1 of the Most Popular Trucks Is Also 1 of the Slowest Trucks
Pickup trucks used only to be slow. Nothing we needed our trucks to do required speed. However, these days, we require our vehicles to do everything. So, your pickup truck needs to be able to haul, tow, have a 4×4, and still run a quick ¼ mile. Because of this everything all at once-ness, pickup trucks have grown unreasonably expensive. That’s why I’m happy to report that one of the best trucks on the market, the 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid, is also one of the slowest. Can I get an Amen?
The Ford Maverick is popular despite being so slow
The 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid is currently rated very high by Consumer Reports. There is no shortage of trucks that can crack off a sub-5-second 0-60-mph sprint. However, the Maverick hybrid is not one of them. I’m not saying that this makes it good, but you could argue that Ford spent more time on what the truck needed to be well-rounded, not just a beefy engine.
How fast is the Ford Maverick Hybrid?
According to MotorTrend, the 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid takes 7.6 seconds to trot to 60 mph. However, 0-60 times is often a crap shoot. Multiple publications show multiple different times for the base hybrid powertrain. This unimpressive power comes from Ford’s hybrid 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 191 hp. The little Maverick was made for efficiency, not flash. This is why the 191-hp truck yields 37 mpg and can still haul 2,000 lbs in this configuration. However, if you need more oomph, you can opt for a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that can reach 60 mph over a second faster and tows up to 4,000 lbs.
Why is the Ford Maverick one of the most popular pickup trucks?
Critics love it for good reasons. The Maverick is not just the cheapest pickup truck on the market right now but is also quickly becoming a beloved reboot of the small-truck genre.
Don’t think of the Maverick in today’s terms. There was once a time when the S10s, Rangers, and Tacomas were well-respected small trucks that offered plenty of utility at a cheap price for those who didn’t need to pull a house down. The Maverick Hybrid is a direct call back to those trucks. Others, like Hyundai Santa Cruz and the Ford Ranger, are small but not quite as small or as cheap. This combo is clearly a weak spot in the market because people have been buying the fool out of the Maverick.
We know that that is the reason for the Maverick’s popularity because otherwise, the little Ford isn’t all that remarkable. CR describes the ride as “pretty loud” and “firm.” The interior isn’t anything to write home about. Given the price, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that the interior is spartan and plastic.
Again, its lack of refinement proves my point that many people would rather have a down-market pickup truck they can afford than a plush cab in a truck that costs $50k.
Should you buy a Ford Maverick Hybrid?
The price point alone makes the Ford Maverick a tempting choice. If you are OK with a small, slow, cheap pickup truck, then it’s about the only option you have, and I am grateful for that. We have been spoiled with modern cars for too long, and now we are paying the price.
Don’t get me wrong, the amenities and nice interiors are sweet. The problem is that stuff ain’t cheap. A problem begins to form when every car has that stuff, and regular, hard-working people can’t afford a pickup truck anymore. I am pleased that the Ford Maverick’s efficiency and price ranked it so well on Consumer Reports. We should all want more cars and trucks like the Maverick Hybrid on the market.
