Review: 2024 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid

When the all-new Ford Maverick pickup truck was first announced back in June 2021, we knew that it would sell like hotcakes, as people have been clamoring for a smaller, low-cost pickup truck like the 90’s-era Rangers that were so popular back in the day. They were cheap to own, fuel efficient for the time, and could haul stuff in a pinch.

Ironically, Ford revived the Ranger back in 2019, but it was no longer the compact truck that it once was, having grown in size considerably over the years. But it still filled a need, offering a smaller option for those who don’t need the massiveness of the current F-150’s, but still want enough room and utility to do “work stuff”.

The Maverick fills out Ford’s pickup truck lineup nicely, appealing to buyers who don’t want a larger work truck, but wouldn’t mind some extra cargo space from time to time, whether for a Home Depot run or to carry a mountain bike. It’s compact (at least by today’s truck standards, as the Maverick is about the same size as an old F-150 at 199.7 inches), rather affordable with a starting price in the low $20’s, and fuel efficient with 42 mpg in the city.

Demand for the Ford Maverick was strong right out the gate, and the Blue Oval couldn’t build them fast enough, with some customers waiting nearly a year to take delivery of their trucks! I actually considered buying one myself, as it seemed to fit the bill for me. But I needed a vehicle right then and there, not a year later, so I ended up getting something else.

Recently, we had a chance to spend a week with the 2024 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid, taking it on a road trip to Richmond, Virginia, giving us a chance to really test out its capabilities in a variety of settings, from highway cruising to inner city traffic (and tight parking). Overall, the Maverick is a really impressive vehicle, with a few minor caveats.

Walking up to the Maverick, I was initially a little taken back by its size, as it was much larger than I expected. Sure, it’s “compact” as far as trucks go, but at nearly 200 inches long it’s the length of a full-size sedan. While it’s about the same length as a 1993 Ranger Super Cab, the Regular Cab Short Bed (2-seat) models were considerably smaller. It would have been cool to see Ford offer a similar configuration for the Maverick, just saying..

Visually, the Maverick is a really good-looking vehicle, it’s got a unique look all its own, and it gives off a sporty vibe. Our tester was painted Cactus Gray, and while not my favorite color for the Maverick (Atlas Blue Metallic and Hot Pepper Red Metallic really stand out in my opinion), it’s distinctive for sure, the color shifting depending on the sunlight. Our car also had the Black Appearance Package, which added a nice dose of attitude.

The interior, however, is another story. Ford describes it as “stylish and spacious” and “simple but not basic.” I would call it cheap, with lots of hard plastic, fabric seats, a mechanical gauge cluster, manual A/C and even a physical key to unlock the doors and start the car. While I get that they had to cut some corners to get to this price point, damn! That said, if you move up to the more expensive Lariat trim level, most of these issues are addressed.

Surprisingly, the Maverick offers a lot of smart technology, including an 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (wired), FordPass Connect – which lets you find the truck, check fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and remote start all from your phone, and Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies like Automatic Emergency Braking and Automatic High Beam Headlamps.

Powering the 2024 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that delivers 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. While not as fast as the 2.0-liter EcoBoost gas engine, it delivers good performance both around town and on the highway. But where it really shines is in the mileage department, boasting a whopping 42 mpg highway / 33 mpg city. As you can see, we drove the Maverick a total of 518 miles, and it returned an impressive 39.5 mpg!

On the road, the Maverick delivers good handling, its unibody construction helping to it give a more car-like driving experience. While the ride is on the firm side (like most trucks), it soaks up bumps and road imperfections with ease, and I did 250+ miles in one stretch without issue, feeling comfortable and refreshed when I arrived. Braking was also good, though regenerative brakes may take a little getting used to for some.

While not designed to be a heavy hauler, the Maverick Hybrid does offer a standard payload of 1,500 pounds and the volume to carry a standard ATV, plus it has the capability to tow 2,000 pounds – enough for a pair of personal watercraft or a good-sized pop-up camper trailer. If you need more capability, upgrading to the 2.0L EcoBoost engine with the optional Tow Package doubles towing to 4,000 pounds, enough for an average 21-foot boat.

Out back, you’ve got a rather small bed (4.5 feet of bed length with the tailgate up, 6 feet with the tailgate down), but that’s more than enough space for most casual truck owners. I didn’t test out the bed myself, but I did see a few business-wrapped Mavericks on the highway, and they were using them as actual trucks, with stuff loaded in the tailgate (a refrigerator in one case), another one with some plywood sticking out of the tailgate a bit.

Realistically, the only real competitor to the Ford Maverick is the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is a little more outlandish looking, has a smaller bed, costs considerably more, and doesn’t even compare in the mileage department. But given how successful the Maverick’s been, I imagine it’s only a matter of time before other compact trucks enter the market again.

Overall, there’s a whole lot to like about the 2024 Ford Maverick, especially in hybrid form. The Maverick really checks off all the boxes, a compact pickup truck that looks great, has plenty of interior space, delivers amazing mileage, with a good-size bed, and a starting price of $23,920. Our well-equipped tester (XLT Hybrid with a few options packages) came in at $34,115, which is still a bargain for a truck in 2024.

What do you think of the 2024 Ford Maverick?