The 2023 Ford Maverick’s Truck Bed Can Barely Fit a Couch
The 2023 Ford Maverick is part of a unique category of small trucks that it mainly shares with the Hyundai Santa Cruz. I tested the Santa Cruz last year and found that it had barely enough truck bed space to haul a three-drawer dresser. This week, I spent some time with the Ford Maverick and put it through a similar test when helping a friend move. Here is what I found.
The 2023 Ford Maverick’s bed size is short, but it works in a pinch
If you have never heard of it, the 2023 Ford Maverick is the brand’s smallest truck, as it sits next to the Ranger and the F-150 in the lineup. Of course, it’s not as practical or as capable as its larger siblings, but it can work in a pinch if you have to tow or haul. I didn’t get to test out the Maverick’s towing capabilities, but with the optional Tow Package, Ford says it can pull up to 4,000 pounds, which is impressive.
The Maverick also has a 1,500-pound payload capacity, but I didn’t reach anywhere near that weight either. Instead, when helping my friend move, I was able to make a trip from her old place to her new one carrying smaller boxes and bins. When it came to the bigger stuff, we were able to only fit a small section of her sectional couch in the bed of the Maverick.
Considering the Ford Maverick’s bed is only 4.5 feet long, that’s not bad. Just don’t expect it to be able to do as much as its larger stablemates. However, if you’re cross-shopping the Ford Maverick with the Hyundai Santa Cruz, you’ll be happy to know that its bed is a little larger. The Santa Cruz’s bed measures 48.4 inches, which is a tiny bit over four feet long.
That extra bed length helped because we could fit the section of the couch squarely in the bed without needing to use straps to keep it secure.
The Ford Maverick has other storage solutions
If more space is needed, whether you’re moving or not, the Ford Maverick has another trick up its sleeve – or in its cabin. The Maverick has a backseat, which provides space for people and/or cargo, but the real trick is when you pull the seat bottom up. Pulling the seat bottom up and locking it into place will reveal a small plastic cargo bin, which is handy for groceries or other small things.
Additionally, when the seat bottom is up, taller items like plants or TV boxes can be stored and transported back there. It’s a neat trick, and the Hyundai Santa Cruz has the same feature.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has one neat feature that the Ford Maverick doesn’t have
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has one feature that the Ford Maverick could use – an in-bed trunk. The Santa Cruz’s trunk is large enough to fit and store away personal belongings or groceries. It’s also lockable, and there’s even a drain plug in case you want to put ice and drink back there and then dispose of the water afterward.
Don’t get me wrong, the in-bed trunk is not a deal-breaker by any means, but when you’re working tiny trucks like the Maverick and the Santa Cruz, every bit of space helps.
Also, if you plan to use either of these trucks for moving, they can work well for small items and furniture. If anything, you’ll still have to rent a moving truck to make the move easier – unless you don’t mind making 100 trips back and forth.
