If you’re a big truck person or you live on a farm with heavy-duty needs, this truck might not be the best choice. But if you’re looking for a compact pickup for city life, light hauling, or just a reliable truck bed with good mileage, the Maverick could be a great fit. I fall into the light work category.
I ordered an Area 51 Maverick XL with the 2.0 I4 Ecoboost, AWD, and 4K Tow in September and picked it up in December. Coming from an old Toyota RAV4 and before that a Chevy S10, this is my first brand-new vehicle. I live on a small farm and need a truck for daily driving and lighter work, like hauling hay or pulling small trailers.
Here’s what I’ve noticed after two weeks and 325 miles:
Drive and handling: It feels more like a crossover than a truck, which took some getting used to, but it’s smooth and comfortable. The AWD system works well in snow, and the slippery drive mode was great during a recent storm in the Northeast.
Storage and space: There’s plenty of storage in the front—deep door pockets, a large glove box, and a roomy center console. The back seats also have good storage under them, but one drawback is that the XL trim lacks backseat cupholders. Ford’s FITS system can help, but it might involve DIY or third-party solutions.
Towing and hauling: It handles my 2-horse trailer and smaller trailers fine, but it’s not ideal for larger loads like our family camper. The truck bed is functional and has been great for carrying furniture and other lighter loads.
Some minor complaints include the lack of cupholders in the backseat and concerns about how a unibody design would hold up in an accident. That said, it’s a solid small truck that fits my needs.
Overall, I’d give the Maverick an 8/10. It’s excellent for what it is but has room for improvement, especially in terms of accessories and some design choices.
If anyone knows where to find good cupholder inserts for the Ford FITS system, let me know in the comments!
Thanks for the review! I’ve been waiting to see more owner reviews. I’m hesitant to buy the first year of a new model, but I’ll keep an eye on how these hold up.
Aman said:
Thanks for the review! I’ve been waiting to see more owner reviews. I’m hesitant to buy the first year of a new model, but I’ll keep an eye on how these hold up.
I get that! I felt safer with this one since it shares Ford’s C2 platform, so it’s not entirely new tech. Still, waiting to see how it holds up is a smart move.
@Aman
Yeah, I’ve seen too many issues with first-year models. I’ll keep following updates and might jump in after a year or two. Hope it works out well for you!
Zane said:
Why do you think it’s not a good truck for rural areas?
If you’re dealing with large-scale farming, it’s not ideal. For lighter tasks like hauling hay or feed, it’s great, but it can’t replace a full-size truck for bigger jobs.