by Gabrielle DeSantis

To say that brand-new trucks have gotten quite expensive would be a massive understatement. In fact, the average amount spent on a brand-new truck is around $50,000. However, as you might expect, a considerable portion of the market doesn’t have large sums of money to blow. That’s where the 2022 Ford Maverick comes in.

Despite being a small truck with up to 4,000 lb of towing capacity, Ford’s latest release claims it’ll start under $20,000 once it arrives at dealerships. Aside from offering a smaller truck at a more accessible price point, the Maverick might allow even first-time buyers an easy way into the brand.

The 2022 Ford Maverick starts under $20,000

2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

The 2022 Ford Maverick officially offers up a base price of $19,995. Despite its low price point, this base model might be the one to get. That’s because you get a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder hybrid powertrain as standard. Aside from offering up 191 hp and 155 lb-ft. However, the big story here is that you should get up to 40 mpg in the city.

This entry-level 2022 Ford Maverick offers up an eight-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity in terms of standard equipment. If you utilize this truck’s onboard Wi-Fi system, you can connect up to 10 devices. You also get FordPass which allows you to start up your truck, lock it, or even check its fuel level directly from your phone.

In terms of safety features, the base trim offers up automatic emergency braking and automatic high beam headlights as standard. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane centering, and evasive steering assist are optional extras.

What other trim levels can we expect?

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

Speaking of extras, the 2022 Ford Maverick will obviously offer more expensive trim levels with optional extras. For example, if you want the max towing rating, you’ll need to shell out extra cash for the larger 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option with 250 hp and 277 lb-ft.

If you want to move up in the trim levels, Motor1 reports that you should expect to pay $22,280 for the XLT trim level. The XLT adds notable features such as adaptive cruise control, alloy wheels, and power outside mirrors. From there, you’re looking at $25,490 if you want the Lariat trim. As you might expect, this is the luxury-oriented version of the Maverick, which offers up synthetic leather trim, ambient lighting, and even a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

If you want to upgrade to that aforementioned 2.0-liter engine, it’s a $1,085 option across the range. Additionally, you can add all-wheel drive to that engine for an extra $2,220.

When will the 2022 Ford Maverick go on sale?

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

RELATED: Study: The Ford F-150 Lightning Is the Most Impressive Electric Pickup Truck

If you’re looking to buy a 2022 Ford Maverick, the good news is that you won’t have to wait for long. According to Ford, its smallest new truck is targeted to go on sale later this Fall. However, if you want to reserve one of the earlier build slots, the American carmaker has already begun taking reservations. Overall, if you’re looking for a small and affordable truck with great efficiency, this new Maverick seems like a worthy contender.

The post How Much Does the 2022 Ford Maverick Cost? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 Ford Maverick small pickup truck is set to be unveiled later today but we’ve got images of it now. Small pickups are coming back and the Maverick is smaller, but not as small as past mini trucks. With a wheelbase of 121-inches, it sits right between the Honda Ridgeline and Hyundai Santa Cruz-both unibody pickups. 

Maverick fills the pickup gap vacated by Ford’s third-gen Ranger

2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

The comparisons don’t stop there. In some ways, the Maverick fills the pickup gap vacated by Ford’s third-gen Ranger. But the main difference between the two is the Maverick’s unibody versus the Ranger’s body-on-frame configuration. And surprisingly, the old Ranger was larger than the new Maverick, but not by much. 

Size becomes a focus with the Maverick. Pickup trucks have gotten gigantic over the years. The Maverick tries to satisfy the small pickup segment abandoned as everything got bigger. So, while the current Ford Ranger is more like pickups of the past sizewise, the new Maverick comes in at a size the old Ranger once filled. A new Ranger’s overall length is 210.8-inches, while the Maverick is almost a foot shorter at 199.7-inches.

Maverick will only be available as a four-door

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

The other big difference is that the Maverick will only be available as a four-door. There will not be a single cab version. At least not soon. As all manufacturers split hairs with pickups and SUVs, who knows whether a two-door Maverick might be in the works?

Ford has been able to hold the base price at $20,000 including destination charges. Powertrains include a hybrid version hooked to a CVT transmission and an EcoBoost banger mated to an eight-speed automatic. With the hybrid, you get 500 miles between fill-ups and 191 hp. The EcoBoost increases that to 250 hp. Unless you opt for all-wheel-drive the Maverick comes with front-wheel drive only. 

Hyundai’s Santa Cruz has the Maverick beat on towing

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

Hyundai’s Santa Cruz has the Maverick beat on towing. The Mav can haul 4,000 lbs with the EcoBoost, enough to handle a 21-foot boat. Opting for the hybrid your tow rating is 2,000 lbs with a maximum payload of 1,500 lbs. 

The bed itself is 4.5-feet long, but with the tailgate down that increases to six feet. Besides the two tie-downs and four D-rings, threaded holes will give owners the ability to bolt in different configurations. Ford is even providing 3D specs for printing out homemade storage boxes or any number of things. 

A pair of 110-volt plugs-one each in the bed and cab gives owners a power source. We doubt it can take too much draw, but is handy nonetheless. It is just another one of those features that gives the Maverick such versatility. 

For a monthly charge, the Maverick will provide wifi to handle up to 10 devices

2022 Ford Maverick interior
2022 Ford Maverick interior | Ford

Inside, an eight-inch infotainment touch screen is placed right in the middle of the dash. With a monthly charge, it will provide wifi to handle up to 10 devices. Of course Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are part of the package. Trims include XL, XLT, and Lariat. 

Safety features abound. Standard is Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 with pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. For a few more bucks you can add adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot camera, lane centering, and evasive steering assist. Ford’s BlueCruise semi-automation is also available. 

Ford hopes to have the Maverick at dealer’s showrooms by fall. Let’s hope Ford can finally release a new vehicle without the drama of so many other rollouts. Prices beyond the base XL price have not been announced. 

A First Edition package is offered with unique features like a black roof, body-color door handles, graphics, and three special colors. Those would be Carbonized Gray, Area 51, and Rapid Red. All First Editions are loaded with the Lariat trim. 

A full range of pickup trucks is upon us. We expect GM to follow suit, while Ram already has a likely Fiat-based “700” south of the border. It could see duty stateside in the near future. Especially if the Maverick is as big of a success as Ford hopes it will be.

RELATED: The Ford Maverick Raptor Could Be a Miniature Off-Roading Truck

The post Leaked: 2022 Ford Maverick Pickup Before You’re Supposed to See It appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re looking to buy a small truck, the 2022 Ford Maverick is the newest contender that should be on your radar. Sharing a platform with the Bronco Sport, this new tiny Ford certainly won’t be the most powerful truck around. However, to everyone’s surprise, this new offering comes standard with a hybrid powertrain. The benefit? up to 40 mpg. As a result, this should make an excellent, efficient yet capable daily driver.

According to Ford’s latest release, if you want a more powerful variant, you can certainly have one. However, if you stick to the lower trim levels, you’ll get a truck that starts under $20,000.

How powerful is the 2022 Ford Maverick?

2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

Let’s start this look at the 2022 Ford Maverick by going over its two main engine options. As standard, you’ll get a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. This base engine develops 191 hp and 155 lb-ft. All of this power goes to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission. While it certainly isn’t the most powerful powertrain out there, it still gets you a standard payload of 1,500 lb and a towing capability of up to 2,000 lb. As Ford sees it, this should be good enough to tow a decently-sized pop-up camper trailer.

If you want the most out of the 2022 Ford Maverick, you’ll want the larger 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option. This gets you 250 hp and 277 lb-ft. You get an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard and can opt between front or all-wheel drive. The main benefit of this larger engine is that you can opt for the 4K Tow Package, which, as its name suggests, gets you 4,000 lb of towing capacity. According to Ford, this should be enough to tow an average 21-foot boat.

The base hybrid powertrain offers up to 40 MPG

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

If you don’t need the 2022 Ford Maverick’s max towing rating consistently, the smaller and cheaper engine option seems like the best way to go. This is because Ford claims it’ll consume around 40 mpg in the city. While these figures won’t be made official until later this year, that’s this truck’s target. In total, you should expect to get a combined rating of around 37 mpg. Additionally, this fuel-efficiency rating should allow the Maverick to cover around 500 miles on a single tank.

For a bit of context, the recently introduced 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cant come close in terms of efficiency. According to Autoweek, the most efficient version of the Santa Cruz offers up a 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. You can expect 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. As a result, if the 2022 Ford Maverick can meet its target fuel economy, it’ll blow the Hyundai out of the water.

How much does the 2022 Ford Maverick cost?

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

RELATED: Study: The Ford F-150 Lightning Is the Most Impressive Electric Pickup Truck

Despite being a brand-new small truck, the 2022 Ford Maverick won’t break the bank. That’s because it has a sub-$20,000 starting price for the XL trim. If you want to move up the trim levels, Motor1 reports that the XLT will cost you $22,280. From there, the Lariat comes in at $25,490. The aforementioned larger 2.0-liter engine exists as a $1,085 option across the range. If you want all-wheel drive, get ready to pay up $2,220 on top. All in, this should make a great option for budget-conscious or first-time buyers that want an easy way into the brand.

The post The 2022 Ford Maverick Offers Hybrid Power and up to 40 MPG appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is moving full-speed ahead. While Hyundai has not released all pertinent information yet, the EPA-estimated fuel economy numbers are out. How does this compact pickup truck stack up against other trucks?

How much does a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

The Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

The new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has made quite the splash as it entered the pickup truck scene. Since then, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released some fuel economy numbers for the Santa Cruz, but these numbers might not be as good you think. The trim levels released by Hyundai are the SE, SEL, and SEL Premium. Thus far, Hyundai has not released the pricing for any of the trim levels.

The Santa Cruz base trim (SE) has a 2.5L inline-four getting 191 hp and 181 lb-ft. It has a 3,500-pound towing capacity and a 4.3-foot composite molded bed. This comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

A 2.5L turbocharged Inline four getting 281 hp and 311 lb-ft is also available. The next trim up (SEL) has upgraded safety features like blind-spot collision avoidance and the Bluelink connected car system.

The SEL Premium option is available with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front-wheel drive is the standard option, but buyers can also upgrade to the all-wheel-drive option. It comes with LED headlights, a digital key, and a leather steering wheel.

How does the Santa Cruz compare to other pickup trucks?

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck | Hyundai

We can compare the Santa Cruz with other trucks using the U.S. Department of Energy comparison tool. The SE trim with 191 hp got the best fuel economy when MotorTrend tested it. In the all-wheel-drive option, the 2.5L engine got an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.

If you pick the front-wheel-drive option, drivers will get the same 21 mpg in the city and 23 mpg combined. The Santa Cruz loses one mpg bringing it down to 26 mph on the highway on the highway. The turbocharged all-wheel-drive option isn’t any better. This option gets 19 mpg in the city, 22 mpg combined, and 27 mpg on the highway.

How does this stack up against similar trucks? The Toyota Tacoma gets an estimated 20 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. This is with a 2.7L four-cylinder engine in the rear-wheel-drive option.

From the 2021 Honda Ridgeline’s 2.5L V6, the EPA-estimated numbers are 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. The Chevrolet Colorado delivers an estimated 20 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. The 2021 Ford F-150 four-wheel-drive pickup gets 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. And that is a much larger truck with a 2.7L six-cylinder turbo engine.

How does it compare to a Ford F-150 or Toyota Tacoma?

Given the small size and compact nature of the Santa Cruz, these numbers are a bit disappointing. Looking at the comparisons below, the small pickup truck gets similar fuel economy to a much larger, full-size truck.

AWD Santa Cruz 2.5L – 21/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined

FWD Santa Cruz 2.5L – 21/26/23 mpg city/highway/combined

AWD Santa Cruz 2.5L turbocharged – 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined

RWD Toyota Tacoma 2.7L – 20/23/21 mpg city/highway/combined

RWD Chevrolet Colorado diesel – 20/30/23 mpg city/highway/combined

4WD Ford F-150 – 19/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined

However, these numbers are not the worst on the market. The Santa Cruz will still fit the bill for most budgets, especially for the rest of the features. But for those concerned with the smaller size of the Santa Cruz, there might be a bigger truck delivering the same fuel economy. The U.S. Department of Energy fuel comparison tool is a good place to start if you consider purchasing a new pickup truck.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: Buyers Are Having Issues With the Hyundai Elantra

The post 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Delivers Disappointing Fuel Economy appeared first on MotorBiscuit.