Does the 2022 Ford Maverick Have a Manual Transmission?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When the 2021 Ford Bronco released last year, the automotive purists and off-road enthusiasts everywhere did a little dance that it came with an available manual transmission. However, the Ford Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a manual option. So what about the 2022 Ford Maverick pickup truck that shares a platform with the Bronco Sport? Does it have a manual transmission? 

A Ford logo | Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

No, the 2022 Ford Maverick does not offer a manual transmission option

Big news for the 2022 Ford Maverick, it will be offered with a standard hybrid powertrain. However, it will not offer a manual transmission. Given the fact that this is largely designed for city driving, the lack of a manual option makes sense. 

A 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck parked outside of a live music venue in an urban area
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford Media

The hybrid powertrain for the 2022 Ford Maverick uses a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. This pair produces 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. Rather than a manual transmission, the hybrid powertrain juices the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

According to Ford, this hybrid powerplant gets up to 33 mpg on the highway and 40 mpg in the city with a combined EPA rating of 37 mpg.

Also available is a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline-only option. This version of Ford’s new compact pickup truck doesn’t have hybrid fuel economy. However, it does produce up to 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque which it sends through an eight-speed automatic transmission, Edmunds reports.

This ups the hybrid’s towing strength of 2,000 lbs to 4,000 lbs. The gasoline engine will likely get a little below 30 mpg combined. Ford hasn’t released info about the turbo 2.0 liter’s fuel economy yet. However, Ford’s Escape crossover with the same powertrain and all-wheel drive gets about 26 mpg combined. The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is rated for a combined 23 mpg. 

A pickup truck that costs about the same as a Toyota Corolla

“Standard front-wheel drive and impressive maneuverability make getting around the city just as easy as escaping it.”  

The cost of the new compact pickup truck is low, too. According to Car and Driver, the 2022 Ford Maverick will start at $21,490 making it the cheapest Ford in the lineup. The trim levels include the XL, XLT, and Lariat models. The range-topper approaches $37,000. 

This pricing is actually comparable to the popular compact car options. The Toyota Corolla starting price is right in the same ballpark, for example. This truck not only makes owning a hybrid accessible to the masses, but also owning a pickup truck at all. 

If you’ve priced pickups lately, you already know that they are pretty expensive. So the 2022 Ford Maverick is a pickup truck game changer for more reasons than one. 

What is the competition? 

a driver uses the infotainment system of the 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford Media

For now, its primary competition is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. But there’s a chance potential buyers of other trucks like Honda Ridgeline and the Toyota Tacoma will veer instead toward the all-new Ford Maverick compact pickup truck due to its low price. It comes equipped with plenty of tech and several different packages are available––all for a compact cost. 

It’s certainly a different truck than the Toyota Tacoma. Particularly because the Tacoma is on a truck frame and the Maverick is a unibody pickup. Plus, it doesn’t offer the same capability as the standard all-wheel driveV6-powered Honda Ridgeline.

But more truck buyers may decide that they don’t really need all that much truck. A customizable pickup bed and car-like road manners mean the 2022 Ford Maverick might be a diversion from the norm that’s worth every penny. 

Sure, this pickup truck doesn’t offer a manual transmission. But very few vehicles do these days. Not even Ford’s Mustang Shelby GT500 offers the option. With today’s technology, it’s really not necessary, especially not for a smooth, urban compact truck like the 2022 Maverick. 

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Nickel-Metal Hydride or Lithium Ion: Which Type of Hybrid Battery Is Better?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Hybrid and electric vehicles have increased in popularity over the years and inevitable that they will be more prevalent in the future, so it’s important to understand them as much as possible. If you have done any research on hybrid or electric vehicles like a Toyota Prius or a Tesla, then you may be familiar with the terms “nickel-metal hydride” and “lithium-ion.” These terms are referring to what the hybrid and electric vehicle’s batteries are made out of. But which type of battery is better?

Nickel-metal (Ni-MH) hydride batteries

A first-generation Honda Insight at a show. | (Photo by Chris Bacon – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

RELATED: How Long Does a Hybrid Car Battery Last?

You’ll typically find nickel-metal hydride batteries in some of the older hybrid and electric cars like the first couple of generations of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. Although this type of battery is old, it’s not exactly archaic, as some new cars in the current market still use them. In fact, you can still find Ni-MH batteries in the all-wheel-drive versions of the current Toyota Prius.

While that might be a little surprising — since lithium-ion batteries are far more prevalent now – there’s actually a good reason for it. According to Torque News, Ni-MH batteries can withstand harsher weather conditions, from freezing winters to blazing-hot summers. This is why you’ll find them in the AWD Prius, which is a hybrid car that is great for snow states and desert states.

A look under the hood shows the hybrid gasoline-electric engine that drives the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid.
A look under the hood shows the hybrid gasoline-electric engine that drives the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. | (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

Another advantage for Ni-MH is that they are easier to recycle. Auto Evolution says that the high amounts of nickel in these batteries make recycling more profitable. On the flip side, nickel-metal hydride batteries have a low energy density; about 40% lower than lithium-ion batteries. In order to circumvent the lack of power, many Ni-MH batteries are large in size, which helps with power, but not with weight.

Charging is also an issue. Ni-MH batteries charge slower than lithium-ion batteries and they also discharge slower as well. They also tend to run hotter, due to the charging cycles, so a separate cooling system is needed as well.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries

This photo shows the cutting model of Toyota Motors' third-generation Prius hybrid vehicle's battery module.
This photo shows the cutting model of Toyota Motors’ third-generation Prius hybrid vehicle’s battery module. | AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)

You’ll typically find lithium-ion batteries in many of the new hybrid and electric cars today. If that term sounds familiar, you’re probably aware that many handheld electronics use lithium-ion batteries as well, but they use a different kind. According to Auto Evolution, the type of Li-ion batteries that you’ll find in cars are made of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC).

The main highlight of using lithium-ion batteries is that they have a better energy-to-weight ratio, which means that they can hold more energy and weigh less than their Ni-MH counterparts. Li-ion batteries also charge quicker and have no memory issues. This means that Li-ion batteries won’t lower their maximum charging capacity with each cycle.

The biggest downside to using a lithium-ion battery is cost. Li-ion batteries are around 40% more expensive to manufacture than Ni-MH batteries, which is why cars equipped with them tend to cost more. And although Li-ion batteries discharge slower than others, they also have a shorter shelf life (around 10 years) if they are not stored properly.

Which battery is better to use?

Considering lithium-ion batteries have fewer downsides, and store more energy at a lighter weight, they are better to use in hybrid cars in the long run. However, as we can see, there is still a place for the tried-and-true Ni-MH battery. But since hybrid and electric cars are becoming more popular, it might not be long before those are replaced with Li-ion types, if not something else.

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Can You Get Pulled Over for Your Bumper Stickers?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Bumper stickers are everywhere. They can reflect a car owner’s personality or views, advertise a product or service, or serve as a souvenir. Whatever the case, we see them on cars all the time, and they can be interesting and entertaining to read. Though they’re fun to buy and add a personal touch, can police stop cars for their bumper stickers?

Are bumper stickers illegal anywhere?

Putting a bumper sticker on your car seems like an easy decision and something so common that no one would give it a second thought. After all, it’s not as if it affects your driving abilities, and so many cars have them that it makes it hard to think anything might actually be wrong. However, you might wonder if bumper stickers are illegal in certain places, and the truth is that the laws regarding car stickers can be tricky.

A bumper sticker is usually no more than a slogan or other simple message, but we have all seen a few that can be a bit offensive. According to Freedom Forum Institute, bumper stickers are everywhere. Even so, when bumper stickers cross the line into vulgar or offensive, drivers in some states have received citations.

In fact, a Georgia law states, “No person owning, operating, or using a motor vehicle in this state shall knowingly affix or attach to any part of such motor vehicle any sticker, decal, emblem, or other device containing profane or lewd words describing sexual acts, excretory functions, or parts of the human body.”

Do bumper stickers make it likelier for the police to stop you?

It goes without saying that when a driver is not operating a car safely, they are likely to be pulled over and at least given a warning about their behavior. But if someone is obeying all traffic laws , can their bumper stickers make them targets for law enforcement? That depends.

For instance, if the bumper sticker is a friendly one with the name of a vacation spot, or if it displays the name of a school, chances are, that person won’t be likelier to get pulled over than anyone else. However, Free Wisdom reports that a controversial or offensive bumper sticker indeed makes the driver likelier to get stopped.

So, are bumper stickers a legal reason to be pulled over? Let’s say a driver has violated no traffic laws, and there’s no legitimate reason for law enforcement to stop the vehicle. Can a police officer pull that person over simply because of a bumper sticker on the back of their car?

According to Action News, it’s a little complicated. Cops won’t stop a driver for a non-offensive bumper sticker that isn’t doing something like blocking their view. But if a police officer has another valid reason to pull you over, an offensive bumper sticker could certainly add fuel to the fire.

That being said, you can definitely get pulled over for an offensive, vulgar, or discriminatory message on a bumper sticker. 

RELATED: How Do You Know if a Red Light Camera Took Your Picture?

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The Cost of EV Ownership in Each State

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The cost of EV ownership varies greatly from state to state. Places like Oregon, New Jersey, and Colorado offer some of the biggest savings to EV drivers. In other states, drivers who choose electric save less than $100 per year. The reason for these discrepancies in the price of maintenance and savings is multifaceted. Local taxes, insurance costs, and incentives all play a role in determining the true cost of ownership of an EV.

Electric vehicle charging stations | Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Northeast

In the state of Maine, EV owners can expect to pay $1,903 in related ownership costs per year. This represents a savings of $951 when compared to gas-powered vehicles. New Hampshire residents pay a bit more at $2,152 and save a little less at $609.

It costs residents of Vermont $ 2,122 to own an electric vehicle, $899 cheaper than an ICE option. Connecticut ups the price considerably at $3013, saving EV drivers $455. New York EV drivers save $783 on the cost of ownership and pay a total of $2932. EVs cost $ 2,342 in New Jersey, but owners enjoy a massive $1,291 savings.

Rhode Island is the most expensive state in the region, coming in at $ 3,822, leaving EV owners with a paltry savings of $82.Pennsylvania is also pricey at $ 2,835 but offers $642 in annual savings. EV drivers in Maryland pay $ 2,029 for their cars and save $1,136.

Southeast

Two white electric vehicles charging side by side
Electric vehicles charging | Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

RELATED: You Can Now Search for Airbnb’s With Electric Vehicle Chargers

In Delaware, EVs cost $ 2,235 and save drivers $1016. West Virginians can expect to pay $ 2711 and save $583. Virginian fare slightly better, paying $2,152 and saving $668. In South Carolina, EV’s cost $2,844 and save $527 over gas.

North Carolina pays less at $1,836 and saves more at $785. Floridians pay a whopping $3,237 and save just $440. In Georgia, EV ownership costs $2,855 and saves drivers $463. Alabama EV drivers spend $3,001 and save just $342 over ICE drivers. Mississippi EV owners can expect to pay $3,280 and save $296 per year.

Arkansas residents pay $3,107 to own an EV which saves them $346. In Kentucky, EV drivers pay $3,399 a year and save $379. Tennessee drivers will pay $2,804 and save $480. In Louisiana, EV drivers will pay $3,500 per year to save $648.

Southwest

In Arizona, EV ownership costs $2,831 and saves $652. Texas EV drivers spend $3,314 and save just $38. Drivers in New Mexico can expect to pay $2,807 and save $517. EV owners in Oklahoma will pay $3,117 and save $383.

West

One black and one white EV charging
Electric vehicles charging | Sean Gallup via Getty Images

RELATED: The UAW Wants to Introduce a New Chicken Tax for EVs

Utah EV owners will pay $2,454 per year and save $746. Washington EV drivers will pay $2,628 but enjoy $915 in annual savings over gas-powered vehicle owners. In Oregon, EV ownership costs $1,810 and saves a whopping $1,442.

Drivers in Nevada will pay $3,307 to own an EV and save $648 per year. Residents of Idaho will spend $2,352 on EV ownership and save $735. In Wyoming, EV ownership costs $2,583 and saves drivers $647. Residents of Montana will pay $2,507 and save $667.

Midwest

North Dakota EV drivers pay $2,566 a year and save $603. In South Dakota, they pay $2,519 and save $598 over ICE drivers. In Nebraska, an EV costs $2,458 per year and saves its owner $647. Kansas residents pay a whopping $3,016 and save just $368. Minnesota, Indiana EV owners, will pay $2,437 and save $666 over gas vehicles. Missouri residents spend $2,788 to save $474.

In Wisconsin, EV owners spend $2,321 per year and save $593. Drivers in Illinois can expect an EV to cost them $2,711 and save $676 per year.EV drivers in Iowa spend $2,283 to save $662. Drivers in Ohio spend $2,385 annually to save $677. In Michigan, it costs a staggering $4,276 to maintain an EV which saves drivers just $79 per year.

The price of owning an EV can vary greatly based on location. Self finance has gathered data on EV ownership and related spending from all 50 states. Potential EV shoppers should consider the cost of ownership in their state when choosing an electric vehicle. These figures will likely continue to evolve as the EV segment continues to grow.

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