2026 Ford Maverick

The Maverick answers a question most truck buyers didn't know they were asking: what if you could get genuine pickup utility without the financial commitment of a $50,000 full-size? The standard hybrid powertrain returns 37 MPG combined — a number that would be impressive in a sedan, let alone something with an open bed. That bed is 4.5 feet long, which is enough for a sheet of plywood laid diagonally, a weekend's worth of mulch, or the IKEA haul that started this whole truck conversation. The 2026 model year adds a new Lobo trim and the Tremor off-road variant with beefier tires and suspension, though calling the Maverick an off-roader is a stretch. Where it excels is in the suburbs and city — compact enough to parallel park, efficient enough to skip the gas station for a week, and just capable enough to make you feel like you made the right call ditching the crossover. The EcoBoost turbo with AWD is the better powertrain if you can stomach the $35K+ price and worse fuel economy, but the hybrid is the one that makes the Maverick special.