This week, I spent some quality time with the 2023 Ford Maverick Lariat hybrid pickup.
The hybrid engine is only available in front wheel drive, if you need a 4x4, you’ll have to go with the available EcoBoost engine.
Under the hood is a 2.5-liter inline 4 cylinder that is mated to a continuously variable transmission. Together they put out a respectable 191-horses and this truck will tow 2,000 pounds and carry 1,500 pounds in the bed.
Acceleration is good, the electric motor and 1.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery provide all the torque the Maverick needs. At city speeds and in partial-throttle situations, the pairing of gas engine, electric motor, and electric continuously variable transmission feels well thought out.
The 2.5-liter is quiet at city and highway speeds. There's rarely any hesitation from under the hood about what power source should be in charge.
The exterior appearance is good with 18” wheels and black trim all around, including the wheel wells, as part of the $850 Black Appearance package. Like all Mavericks, it has a 4-and-a-half-foot bed, and has 4 full doors. I do like the color, which is called Atlas Blue.
The Lariat interior is really nice in Black Onyx ActiveX, the bucket seats are comfortable and soft to the touch.
The 7” gauge cluster is configurable for driver info controlled from the steering wheel and will keep you up to date on current fuel economy and range.
High on the dash is an 8” touchscreen that is simple but works well. You operate all audio, Bluetooth, apps, Wi-FI, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The center console houses a round gearshift knob and the start/stop disable and traction control buttons. The console has a nifty place to put your phone where you can actually see it when driving.
Back seat room was better than expected in a small truck, as was the head room. The back seat folds up and has storage underneath for valuables.
The pickup bed has plastic all around the edges so when you put cargo in, you won’t scratch the paint, and the tailgate even has a built-in bottle opener. There is a small storage box with an underneath hidden compartment.
The Lariat comes standard with power windows and locks, keyless entry pad, rearview camera, pre-collision assist with emergency braking, tilt wheel, automatic climate control, and automatic headlights.
The Maverick drives great, was surprisingly quiet inside, and overall quite enjoyable to drive.
We’ve got to talk fuel economy. Fuel economy is rated at 42 city and 33 highway, but I think that might be under rated. In one 10-mile stretch of highway speeds around 65 miles per hour and got 50 miles per gallon.
More interesting, if you fill the 13.8-gallon fuel tank, you can go 500 miles on a tank of gas. I am more than impressed with the fuel economy on the hybrid Maverick.
Total MSRP on my tester is $32,395 with transportation. For me, I think the XLT package that you can get well under $30,000 is the best buy out there.
Bottom line: The fuel economy of this truck is amazing, as is the price. It’s no wonder most people have to wait a year after ordering to get one, demand far outweighs supply.
2023 Maverick Lariat in a few words: A fun to drive, extremely economical small truck that is a great overall value.