The Ford Maverick entered a market dying for a true small truck like a cool wind. From their very first drive, the team grew to like Ford’s little pickup, which spurred their desire to carry out a long-term assessment of the Ford Maverick Hybrid. They finally got one for the MotorTrend garage in the second model year, 2023.
Actually, they did considerably more than just park it. They bought it outright with their own money. Having the truck let the Ford Maverick Hybrid go beyond the typical one-year evaluation to a full two years. Ordered Maverick XLT hybrid in Cactus Gray, a subdued but fun color, they decided was the perfect match for the trim they favored from the lineup. Though it could be fitted with several luxuries from the premium Lariat trim, the XLT was not as simple as the work-truck XL.
Given that their Ford Maverick Hybrid is kept at their office outside of Detroit, the $1,730 XLT Luxury package, which included heated front seats, side mirrors, and a steering wheel, was critical. While they never really used the $150 manual sliding rear window, not the cost, they lamented their decision to order it. But, they absolutely did not miss the modestly priced spray-in bedliner ($495) or the all-weather floor mats ($175), and they kept the bed and carpets looking excellent throughout two years of transporting.
Also check out our quick review of Ford Endeavour, the best and premium full size SUV of 2025.
And they transported everything from stacks of cardboard to mountains of stones, from scrap metal to vast quantities of mulch and yard waste. The Ford Maverick Hybrid’s 4.5-foot bed proved to be very able to haul all these things and more: holiday and tailgating gear, bikes, flat-pack furnishings, even non-flat-pack furniture. They just opened their secure tonneau cover when they needed some degree of weather protection. Without any bouncing or fighting, the minimal towing they conducted within the truck’s 2,000-pound capacity was perfectly carried out.
