Ford Maverick Electric & Maverick Plug in Hybrid could arrive next [Update]

Update: ‘Sales’ and ‘Ford Maverick Hybrid Price & Availability’ sections updated.

On June 8, 2021, Ford introduced the Maverick as a standard full-hybrid pickup. The new model is America’s first standard full-hybrid pickup, not just Ford’s. Moreover, standardizing the hybrid powertrain reflects the company’s commitment to electrifying its complete portfolio. Reports suggest that greater electrification is in store with the launch of a Maverick EV and a Maverick Plug in Hybrid.

On the Ford Maverick Electric

Ford’s recent trademark filings suggest that it could create a family of Lightning electric trucks. The company filed trademark applications for ‘Maverick Lightning’ and ‘Ranger Lightning’ names at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on July 11, 2022. Although Ford has not said anything about using the Lightning name on any other vehicles beyond the F-150, there are indications that the company plans to offer electric versions of the Maverick (and Ranger) in the foreseeable future.

President and CEO James Farley Jr. has hinted at a Maverick Electric version. Ford is pitching the Maverick to car buyers who would typically consider a minivan or an SUV for their utility needs. This customer profile will also have a greater interest in opting for a pure electric powertrain. “This is the product for people who never thought they wanted a truck,” Farley Jr. said in an interview with The New York Times in June 2021. In the same interview, Farley Jr. said he could imagine the company making a range of Maverick variants, including a Ford Maverick Electric.

Maverick could become a family of affordable Ford models in the future. In an interview with Automotive News, Farley Jr. talked about the product strategy of expanding the line-up horizontally with a family of vehicles instead of differently named models. He confirmed that the Maverick will become a new franchise from a single model and that Ford’s ‘icons’ deserve such product extensions.

Partial electrification with hybrid technology, as available today, is probably the more feasible solution for the Maverick at present. Still, the potentially high volumes it could deliver may make a business case for a pure electric version when the battery prices come down in a few years. Also, consider rival Hyundai, which has the toolkit ready to introduce an all-electric Santa Cruz, thanks to the new platform. “We are on track to be under $100 a kilowatt-hour by 2025,” Lisa Drake, Vice President, Model e Industrialization, Ford, said during the 2021 Capital Markets Day event. “And by leveraging technology, manufacturing, and value chain innovations, we have a goal to achieve an $80 per kilowatt-hour target well before the decade ends,” Drake added.

Ford’s new dedicated EV architectures

Ford announced the development of two new dedicated EV architectures at its 2021 Capital Markets Day event. About the first platform, Hau Thai-Tang, Chief Product Platform & Operations Officer, Ford, said it’s an RWD/AWD flexible architecture that “will underpin a range of motor vehicles slated for production between now and 2030, including active lifestyle vehicles with great driving dynamics.” The company plans to build cargo vehicles, mid-sized trucks, rugged SUVs, and high-margin & high-demand two- and three-row SUVs like Ford Explorer EV and Lincoln Aviator EV on this architecture.

“Plus, I’m pleased to announce that we’ll also deliver a scalable dedicated BEV architecture optimized for our next-gen full-sized pickup trucks and utilities,” Thai-Tang said while announcing the second dedicated EV architecture. The architectures announce Ford’s future-readiness for electric vehicles like the Maverick EV and those bigger than it.

On the Ford Maverick Plug in Hybrid

A Ford Maverick PHEV is likely to arrive at dealers before a pure-electric version. Spy pictures (view on Motor1) have revealed what looks like a Maverick prototype with visible modifications suggesting it’s a plug-in hybrid variant. A junction box attached to the left-side rear door reads “PHE-V” and “2.1L” hinting that the purported Maverick Plug-in Hybrid prototype has a 2.1-liter gas-powered engine under the hood.

There’s more text on the box, which suggests that the “Base Weight” is “1,790” instead of 1,684.” It’s possible that these figures are in kilograms, which would mean the prototype weighs 3,946 lbs. instead of 3,713 lbs. For reference, the Maverick weighs 3,563 lbs. (gasoline FWD)/3,731 lbs. (gasoline AWD)/3,674 lbs. (hybrid FWD). The plug-in hybrid variant would be heavier due to the higher-capacity battery pack.

Ford Maverick specifications

Despite its compact dimensions, the Ford Maverick looks rugged and tough like the average Ford pickup. However, it’s a unibody model riding on the Ford Escape’s C2 platform. Under the hood, there’s a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain delivering 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque and linked to a CVT. An all-wheel drive system is not available with the hybrid powertrain. A 1.1 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery residing under the rear seats powers the electric motor.

Gas mileage

The Ford Maverick Hybrid’s impressive fuel economy of 42 mpg in city conditions makes it a great buy for urban customers who make do without all-wheel drive and typical off-roading hardware of a truck. The hybrid pickup truck can deliver 33 mpg on highways and 37 mpg combined. On a full tank, it offers a range of more than 500 miles. All these figures are EPA-estimated ratings.

In April 2022, YouTube channel Engineering Explained’s Jason Fenske (via Twitter) achieved 51 mpg in a 118-mile trip in the Maverick Hybrid. Moreover, he thinks that he might have been closer to achieving a fuel economy of 59 mpg. Maverick Hybrid customers are also achieving much better real-world fuel economy figures than the EPA estimates. One such customer is Maverick Truck Club forum user Mavforever, who drove 595.2 miles on a full tank with some still gas left, enough to cover a distance of 24 more miles. The fuel economy achieved during this trip was 44.1 mpg.

The Ford Maverick Hybrid’s standard payload capacity is 1,500 pounds, enough to carry a standard ATV. Its standard towing capacity is 2,000 pounds, which means a pop-up camper trailer or a pair of personal watercraft can be towed with ease.

Alternatively, customers can opt for a 2.0-liter EcoBoost gas engine producing 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can purchase the regular Maverick with an AWD system optionally. Another option available in the non-hybrid variant is a 4K Tow Package, which increases the towing capacity to 4,400 pounds. An average 21-foot boat can be hauled with ease by checking this option. The gasoline Maverick can deliver a fuel economy of 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined in FWD and 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined in AWD.

On the Ford Maverick Hybrid AWD

Technically, the Blue Oval can introduce a Ford Maverick Hybrid AWD, as per a report from MotorTrend. However, the company would wait to understand if there’s enough demand for such an expensive trim level. Until then, customers desiring ruggedness from their Maverick will have to configure the conventional gasoline engine.

There’s also an FX4 package option for the gas-powered Maverick, exclusive to the all-wheel drive configurations. It includes rugged all-terrain tires and suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, off-road-focused drive modes (Mud/Rut and Sand), and Hill Descent Control.

Specification table

Dimension/Capacity	Measurement
Vehicle Length	199.7 in.
Vehicle Width	72.6 in.
Vehicle Height	68.7 in.
Wheelbase	121.1 in.
Bed Length	54.4 in.
Bed Width (at wheel house)	42.6 in.
Cargo Volume	33.3 cu. ft.
Maximum Payload	1,500 lbs
Maximum Towing	2,000 lbs.

The MotorTrend report reveals that the Maverick Hybrid’s traction motor is an all-new unit, not Ford’s same unit in the Escape hybrid. Ford has indigenously developed the new motor and manufactures it in-house. It’s a permanent-magnet reluctance motor similar to that of the Tesla Model X (Performance/Long Range). The rotor has magnets in double-V slots instead of single-V slots, and they are molded in their location during the production instead of afterward. The molded-in magnets permit operating at a much higher rotating speed, although the Maverick doesn’t leverage this advantage yet. Instead of round-wire windings, the stator has square wires featuring “hairpin end turns,” which can conduct more heat, allowing improved, more efficient cooling.

Features

Getting to the features, Flexbed is Maverick’s main highlight. It allows creating segmented storage, elevated floors, bike and kayak racks, and more. All the customer has to do is slide 2x4s or 2x6s into slots stamped into the side of the bed. There are two tie-downs, four D-rings, and built-in threaded holes in the sides to enable artistic customers to create their DIY solutions.

To keep customers from hacking into the wiring harness for electrical needs, which could affect the tail lamp wiring, or worse, the overall electrical system, Ford is offering Maverick customers an option to select from factory-fit box lighting, install their home-built lighting setup, or even to create an entirely new use for the 12V access points.

In addition to the DIY electrical, there are two available 100V, 400W outlets. One point is located in the bed, and the other point is located in the cabin. Moreover, there’s a small storage space built into the side of the bed. Other key features of the Maverick include standard LED headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a standard 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, standard FordPass Connect with Wi-Fi connectivity, and wireless charging.

The closest competitor to the Ford Maverick is the Hyundai Santa Cruz. A senior Hyundai official already confirmed that an electrified powertrain would be introduced down the road. Hyundai already has a couple of options to pick for the pickup from the inventory of the Hyundai Tucson.

Sales

Ford started manufacturing the Maverick alongside the Bronco Sport in Hermosillo, Mexico, in June 2021 and commenced deliveries in September 2021. It manufactured 25,880 units and registered 13,258 sales in the United States for the whole of 2021. American dealers’ initial feedback was that the customers love the compact pickup’s size, fuel efficiency, affordability, and maneuverability.

In 2022, Ford built 91,434 units of the Maverick and delivered 74,370 units in the U.S. The Maverick was the best-selling model in its segment in its first full year of sales. 2023 is also looking like a great year for the small truck, with Ford confirming retail orders for the 2023 model year are already full. The company probably won’t take new retail orders until it enters the next (2024) model year around summer.

Ford Maverick Hybrid Price & Availability

Prices of the 2023 Ford Maverick start at USD 22,195 and go up to USD 27,955. Ford levies a standard destination fee of USD 1,495 on the MSRP of the 2023 Maverick. The 2023 Maverick has started arriving at U.S. dealerships. Seneca, South Carolina-based Lake Keowee Ford, Sterling, Illinois-based Kunes Ford Lincoln of Sterling, Fred Beans Doylestown, Doylestown, Pennsylvania-based Fred Beans Ford, San Antonio, Texas-based Northside Ford, and many other dealerships who have it in stock have started listing it online. As stated above, it’s not possible to make new retail orders, though.

On October 31, 2022, Maverick Truck Club reported that Ford will convert orders for the previous model year Maverick into the 2023 model year. The new model is more expensive, and to offset the price hike, Ford is offering a USD 2,750 discount (hybrid)/USD 1,750 (gas) to the customers of these converted orders.

Ford Maverick Hybrid variant	Price
XL	USD 22,195
XLT	USD 24,455
Lariat	USD 27,955

Maverick appeals to the younger audience

Ford truck product marketing and brand manager Todd Eckert told CNBC in November 2021 that attracting a younger, more diverse customer was the company’s ambition with the Maverick, and it’s “certainly seeing that.” Early adopters of the all-new Maverick are younger, and a larger proportion is female than usual, it is reported.

People between the age of 18 to 35 account for over a quarter of 2022 Maverick sales, which is more than double compared to just 12% for the overall industry, Ford had said in its October 2021 U.S. sales report. According to J.D. Power, a quarter of the compact pickup’s buyers are women, whereas, in the full-size pickup segment, 84% of the customers are male, CNBC reported.

Maverick, very excited about this product. That’s completely whitespace for us, bringing the Built Ford Tough truck imagery down to an affordable price point that starting at $20,000 MSRP, fantastic fuel efficiency with the standard hybrid. We have almost 80,000 reservations to-date and again much younger customers, more diverse, more female customers.

Hau Thai-Tang, Chief Operations & Product Platform Officer, Ford (J.P. Morgan Automotive Conference on August 11, 2021)

It would be interesting to watch through this year and the next if compact SUV and sedan shoppers are tempted by the Maverick, opening up a new market for small pickups in the USA. The Maverick and Santa Cruz are increasingly about consumer lifestyle and less about work duties. It serves buyers who desire the style of a truck with the driving characteristics of an SUV in a smaller footprint.

TopElectricSUV says

Ford has received an encouraging customer response to the Maverick’s Hybrid variant, even with 40 percent of the total capacity allocation unable to satisfy demand. So, it makes sense to explore new opportunities to maintain momentum with future model years and generations. The Maverick Electric and Maverick PHEV would be great additions to the Ford line-up to further popularize the compact pickup truck both domestically and internationally. Adding eco-friendly features to the Maverick would also assist the Blue Oval in achieving its electrification goals.

Ford has committed to investing more than USD 30 billion towards the electrification of its vehicles by 2025. The company expects EVs to start accounting for 40% of its global vehicle sales by 2030.

Ford Maverick Hybrid FAQs

All images used in the story come from the Ford Media Center.