Fast Facts | 2025 Ford Maverick AWD Hybrid
🚘Powertrain: 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (eCVT), all-wheel drive
🔔System Horsepower: 191
🌳EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy (MPG, city/highway/combined): 40/34/37
🛻Max Payload: 1,500 pounds
🛞Max Towing: 4,000 pounds
🎵Standard Tech: Automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, reversing camera, automatic emergency braking, 13.2-inch touchscreen, 8-inch digital instrument cluster, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Sync 4 infotainment system
💵 As-Tested MSRP: $36,115, including $1,595 in destination fees
There are hundreds of different vehicles on sale in the U.S. today, everything from small sedans to heavy-duty trucks to ultra-pricey exotics and just about everything in between. Few of them punch above their price class by delivering more than the MSRP promises, but the Ford Maverick Hybrid defies this convention. It offers incredible refinement, versatility, and fuel efficiency in a handsome package that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg… and your firstborn. For these reasons — and more — this truck is one of my absolute favorite new vehicles.
Small but Mighty
The Maverick is a petite pickup that looks and feels far more premium than its modest price tag suggests. Smaller than midsize models like the Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma, it's built on a unibody structure, meaning there’s no separate frame like most other trucks have. That car-based foundation helps deliver enhanced efficiency and refinement, though that is at the expense of some capability. But don’t underestimate the Maverick; it’s small but mighty.
This Ford has a maximum payload rating of up to 1,500 pounds, which is impressive for a vehicle of this size. In standard trim, the Maverick can also tow a literal ton, but opting for the available 4K Tow Package doubles that to 4,000 pounds. And those figures hold true regardless of what’s under the hood, whether you go with the efficient hybrid system (like the one I tested) or the potent 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine.
Maximum Versatility, Minimum Footprint
At the back of this truck is the so-called Flexbed, a cargo box that offers more versatility than you'd expect. The space measures just 54.4 inches long with 42.6 inches between the wheel wells — not a lot of room — but it's highly adaptable. You can even haul 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets of building material in this bed.
How? You unclip the tailgate support cables and reattach them to a pair of upper studs, locking the gate in a mid-position between open and closed. That lets you slide sheets of plywood or drywall in on top of the wheel wells. It's a smart solution for such a small truck.
The Maverick’s real magic is fuel economy without giving up pickup utility, and this most fuel-efficient trucks guide shows how it stacks up against other efficient pickups ➜
Additionally, there are pockets in the bedsides where you can make your own cargo dividers out of dimensional lumber, plus there are several tie-down points. Optional locking rails add even more flexibility. A storage cubby in the side wall is a great place to stash small items out of sight. You also get integrated bottle openers on the tailgate, and our tester came with a 120-volt household outlet right in the bed, along with LED lighting.
This example also has a durable spray-in bedliner to help prevent scratches, dents, and rust. I highly, highly, highly recommend installing one of these. Spray-in liners are incredibly tough and usually pretty affordable. For the 2026 model year, it runs $525.
A Simple but Thoughtful Interior
Slide inside, and you'll notice this truck’s cabin isn't fancy. Just about everything is hard plastic, but the build quality is excellent, and nothing feels cheap. Unique textures and bright colors keep things cheerful, and overall, this is a perfect example of a low-cost interior done exceptionally well.
As for tech, there’s a simple 8-inch digital instrument cluster that’s easy to read and adjust, plus a huge 13.2-inch touchscreen running Ford's Sync 4 infotainment system. This setup is intuitive and performs well, even if it’s not quite the speediest system of all time. De rigueur these days, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included.
The front seats are fantastic, somehow both squishy and supportive. In this XLT model, they're also heated, and so is the steering wheel, a couple of the amenities included in the $1,890 XLT Luxury Package. You control all of that via the touchscreen, which is also where you adjust the climate-control system. This setup works well enough, though I would definitely prefer some redundant physical controls.
The backseat is a bit less hospitable. Six-foot adults will find the legroom a little tight, and the backrest is a touch too vertical. But it’s not all bad, as there’s plenty of headroom front and rear, and there's no shortage of thoughtful details: the lower cushion flips up to reveal additional storage, clever bottle holders live in the door pockets, and the center console is loaded with cubbies to stash your stuff.
Efficient and Effective Power
Hybrid Mavericks are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine matched to an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission, or eCVT for short. Total system output is a respectable 191 horsepower, which may sound modest on paper, but feels plenty capable on the road.
The EPA rates the front-drive 2025 Maverick Hybrids at 42 mpg city, 35 highway, and 38 combined. All-wheel drive drops those figures slightly, though you can still expect around 37 mpg in mixed driving. I’ve had no trouble getting pretty close to that EPA estimate in real-world use. In mixed driving, I’ve seen nearly 36 mpg without even trying, which is hard to argue with.
As for performance, don't let the 191-horsepower figure fool you. This truck has plenty of scoot in stop-and-go traffic and pulls with authority at higher speeds. The powertrain is smooth and quiet, producing little ruckus or vibration. Overall, this setup feels very similar to Toyota’s mainline hybrid system, and that’s no coincidence. Ford uses nearly identical technology.
The Maverick also excels in handling and braking. The steering feels substantial, with a reasonably quick ratio that provides a feeling of agility. Despite the hybrid stigma, this truck is surprisingly fun to drive. The brake pedal is also firm and easy to modulate smoothly.
On the safety front, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking should all be standard, and they work as advertised. For 2026, features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane centering, and a 360-degree camera are only offered on the top-end Lariat Hybrid trim, so you’ve got to spend a bit more to get these amenities. Similarly, Ford’s excellent BlueCruise system with hands-free driving capability isn't available on the Maverick at all, which is a real shame.
An Absolute Bargain and Not Just Because of the Price
The Maverick is one of the best pickups on sale today, thanks to its efficiency, versatility, and down-to-earth pricing. You can get an entry-level XL Hybrid for an MSRP of just about $30,000 with delivery, which is a steal these days. Even the midrange 2025 XLT all-wheel-drive model shown here comes in at an MSRP of just $36,115, including $1,595 for destination fees (note: delivery has crept up to $1,845 for the 2026 model year). You’d be hard-pressed to find another vehicle — car or truck — that offers this much for this price. That's why I absolutely love the Maverick.
🛻 More Small Trucks With Big Ideas
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A strong next read for shoppers who like the Maverick’s compact footprint and want to see how small electric pickups could expand the segment
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Ford’s $30K EV Pickup Aims for Cost Parity with Gas Vehicles
Ford’s next affordable truck strategy builds on the same value-first logic that makes the Maverick Hybrid so appealing
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Ford Retools the Lightning Into a 700-Mile Extended-Range Electric Truck
A useful follow-up for readers interested in how Ford is rethinking electrified trucks beyond the Maverick Hybrid
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