Ford Maverick Review by Santa Cruz owner - Ford earned the position of bestseller! 

I waited 15 years for Honda to make a Ridgeline Hybrid. 2 years ago I gave up on Honda and ordered a '22Maverick. 19 months later I got a '23 Mav XLT Hybrid (Ford cancelled my 2022 and made me order the 2023). That was 2 months ago and so far I am delighted. I live in the mountains and get 45+mpg on my 40 mile commute and back. I wanted a hybrid alternative to my Tacoma 4 door (17,pg) and I got it. Time will tell if I stay delighted. The Mav has just a slightly smaller bed than the Taco and feels roomier inside (the higher roofline helps). Did I mention it gets about 3 times better mpg? I keep hearing that every other company is making a Maverick killer, but unless they get better than 45mpg I think the Mav will be fine for a while. Great video!

Ford has made 10s of millions of trucks, therefore they know how to build a truck. They did something that other auto manufacturers and even military manufacturers need to understand that often less is MORE. Don't be overly complicated and build stuff that when it breaks, is extremely expensive to fix or replace. Get back to basics. Honda understands this with the Ridgeline.

I have a xlt hybrid. Got it 25k out the door! Waited 13 months for it but it was worth it!! It's exactly what I wanted in a vehicle. It's simple (how a truck should be), great gas milage, versatile and has room for my family of 4! It's what a truck should be. Everything you need and nothing you don't!!

Maverick would of been great if I could go to a Ford dealer and buy the XL for sticker. The problem is I have to order one and order bank is open 3 days a year and then wait a year to get it or pay $10.000 over sticker and that kind of defeats the purpose.

Hi Peter, during the pandemic, I loved watching your daily Kia videos. I’m not a Kia fan, but I really appreciated the content that you were creating and enjoyed watching it every day while working from home. Looks like a lot has changed in your life but I’m really glad to see you are still making content and added motorcycles too! I tip my hat to you, sir.

I love my 2023 base XL Maverick Hybrid. Only extra is the $100 trailer hitch with electric trailer light plug. What a bargain! I've used it well beyond what I envisioned for hauling bulky objects. I'm in love with this truck. Hey, I'm getting 45 MPG. That's about the same as our 2016 Prius v Wagon. Well worth the 8 month wait after order. Lucky for me that I'm patient.

I have the 2022 Maverick XLT with the towing package. I have always loved the original Rangers. Not the new version. I absolutely love the Maverick. It feels like a truck but rides like a car. Even my wife likes it and that is saying something because she does not like trucks. I have the Eco Boost engine and if I drive decently, I get around 33 MPG in the warmer weather. I think Ford knocked it out of the park with this truck!

It is truly the 80s again. My dad got a new 1985 Nissan King Cab pickup brand new and ran his electrician and handyman businesses off its back for decades. It sipped gas, ran reliably, had some cheap 80s materials inside but it was an inexpensive, capable, utilitarian rig. This is the beginning of the new “little truck” revolution and if it has actual comfortable interior room despite the materials, it’s all most people will need.

Ordered a 2023 XLT Hybrid when order banks opened up in September 2022... Still waiting for my order. Was sent a notice from Ford they are no longer making the 2023 model. My order has been changed to a 2024 model. With the 2024 XLT model increase and Hybrid increase, my original order has increased $3500 in total cost. The 2022/2023 model came with a base hybrid or a $1500 2.0L turbo upgrade. 2024 model comes with a base 2.0L turbo or a $1500 Hybrid upgrade. This maybe a great vehicle for many reasons (my wife really dislikes trucks and yet she is looking forward to getting this vehicle) but Ford has really screwed up the order/purchase process for the Maverick. Ford is still sending new 2023 Mavericks to dealerships to sell, I just didn't want to pay a $5000-$20,000 over MSRP dealer markup.

Thank you!! I’ve been searching through a ton of videos and this was the first one that ACTUALLY told me stuff about my new truck that I am happy to now know!!

I ordered my Hybrid XLT in March of 2022. I am picking it up on Monday, so excited!! Cheers from Nova Scotia :)

Thanks for the honest review, especially from a Santa Cruz owner! I watched the entire video as I am thinking about buying an Xl Maverick soon. Very thorough review! Thanks again!

The Maverick is my intended next vehicle so thanks for the great review.

Best review I have seen yet of this vehicle. Thank you for the attention to detail!

Peter, great video! As promised you delivered a perspective not covered on other vids.

Santa Cruz is more a sport adventurer as Ford Maverick XL is a small work truck.

Truly perfect truck for most people. My wife and I own a SuperCrew F150,we need it to tow our travel trailer.If not,this would be,without a doubt the vehicle for us! Love the Maverick!!

If prices can stay closer to msrp for these and they can keep up with the production id love to buy one of these used for my first pickup and 2nd vehicle owned. The markups where im at are not as high now that they've been out a couple of years so hopefully that continues to decrease

If you're looking for a more affordable truck and compare the lower trims, hands down the Ford Maverick wins. However, if you want all the bells and whistles and compare the higher trims, the maverick does not compare to the Santa Cruz.

Would you use the hardtop box cover that rolls up?

I've said this on other vids/articles, they need to make basic trucks like they used to. 8' bed, basic options, ect. I do like having bluetooth for phone calls, but why do we need all these screens and options. Just seems like a distraction for drives.

I wish in the States we could have gotten the 4K Tow AWD in the XL. The Trailer brake controller is awesome.

Yep, only thing stopping me from selling my current truck and getting one of these is I want my next vehicle to be a hybrid and still have 4WD. And since I don’t want to pay the $80k+ price for a F-150 or Tundra Hybrid, my only consideration for next purchase next year is the hybrid Tacoma, unless Ford does as you say and makes a hybrid AWD, icing on the cake if plug-in hybrid AWD. The one thing that really baffled me is Chev recently redid the Colorado and Ford is redoing the Ranger for 2024, and neither company considered a 4x4 hybrid model in those knowing a Tacoma hybrid 4x4 was coming out for the 2024 model year, seems like a big mistake, thought the raptor ranger is neat, expensive, but neat.

I have 65,000 trouble-free km on my Santa Cruz now. Still my favourite vehicle I've ever owned. My thoughts on the two really haven't changed much. The Maverick is going to be a great small truck for folks who want a small TRUCK. And if you do some off-roading, absolutely go for the Maverick Tremor. Ford made a great package there. I'm not an off-roader though. I do a thousand km/week of all highway driving and that's where the Cruz really shines. Considering the Cruz is still selling as fast as they can make them, I'm fairly sure it will get a 2nd generation. If it doesn't, I'll drive mine until it can't be driven anymore and be like one of those die-hard Subaru Baja owners. LOL Actually would love to see Subaru bring back the Baja based on the Crosstrek or Forrester Wilderness.

I just ordered a '24 hybrid xl with 360 safety package, 2k tow and (Canada style) engine block heater. Once cruise control became standard, no need for a higher trim level. I didn't know climate control was standard, also thank you for pointing out the 12v connection was on both sides of the tailgate. The xl has quite a few features that weren't on the 4 cylinder automatic Ranger fleet vehicles I remember fondly from the late 1980's, but that is the kind of economical daily driver I am looking for. I'm keeping my old F150 for towing, snow and off-road, although I think the hybrid Maverick will surprise me in those tasks too.

Not sure if this is a correction or even if I'm remembering it correctly, but I think I read that Honda CHOSE to make the back portion of the rear seat-bed junction one piece and sloped so people noticed that it was in fact one piece (unibody). I think it made the original Ridgeline look ugly, but that's what I recall. So it was a cosmetics or image/branding/marketing choice, not a truck bed rigidity issue. By the way, great video with a lot of detail. Thanks!

The Santa Cruz is a car-up. The Maverick is a Pick-down or a down sized pick up. I bought the Maverick and I'm glad I did.

The blue plastic reminds me of my grandma's grand am 😂

I'd love one of these with an "Extra Cab" with some incidental storage behind the front seats, and a 6 foot 2" long box. I currently own a '17 Canyon with a long box and it's awesome. While I don't carry really heavy things, I do carry stuff, including dirt bikes. I rarely use my back seat to carry passengers, and a Maverick Extra Cab setup would be perfect for my needs as an empty nester, as well as for a lot of light duty contractor needs too I wager. While my Canyon is a lot lower and narrower than a full size truck, it is about as long as many of them due to being a crew cab long box. I actually prefer the old skool key to the more modern fob and push button start as the "analog" key is more secure. The signal from fobs in combo with push button start is getting intercepted and copied by tech equipped thieves, who can then steal the car without drawing any attention to themselves at all.

Do you have a video on Class B builders? Thanks for your perspective.

Ordered 9-20, hybrid lux xlt. Production date scheduled for July 31st.

For the 23 model year at least in the US added cruise. they also removed the temp readout in the HVAC system also at least in the US.

Do they make a two door with a longer bed? Do they make an Extended Cab with a longer bed?

Car manufactures started putting control buttons on the horizontal part of the center console. You know, where the driver can’t see them and has to take their eyes off the road, pets constantly step and turn thinks off and on at the worse possible time, and kids spill drinks and short buttons. Why? When did they think that was a good idea

I love my XL Hybrid and XLT Tremor Mavericks Booyah 👊🏽 😁 👍🏽 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇲🇽

Appreciate the video (thanks). Two questions and a comment: First, I would love to get a hybrid, but in this part of Canada AWD is a winter requirement, so is there any real indication that Ford is busy making an AWD hybrid for us? Second question: is there any truth to the "death wobble problem" rumour about the Maverick hybrid? And a small suggestion: maybe use the phrase "But, again,..." less often -- i found myself keeping a mental count of how many times you said it (big number). Still, thanks!!

Absolutely wonderful video thank you!

For a refresh, the Santa Cruz needs to make a hybrid version; the Maverick a plug in all wheel drive hybrid

I'm in the new vehicle market. I'm on my third Ford Ranger going back to 1994 plus an Explorer in between. The Ranger's are now too expensive and I don't really need that much truck anymore [out of my Rock Star wanna be years lol]. I was looking at another SUV but then noticed the Santa Cruz which is an SUV with the added benefit of a bed if you want to haul something. I was only aware of the Maverick in the past few months and now I see Toyota, Kia and Chevy are coming on strong with new offerings so I guess I have some test driving in my future since I am on no time schedule to purchase. Very helpful review though.

Pete, Great Video but can i suggest one thing "Decaf" ?.

22:12 Cruise appears to be standard on XLs now, per the 2023 Order Guide.

Two things kill it for me with the Hyundai Santa Cruz: “over futuristic” and Hyundai’s over all reputation for reliability. Other than that I think it was marketed for someone like me, luxury and some functionality as a ultra-light pickup.

you also have XLT rims...not available at ordering menu for XL.

My only concern is, does the front doors windows have tint on them ?

I LOVE ur thoughts on 2nd gen improvements. What I'd like to see as a woman... like the minivans... Could they do stow and go seats in the back? What about a window that could open fully? Like straight down. So if u could build a camper in the bed it could have a pass through in it. For safety so u wouldn't have to get out to drive away if u didn't feel safe where ur parked. Otherwise seems like a great vehicle. Thank u for ur review.

The maverick is around the same size of the old ranger. So it's a great city vehicle for anyone that drives a lot in cities. Plus you can actually haul small payloads with it which is great for those that go to the big box hardware stores like I do.

Gosh, I want one. The absence of cruise control is absurd but I saw in the comments that it can be added with just buying the switches and reprogramming. Interesting.

Ford is selling all they can produce, but for me I wish they would extend the bed by 2 ft at the expense of the second row.

Would buy a Sante Cruz but our Hyundai dealerships here have terrible reviews and cannot be trusted. Will keep my Fords as dealership have been going to for 20 years can be trusted.

Good review. If Ford offered a Maverick with a small cab long bed option too this would be perfect. Don't need rear seats I'll never use.

Thanks. Great vid. I’m a new 2024 owner and this was very helpful AND validated my purchase. :)

Problem is ford has not made enough and as a result dealers have taken advantage and charge way over MSRP.

Thx for the great insight...

Ready to pull the trigger on a Maverick - the trick is finding one that doesn't have an obscene markup. 🙄

To order a 2024 model when can a order be made ( what month?

One big fault with base model. Manual side mirrors. Mainly because of this I was forced to buy the more expensive XLT AWD. I have to back up and down a narrow steep driveway often snow covered and getting out to adjust each time is ridiculous.

The Santa Cruz reminds me of the Cadillac Pickup that looks silly! Like who would want one, unless you had to carry something toxic like a Can of Gas in the back? If you want a truck, get a Ford! I want a Truck that feels more like an SUV, so I can just sit down without having to climb up to sit down. I also like how the rear bed is lower, so I can put heavy objects (such as an electric wheelchair) inside without having to raise things up to my shoulders to get them in.

Fuel?

While an AWD hybrid sounds nice, having the room to add the systems without sacrificing bed space sounds like an expensive challenge. The bed would probably have to be raised a few inches for more batteries and the motors which means a whole different body style. If they were to do that, it would likely turn into AWD or nothing for hybrids and outprice some buyers. Remember that this is supposed to be a cheap pickup truck for the everyday man. It just happens to get really good fuel economy too from the small size. We'll see what they come up with though when they eventually do a refresh.

The tow package give you a trans cooler and a bigger radiator.

I just dont see the purpose of the Santa Cruz 😂 I have a Mav, and maybe I'm biased. But when Im in my Mav, I feel like I am in a truck. In Santa Cruz, I felt like I was driving an SUV pretending to be a pickup. For the price of Santa Cruz, I would just buy a Tacoma or a Ranger. Yes, the interior of the Mav could be better, but why would I get a pickup truck if I want a fancy interior? The Santa Cruz also felt more cramped inside than the Maverick somehow. I'm not sure if that's because of the SUV type of thing they tried going for? Finally, the looks of the Santa Cruz. Eh, I like it, tbh but when I look at it from the side, it looks so derpy. The front grille is eventually going to go out of style while the classic truck exterior of the Maverick is timeless. I get a lot of compliments for my truck. Granted, I did add mods to it, like a grille and tailgate lightbar as well as tinted the turn signal housing, but not that much work. I think it's just personal preference, but I definitely don't see the point in the Santa Cruz and would not choose it over my Maverick any day of the week just because of a cool interior. Again, that's just me who wanted a truck

Both Santa Cruz and Maverick are great vehicles that no one should be buying. At least until the market drops 20 -30% (hopefullly the 2nd half of 2023). Then grab one!

Damn, man. You ramble.

How much was the bed coating?

Do you think a 350 pound 6 foot tall man would have enough room. You stated the steering wheel is telescoping. I would hate to order one and wait for months only to not fit in it.

The ford maverick great on mpg 50 mpg not bad work great. In a truck. Great automatic transmission versus the Hyundai automatic transmission Ford transmission is more reliable.

Ty

2024 all models, including XL, have cruise control.

I’m a Ford guy as I have an F450 dually Limited, but looking for a small pickup that is flat towable behind a motorhome. I really like the Santa Cruz better than the Maverick. The Maverick reminds me of something from the 80s which is desirable for some, but it is dull both inside and outside. I don’t really want a jeep, but has to be flat towable.

My only complaint with the Maverick is that to get Adaptive Cruise you have to get the Lariat trim with the Lariat Luxury package, I'd have gladly bought a Hybrid XL if I could get Adaptive Cruise.

Full disclosure . . . I own a 2022 Santa Cruz Limited (US) with the 2.5 turbo. Also full disclosure . . . I was this close to purchasing the Maverick FX4. But I could not get past the cheapness of the interior. That includes all the plastic components, and the too short infotainment screen that results in a cubby hole next to it that looks like an after-thought. When I compared similar trim packages between the SC and the Mav, I found that there was only about $3000 difference at every trim level. But even at the top trim, the Maverick does not offer the tech that the Cruz offers standard. This is not to say the Cruz is perfect. The lack of an armrest in the backseat with built-in cupholders is really an oversight. Also no driver memory setting is disappointing considering the premium $41k-plus MSRP. Other than that, I've towed 1200 lbs 2000+ miles with no issue. Also pulled out a 2500 lb pontoon boat up a steep launch ramp. I love the Santa Cruz. And I hope Maverick owners feel the same about their truck.

I’d quite like the Santa Cruz, but their not marketed in the UK, right hand drive. This one doesn’t appeal the same, and not sure I’ve seen these here either. Maybe I should emigrate to Canada🤣. (My maternal grandpa was actually in the Canadian army)

I actually disagree because there was a vehicle called the Subaru Baja that was out before the Santa Cruz but they stopped the line back in 06 I think so there was a market for a sporty car with a bed it's just it wasn't marketed well.

I'd like a two door with a standard transmission 4wd or awd

The quick answer is BASIC. When you own the Maverick it's nice, but when you walk away you don't turn around and admire it. It's nice and basic I had one ( and traded it for a Santa Cruz no regrets)

If ford would offer the hybrid with all wheel drive they'd clean up.

Reg cab long box would be cool

I will die on the hill that the fact on the ground is the Santa Cruz is a good vehicle that doesn’t sell as well as the Mav because the SC’s base engine is horrible and the bed is too short. It shines at higher trims, where it also pushes $40k.

How many thousands to repair that all electric a/c system when it fails? I am thinking 3500.

Hopeful that Ford will add roof rails to the Marveric :)

you didnt mention the motor unless i missed it

How does one ask for something they don't know of?

The lack of cruise control is a crying shame on the lowest trim, but I could why they did it.

I absolutely love the look of the Santa Cruz inside and out. This Ford version is nothing appealing inside and out. There is only one good point about the Ford version and that is it is lower to get inside the vehicle which is a point that would matter to someone who has a disability with their knees and ankles.

Waiting for Toyota to come out with small truck

While watching I forgot this was coming from Canada [metric-celcius]. When he said "if you want it 21 degrees in here....". I was thinking who TF want's to be in a car at 21 degrees???? LOL.

Someone here already said it - the Maverick is a small work truck. That's it. Sitting inside that cheap plastic cab going back and forth to work must be mind-numbing. Just start the video at 15:06. The low-quality interior looks like it was cobbled together from Ford's 1980s parts bin. I'm sure the top trim levels have a better interior and a much higher price tag, but that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about a base model, small work truck compared to a small SUV with a bed instead of a hatch. The Venn diagram of the people considering these vehicles is hard to imagine. One is a light-duty truck and one is a small, quirky SUV. One group needs to go to work and haul stuff around and the other is going camping or to the beach. I'm doing neither with either.

I love my 2022 ford Maverick Hybrid

nice vidro, great prdouct

To me, the Santa Cruz is reminiscent of a Chevy el Camino. It’s a car with a truck bed 😂

Didn't Hyundai say that the Santa Cruz is not a truck and Ford says the Maverick is a truck. So how can you compare both vehicles. If you don't know what vehicle you need, go to any dealership and ask them what they think you should purchase.

Wish list: 300 combined HP HPEV AWD Tremor for under $35k.

Did you delete my comment or did it never post? I was curious to see your response. Anyway, I still maintain that if you don't mind constant car payments the, fine, get a hybrid or EV. But if you want to keep your vehicle for years, avoid a hybrid or EV. Avoid CVTs and turbos too. What you think you're saving on gas will be eaten up by repair bills and headaches. I understand many people don't mind constant payments and car manufacturers love those people as it keeps them profitable. If I had to buy a hybrid, it would be a Toyota. But I'd still prefer a naturally aspirated engine for Toyota as well. I'd love to see what the repair bills are on the hybrid Maverick vs the non-hybrid once the warranties are up. Just more stuff to move to get to what you need=more labor.

It needs more HP and this will be the best small truck.

Good Luck with your Electric Jeep 😮!

You Lynex coated your bottle opener!

Take a look at sales # of the Scrz & the Mav & notice how the Mav is far & away much more than the Scrz. WHY? When SUV shoppers look at the Scrz & notice the truck bed, they move on. When truck shoppers look at the Scrz they like the truck bed, but when they look at the rest of the truck it appears too SUV like, they move on. Its like, The Scrz was designed without a definite market in mind. !

You didn't say what the milage it can get.

the unintended market for the Santa Cruz is a sport utility truck or SUT where the average DIY husbands can get good use out of it as their main car, but the wives would feel a bit more stylist driving it when needed to take the kids to soccer games and the slopes etc.. That is why we bought it, so that wife can also feel like not driving a pickup truck.

There are BETTER choices than the Maverick or the Santa Cruz. The Honda Ridgeline and the Ford Ranger are RELIABLE! That MIGHT be important to SOME buyers..