The Ford Maverick XL Is a Working-Class Hero, and I'm Kind of Obsessed
It's the most vehicle you can buy for $22,000 in years.
It was pretty much clear from the get-go that the new Ford Maverick was going to be a success. After all, it's been obvious for years that the winds have been blowing away from sedans, wagons and hatchbacks and towards SUVs and pickup trucks —a move that has also had the effect of pushing average new vehicle prices upwards. Adding a new truck that's priced like a compact car was so obvious, it's hard to believe it took so long for brands to try it.
Still, even Ford might have been astonished by just how many people have taken to their new truck. Supply chain constraints have bottlenecked inventory, but even so, the fact that the second model year's production was all spoken for within a span of a couple weeks proves there's an insatiable demand for this pint-sized pickup.
And while most buyers are likely choosing the still-reasonably-priced versions further up the ladder, after spending a week with the very base model truck — the Maverick XL Hybrid, equipped with no options — I was shocked at how much it has to offer for a vehicle that costs less than $22,000 out the door. While it lacks one key feature that I personally would want for my money — more on that in a second — it's otherwise a remarkably flexible, convenient and handy vehicle, especially at such a remarkable price.