2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid Driven: Better Than Ever

The last time (also the first time) I tested a Ford Maverick was about three and a half years ago, and I was incredibly impressed by this compact, unibody pickup. A gasoline-powered XLT model with all-wheel drive, that truck wowed me with its strong performance, near-luxury refinement and bargain-basement pricing, less than $30,000 with delivery. Since then, Ford has sold tens of thousands of these versatile vehicles, and to keep it fresh, they’ve upgraded the Maverick for 2025, giving this pint-sized pickup a not-insubstantial refresh.

With new standard equipment, more available options, greater capability, and updated styling, the 2025 Maverick is an even more compelling product than the first-generation model. For a little variety, Ford sent us a fuel-sipping hybrid variant in mainline XLT trim with newly available all-wheel drive, supposedly the top feature existing customers have been asking for. What drivers probably didn’t want, however, are increased prices, and they are, unfortunately, up for the mighty Maverick. Out the door with delivery ($1,595), our tester checks out for $36,860, though that’s still a very reasonable sum. In this review, we’ll see how this truck performs on the road, find out if it’s a worthy substitute to a midsize or larger truck, and determine whether those huge fuel economy numbers on the window sticker hold up to real-world driving conditions.

2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid First Impressions

Having already tested the Maverick in a previous life (read: at a different publication), I was already familiar with the basics of this compact pickup, but the 2025 model still has some new features to talk about. The truck’s grille has been redesigned, gaining a new mesh texture while losing the bar that ran between the headlights, which have also been redesigned. New wheels are also on the menu.

Overall, not too much has changed on the outside, but the updated Maverick looks a little sleeker than before without losing any of its boxy handsomeness. The example shown here wears a lovely coat of Eruption Green paint, a sparky hue that glistens in the sunlight. This color wouldn’t be my first choice, I’d go for Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat or Victory Blue, but this paint nonetheless pops.

Another aspect of the Maverick that stands out is the build quality. This truck’s doors, hood and tailgate all fit extremely well, the gaps between these components and other panels are tight and consistent. In my experience, this isn’t something Ford has traditionally paid much attention to, but the attention to detail here is appreciated.

Exterior Dimensions

*Door handle-to-door handle measurement

Driving Impressions And Performance

Belying its affordable price, the Maverick handles itself like a much more expensive vehicle. This truck’s ride quality is firm and settled over various imperfections but also luxury-car refined, the suspension does a stellar job filtering out vibration and roadway grit that annoy you on short trips and lead to fatigue on longer drives. In corners, body roll is well controlled, though this is not a corner-carver … obviously.

This pickup’s steering, however, encourages you to push the limits in turns. The wheel’s weighting is on the husky side and the steering ratio feels surprisingly quick, a combination that makes the Maverick feel both planted and extremely agile, something the truck’s relatively small dimensions help with, too.

Inside, wind and road noise are also impressively low. Aside from a wisp of air rushing around the A-pillars, this truck’s cabin remains hushed. Overall, Ford’s updated Maverick carries itself like an etiquette teacher, the truck is mild-mannered and always polite.

The Maverick’s interior is quiet and comfortable, but a touch of work could still be done to further civilize the powertrain. Just like what Toyota offers these days, this truck’s hybrid system is built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is matched to an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (eCVT). This setup works well, delivering an estimated 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque, but at both idle and while under load you feel a small amount of grittiness from the engine. This is by no means a dealbreaker – not even close – it’s just that Toyota’s hybrid system is a tiny bit smoother.

Braking And Acceleration

Glancing at the Maverick hybrid’s window sticker reveals that this truck is super-efficient (more on the specifics in just a few paragraphs). Given those eye-popping numbers, you might think this rig moves slower than a line to use the bathroom after a movie, but that is not the case. No, this truck isn’t the quickest thing on four wheels, you’ll never outrun an F-150 Raptor R, but the Maverick has ample off-the-line scoot and is plenty powerful in normal, everyday driving.

Yes, if you stand on the accelerator pedal this truck does feel a little tepid, and it gets a touch winded at higher speeds, but the driving performance is still absolutely fantastic when the fuel economy is factored in.

Like other hybrids, the Maverick features traditional friction brakes as well as regenerative braking. The latter of these two systems is one of the major reasons why hybrids are so efficient, they can take all the energy that would normally be wasted as heat by conventional brakes and put it back into the battery pack, so it can be used again later. One challenge is making sure the transition between regenerative and friction braking is smooth and consistent. Some manufacturers struggle with this, but not Ford. The Maverick’s brake pedal is firm yet easy to modulate, and the transition between the two braking systems is basically invisible.

Driven carefully, you can get away almost exclusively with regenerative braking, but if you’re towing or hauling heavy loads, something this truck can now do, it’s nice to have a good set of friction binders in reserve. For a modest $745 extra, the Maverick Hybrid is now also available with a 4K Tow Package that allows this truck to – as the option’s name suggests – tow up to 4,000 pounds, twice as much as before. This is enough to drag small campers or even utility trailers, seriously upping the truck’s versatility.

• Estimated Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 8.0 seconds
• Estimated Braking, 70-0 MPH: 181 feet

Performance Specifications

2025 Ford Maverick XLT AWD Fuel Economy

But now for the all-important topic of fuel economy. According to the U.S. EPA, this all-wheel-drive Ford is rated at a whopping 40 miles per gallon in city driving and 34 on the highway. Combined, this truck should return a superb 37 mpg. Not surprisingly, the front-drive Maverick hybrid is even more economical, though not significantly so. Expect an estimated 42 city, 35 highway and 38 combined if you eschew four driven wheels.

Those big numbers printed on the window sticker don’t tell the whole story, though, because this truck is full of surprises. After a 50-mile drive on mostly country two-lane roads with a little bit of stop-and-go thrown in, the Maverick’s fuel economy estimate was a whisker shy of 41 mpg, which is better than the truck’s city rating, the test cycle that’s most favorable to hybrids because they can recuperate energy while slowing down. That figure also includes several wide-open-throttle acceleration runs, just about the least-efficient thing you can do. Impressed? I’m blown away and you should be, too.

Interior Design And Comfort

An affordable vehicle, you can’t expect the Maverick to have exotic wood accents, a dashboard wrapped in buttery-soft Nappa leather or buttons and dials embellished with crystals. What you do get in this truck, however, is a basic interior that feels nicer than it should.

The Maverick’s cabin is almost exclusively hard plastic – some squishy stuff on top of the doors where your elbows rest would be nice – but nothing is flagrantly cheap or feels flimsy. The dashboard and door panels are treated to an unusual woven texture, though other trim pieces on the doors and elsewhere feature diamond-like faceting for a little visual interest. This vehicle’s cabin is straightforward and honest but still pleasant.

As for comfort, it’s another big win. This truck’s front seats are absolutely fantastic, supple yet also supportive. They’re the kind of chairs you could spend all day in and not feel overly fatigued. Part of the $1,890 XLT Luxury Package, the driver’s seat in our tester also power adjusts in eight ways, a lovely touch. This options group also gets you a six-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, a 400-Watt in-cab power inverter, heated front seats, and even remote start among other goodies. The folks up front will be very pleased with the Maverick’s accommodations, though the rear seat is a little less hospitable. Legroom for 6-foot-tall adults is somewhat limited, and the backrest is quite vertical. Chiropractors and spine surgeons will probably love this design, but a little more rearward rake would greatly enhance comfort. The back seat in this truck is not horrible, but it’s nowhere near as nice as those cushy front buckets.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

As for tech, the Maverick XLT AWD Hybrid has no trouble keeping pace with other new vehicles. An eight-inch digital instrument cluster should be standard across the model range (a “productivity screen” in Ford parlance), and you get a huge 13.2-inch central touchscreen on the dashboard, which appears, rather curiously, to be not quite centered, shifted a tiny bit toward the passenger side of the vehicle. A massive upgrade over the Maverick’s old display, this panel is colorful, crisp and home to a Sync 4 infotainment system. This multimedia array is not only easy to use, but it’s also one of the more responsive available in the automotive industry today, hardly lagging or stuttering as you poke around. For added convenience, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also included.

Sync 4’s intuitiveness and speed impress, but I do wish the Maverick had physical climate controls. Adjusting the airflow, temperature or related functions requires using the touchscreen or voice assistant, which is slightly more challenging than traditional buttons or dials. Oh well, at least there’s still a volume knob for the audio system. If you’re curious, higher-end versions of this truck are available with a B&O setup that has eight speakers including a subwoofer.

Cargo And Storage Space

Another area where the Maverick excels is versatility. The interior is chockablock (yes, that’s a technical term) with more nooks and crannies than a loaf of sourdough bread. The center console has all kinds of cubbies including a decent amount of space under the center armrest. This truck’s door panels have huge bins, too, and can even accommodate large water bottles. The glovebox is nicely sized, and the lower rear cushion flips up to reveal even more storage cubbies, though the vehicle’s 12-volt battery is fitted under there as well, where it eats up some storage space. Also, that cushion is not split, so you can’t carry taller cargo and passengers at the same time; the whole cushion has to be either up or down.

But this isn’t that big a deal because the Maverick has a cargo box. The truck’s versatile “Flexbed” measures 54.4 inches long, 53.3 inches wide and has a lift-over height of around 29.4 inches. This is plenty of open-air hauling space to meet the needs of many drivers these days. And if you have to haul some longer cargo, you can lock the tailgate in a middle position between open and closed, which allows you to transport 4-by-8 sheets of building material, just like larger trucks. In fact, the Maverick can handle up to 1,500 pounds in its bed, up to 18 full sheets of half-inch-thick plywood.

2025 Ford Maverick XLT AWD Hybrid Vs. The Hyundai Santa Cruz

Even though it’s been available for several years now, what remains unique about the Maverick is that it’s still so unique. The vehicle has almost no direct competition. Ford’s traditional truck rivals Chevrolet and Ram have not introduced any small, unibody pickups to compete. In fact, the Maverick’s only true competitor in the U.S. is built by Hyundai of all companies, the South Korean automaker’s Santa Cruz.

How The Ford Maverick Compares To The Hyundai Santa Cruz

Broadly similar, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz both deliver car-like civility with an added dash of truck versatility. The Ford is boxier and more traditional looking, while the Hyundai’s styling is a bit more avant-garde. Additionally, the Maverick’s bed is ever so slightly larger than the Santa Cruz’s, though the difference is not very much. Potentially offsetting this, higher-end versions of the Hyundai also come with a roll-up tonneau cover to hide and secure any valuables you may be carrying.

As for pricing, the entry-level versions of these trucks are all over each other like crumbled feta on a Greek salad. With delivery, they both start at about $30,000.

Performance

Another advantage of the Maverick is that it’s available with a hybrid powertrain. The Santa Cruz only offers a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a turbocharged version of that engine with a walloping 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission offered. If you’re looking for huge fuel economy numbers, the Ford wins easily. Additionally, if you prefer a conventional powertrain, the Maverick is also available with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine that delivers 238 hp and 275 lb-ft of twist.

When it comes to getting things done, the Ford has a couple other minor advantages over the Hyundai. When properly equipped, the Maverick can tow up to 500 pounds more. Also, this truck’s maximum payload (1,500 pounds) is a skosh higher than the Santa Cruz’s 1,411-pound load limit, though this figure varies wildly depending on trim level. In fact, the off-road-ready Maverick Tremor model’s max payload is just 1,140 pounds.

In the grand scheme of things, these capability differences are minor and probably don’t matter all that much. If you’re regularly pushing your truck to the absolute limit, you’re probably better off getting a midsize model like a Ford Ranger or Chevy Colorado.

Comfort

Based on car-like unibody structures, both of these trucks should drive extremely well, riding better than traditional body-on-frame pickups. Front and rear, the leg, shoulder, hip, and head room are all within spittin’ distance of each other, so neither model has a big advantage in cabin room. The Hyundai’s top model does, however, come with ventilated front seats, a nice feature. The Santa Cruz also has a 60/40 split rear flip-up cushion, and a larger instrument cluster.

Technology

When it comes to technology, neither vehicle has a huge advantage over the other. Both offer some lovely screens, their infotainment systems work exceptionally well, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, and both trucks offer a wide range of advanced safety features. Items like adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and much more are either standard of optional.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are great small pickups that, if not designed for pulling horse trailers or loads of crushed concrete, are ideal for folks that live active lifestyles. Each of these trucks can carry mountain bikes, schlepp building supplies or even tackle some mild off-roading without breaking a sweat. Between these two, the Ford is probably the better choice. Its exterior styling is a little more conventional, and the hybrid powertrain is astronomically efficient while also providing surprising capability thanks to the updates that were made for 2025. Hyundai’s offering is a bit more stylish, and its interior looks nicer, but overall, I’d pick the Maverick given a choice between these two small pickup trucks.

But what version of this Ford is the best? For me, I’d definitely go with a hybrid model, and probably one with just front-wheel drive, which would save a decent chunk of change at the time of purchase, reduce the vehicle’s complexity and provide even greater fuel efficiency. Skipping all-wheel drive is not a problem here because, with a good set of winter tires, there is absolutely nothing to worry about while driving in snow and ice. And sure, Mavericks powered by the conventional EcoBoost engine are going to perform better – especially the new sport-tuned Lobo model, a 21st-century take on an old-school street truck – and are almost certainly much more confident while towing, but the versatility and incredible efficiency of the hybrid powertrain are hard to ignore.

Additionally, if you’re dragging loads that are anywhere near this pickup’s 4,000-pound limit, you’re probably better off stepping up to a Ranger or even an F-150. Playing to the Maverick’s strengths, it’s a front-drive hybrid model for me, most likely in midrange XLT trim, which comes with plenty of amenities at a reasonable price.