America’s most fuel-efficient pickup truck isn’t a popular half-ton model like the Ram 1500. The Ford F-150 may be the country’s favorite pickup, but its gas mileage isn’t the best. One innovative Blue Oval pickup takes the cake when it comes to fuel economy. The Ford Maverick standard hybrid pickup truck is historic in many different ways. Here’s why America’s most fuel-efficient pickup truck may not be the best choice for every driver.

The Ford Maverick is a truck that challenges everything we know about pickups

What is an American pickup truck? Does having a bed mean a vehicle is a truck? Perhaps it has something to do with capability. The Ford Maverick is the first pickup that the Blue Oval has produced in years (maybe even decades) that made drivers question what constitutes a truck.

We know that the Ford Maverick is a tiny standard hybrid that’s more affordable than any rival (starts at $22,595). The question is, what can’t the Maverick do? Are there limitations that the Maverick encounters that would deter truck fans from getting it? The short answer is yes.

The Maverick is many things, but it isn’t the good old-fashioned American work truck that millions of Americans drive every day. It’s a modern take on the American pickup, designed for drivers that live in densely populated cities. These drivers enjoy something more maneuverable and more affordable to refuel than the classic American pickup.

So, if you’re a fan of tried and true full-size American work trucks, the Maverick could cause you to double take. The first reason to pass on the most fuel-efficient pickup truck is its payload and towing limitations (compared to other trucks). Car and Driver claims that the Maverick has a 1,500-lb payload capacity and a 2,000-lb towing capacity. This is decent for some drivers, but it doesn’t cut the mustard for thousands of Americans that need a stronger pickup.

The Ford Maverick Flexbed is tiny

The Maverick introduced Ford’s Flexbed, a truck bed designed to be customized by owners. The Flexbed concept is intriguing, but is it really practical?

The Ford Maverick Flexbed is roughly five feet long and four feet wide. It’s hardly unusable, but realistically, the Flexbed isn’t nearly as convenient as having a larger bed. If you are interested in getting a pickup truck because of the utility that most trucks provide, the Maverick may not be for you. Tiny truck equals tiny bed. The Maverick is great for large crowded cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, but it may not be the best fit for country folk aside from its stellar fuel economy.

The most fuel-efficient pickup truck still has kinks to work out

The Ford Maverick nameplate is only on its second iteration thus far. According to Consumer Reports, it has already been recalled due to a side airbag issue. The Maverick seems like a great truck overall, but there’s still plenty of time for the Blue Oval to perfect the small pickup. The brand’s hybrid pickup truck has potential and an exciting future. It’s just not the best fit for some pickup truck drivers.