We have more information about the 2022 Ford Maverick, which Ford is using to go small after going pretty big with the Bronco and Raptor. These clues about the Ford Maverick reveal what to expect in terms of its size and suspension. 

The Ford Maverick size and suspension

According to AutoBlog, the 2022 Ford Maverick was caught out and about near the Ford Ranger. Despite being heavily covered under camouflage, clues were revealed about the size of the new Ford baby pickup truck. 

Early spy shots of the upcoming Ford Maverick didn’t provide many references for a sense of scale. However, the new photos show just how short, narrow, and low to the ground that the Ford Maverick could be. 

The Ford Ranger has a ground clearance of 8.4 inches and looks very tall while parked beside the Ford Maverick. It also seems to be narrower and shorter than the midsize Ford Ranger. Based on these shots, it’s clear that the Ford Maverick will live up to its compact rumors. 

What suspension is in the Ford Maverick? 

Previous spy photos allowed people to speculate that the new Ford Maverick could be front-wheel-drive because driveline components were absent in the rear suspension. 

However, the new photos give us an idea about how underwhelming the suspension currently looks. A typical low-cost front-wheel-drive platform with a simple, coil-sprung twist beam suspension can be seen. 

The suspension looks incredibly similar to the suspension of the Ford Transit Connect van. This isn’t surprising since the Ford Maverick is supposed to be the truck that’s similar to what the Ford Transit Connect is to vans. 

It’s believed that with the way the current configuration sits and due to where the rear spring location is, that the Ford Maverick is incompatible with powered rear axles. This could mean trouble for an all-wheel-drive variant unless it’s paired with a different subframe.

But the Ford Maverick is expected to be based on the Ford Escape, like the Bronco Sport. So, Ford might be able to look at the parts they have available to provide an all-wheel-drive variant of the little truck. 

What else do we know about the 2022 Ford Maverick? 

The 2022 Ford Maverick is expected to be a compact truck on an existing Ford unibody crossover frame. You can probably think of it as a tiny Honda Ridgeline. Also, we hope this little truck won’t be short on power. With the Ford Focus ST’s turbocharged engine, the Ford Maverick could have 280 hp. 

Another possible engine option includes the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder option that provides 180 hp. This would be a fair amount of power for a compact pickup truck. Also, an 8-speed automatic gearbox and a six-speed manual are the most plausible transmission options. 

A cheaper base model that’s only front-wheel drive could be in the works. However, we also speculate a sportier all-wheel-drive Maverick to be available too. Plus, you need to remember that the Ford Maverick will be tinier. The bed could only be between 24 to 30 inches long.