The Ford Maverick Is The Small Truck Subaru Should Have Built CarBuzz
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The Ford Maverick Is The Small Truck Subaru Should Have Built
Dec. 17, 2021 10:52 AM ET by Jay Traugott Test Drive / 12 Comments Not to mention GM and Ram. Driving the Ford Maverick isn't like driving a midsize or full-size pickup truck. You quickly forget you're driving a truck. Traditional truck buyers probably won't find that appealing, but the Maverick is aimed at a different type of driver, and they're responding in droves. Folks, this is the compact pickup Subaru should have in its lineup but doesn't. It used to have one called the Brat decades ago. Years later came the Baja, but that was dropped in 2006 without a successor. Until now. Unfortunately for Subaru, that successor is from Ford. CarBuzz was invited to drive both the 2022 Maverick Hybrid and Maverick 2.0-liter EcoBoost in Las Vegas earlier this week and, like our first time behind the wheel, we came away very impressed.CarBuzz CarBuzz CarBuzz
Hybrid Is The Sweet Spot
The base hybrid might even be our preferred powertrain choice. With a starting price of just $19,995, it's powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with an electric motor. Power delivery was mostly smooth throughout the rev range. We never felt its 191 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque weren't good enough, whether driving around town or through the gorgeous scenic routes outside of the city. The 2.0 EcoBoost, a $1,085 option, produces a healthier 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of twist. The hybrid's CVT and the EcoBoost's eight-speed automatic, both controlled via a space-saving dial on the center console, work nicely with their respective engines. The hybrid will probably be just fine for most, especially if they live in urban settings. In addition to its extra power, the EcoBoost offers something the hybrid doesn't (at least not yet): all-wheel drive. "It's something we're considering but no decisions have been made," said Chris Mazur, Maverick program chief engineer. "We need to see consumer feedback first." CarBuzz CarBuzz CarBuzz FordBuilt Ford Tough
Like the Escape and Bronco Sport, the Maverick rides on Ford's C2 unibody platform. There's no shame in that. Driving on wet pavement during a nasty desert rainstorm, we experienced some front wheel spin when emerging from traffic lights. It's not a big deal and switching into Slippery mode definitely helped. The AWD model is the more solid choice in these situations, particularly the FX4 off-road trim package's all-terrain tires. A serious desert runner the FX4 is not, but it can easily handle light to mild off-roading. Our sampler handled the wet pavement with greater confidence than the hybrid. We highly recommend AWD for regions with wintry weather. Steering is very precise but the brakes are perhaps a little too sensitive, more so on the hybrid. Styling is simple and to the point, with no trace of the Maverick's distant Escape cousin despite their shared architecture. Ford knows how to make trucks. What's particularly clever is the Flexbox. Only four feet in length, it's still packed with smart cargo storage options, including two cubbies, eight bed tie-downs and pockets, and a pair of tailgate cleats that double as bottle openers. The tailgate itself can handle up to 400 pounds in mid-position.CarBuzz CarBuzz Ford Ford