive system. 2023 Ford Maverick PricingThe 2023 Ford Maverick starts at $22,195, plus a destination charge, for the base XL. The XLT is about $24.5K, and the top Lariat is priced at around $28K. Adding all-wheel drive and the more powerful (non-hybrid) drivetrain is another $2,220. The Tremor Off-Road package is another $3K, or almost $4.5K with the Tremor Appearance package as well. These prices compare well with the competition, which is basically the Hyundai Santa Cruz starting at $25,450 and going up to the low $40K range for its Limited trim. It doesn’t offer any hybrid or off-roading variants. Among the cheaper midsize trucks, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma both kick off in the $26K ballpark. Before buying a new Maverick compact truck, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see how much others in your area paid for theirs. The Tacoma typically wins the resale values battle among smaller pickups, but the Maverick’s performance here should be respectable. Driving the 2023 Ford MaverickThe standard hybrid drivetrain in the 2023 Maverick has 191 horsepower, enough muscle to get up to freeway speed without stress. It also achieves a remarkable 42 mpg in the city. Whenever the gasoline engine chimes in, it does so smoothly. All-wheel drive (AWD) is only available with the optional combustion-only 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. This is the setup enabling the maximum towing ability of 4,000 pounds. Using the Tow/Haul or Sport modes allows the driver to stay in one gear (it’s an 8-speed automatic transmission) for longer, enabling access to the most power. Maximum payload is 1,500 pounds, regardless of drivetrain — but a Tremor version is limited to 1,200 pounds. Although it’s a compact truck, the Maverick feels as easy to drive as a small SUV, which is no surprise considering it shares a platform with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport SUVs. Functional InteriorTwo rows of seating make this compact pickup accommodating and versatile. The doors can take large water bottles and the rear seat cushions flip up to reveal storage areas beneath — except that the hybrid version commandeers one of these areas for its battery. Compared with the combustion-only variants, the hybrid results in a one-inch reduction of rear legroom as well: 35.9 inches. Tall people will want to sit up front. Every new Maverick comes with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration. The Tremor Off-Road package includes orange stitching in the upholstery, plus all-weather mats. One Cab, One BedFord calls it a Super Crew, but the 2023 Maverick compact pickup has what most of us would call a crew cab since it has four doors. This is complemented by a 4.5-foot bed. There are no options in this regard. The bed is part of the overall body, not separate, because the Maverick has a one-piece (or unibody) construction. Extras for this cargo section include tie-down locking rails and a spray-in liner. A Black Appearance package is one new addition for this year’s XLT and Lariat trims, but the bigger news is the arrival of the Tremor Off-Road and Tremor Appearance packages — also offered with the XLT and Lariat versions. The standard Maverick with all-wheel drive has a useful ground clearance of 8.6 inches (fractionally less with front-wheel drive). But the Tremor’s higher ride height provides clearance of 9.4 inches. Looks-wise, there are orange accents on the grille and fenders, while the Tremor Appearance package puts the roof, hood, lower doors, and side mirror housings in Carbonized Gray. The Tremor offers an exclusive new Avalanche Gray exterior color, but the entire 2023 Maverick range is eligible for the new Atlas Blue Metallic. Our Favorite Features and Tech1. Hybrid drivetrain 2. Bed & beyond 3. Tremor Off-Road package 4. Lariat Luxury package 5. 4K Tow package 6. B&O audio system Two Engine OptionsBeing a new compact pickup is rare enough. The only real rival is the Hyundai Santa Cruz. But having a hybrid drivetrain as standard puts the 2023 Maverick in a class of one. A combination of a gasoline-fed 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor creates 191 horsepower. Ford doesn’t give a total torque figure, but the engine makes 155 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, and the electric motor develops 173 lb-ft. It’s not as straightforward as adding the two figures together, but this drivetrain doesn’t feel short on thrust. Output goes solely to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). For more muscle, and the option of all-wheel drive (AWD), the Maverick offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This is linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The larger engine can tow up to 4,000 pounds with the right equipment. The standard hybrid configuration is rated at 2,000 pounds. That applies to Tremor models as well. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is rated to tow 5,000 pounds. Both engines are fine with regular gasoline. These fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2022, but there shouldn’t be any changes for 2023. Hybrid: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine + electric motor 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine 3-year/36,000-mile WarrantyFord’s new-vehicle warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains have a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty. KBB Vehicle Review and Rating MethodologyOur Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability. More About How We Rate Vehicles Will there be any changes to the 2023 Maverick?For 2023, Ford has introduced a Tremor package, which makes some serious off-road upgrades if you want a 4×4 pickup. The 2023 Maverick Tremor comes with a 1.0-inch lift kit, and a revised all-wheel drive system. It also adds some new drive modes, which should help with life on the trail.
Will 2023 Maverick have AWD?For the 2022 model year, the highest-trim version of the compact pickup came standard in front-wheel drive configuration, but the 2023 Ford Maverick Lariat EcoBoost is now only available with all-wheel drive.
What is the difference between 2022 and 2023 Maverick?The Ford Maverick is expected to be a carryover for the 2023 model year. Given that the truck was only introduced in late 2021 as a 2022 model, no significant changes are expected. However, shoppers may find the 2023 Maverick to be their best way to buy the affordably-priced hybrid variant of the pickup.
Will the 2023 Maverick be a plug in hybrid?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.
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