Ford
Ford is giving its Maverick pickup truck a midlife refresh for model year 2025. And while the changes aren’t earth-shattering, they will probably pique your interest. The headline news for Ars readers is probably this: the hybrid is back, and now you can spec an all-wheel drive hybrid Maverick as well as a front-wheel-drive electrified model.
When we tested the Maverick back in 2021, we were very impressed with it, particularly the front-wheel drive hybrid powertrain. The 191 hp (142 kW) pickup was capable of exceeding 42 mpg (5.6 L/100 km). It was the right size, as opposed to being gargantuan like almost every other pickup on sale, yet it still had the ability to carry 1,500 lbs (680 kg) in the bed or tow 2,000 lb (907 kg) trailers. All for a starting price of just under $20,000, assuming you ignored the destination charge.
Even better, the 2.5 L hybrid powertrain was the standard option, with the more powerful 2.0 L EcoBoost hybrid as a cost-option, either with front- or all-wheel drive. Sadly, more recent supply chain issues got in the way of that, with Ford dropping the hybrid as standard for MY24.
Those supply chain problems are evidently no more because the front-wheel drive 2.5 L hybrid is now the default powertrain option once again. What’s more, Ford has responded to overwhelming customer feedback and is adding an all-wheel drive hybrid option, too—this truck is a fraction less efficient, but only a fraction, still achieving 40 mpg (5.9 L/100 km) according to Ford. There’s even a towing package for this model that doubles its towing capacity to 4,000 lbs (1,813 kg).
However, you’ll no longer be able to order the 2.0 L turbo with just front-wheel drive.
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Many customers chose not to buy the hybrid Maverick because of a lack of all-wheel drive. Now that’s been solved.
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The Maverick’s multi-position tailgate lets it carry up to 18 sheets of half-inch 4×8 plywood.
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There’s a new infotainment system for MY25.
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It won’t power your whole house for three days like an F-150 Lightning can, but there’s 110 V, 400 W power in the bed with the hybrid.
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There are new trim combinations for MY25.
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New tech
Ford has given the refreshed Maverick some tech upgrades, too. The old 8-inch infotainment system is gone, replaced by a 13.2-inch unit running Sync 4, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 360-degree parking cameras are now available, and there’s a Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and a Pro Trailer Backup Assist to make towing less stressful.
Unfortunately, Ford won’t release pricing for most of the MY25 Mavericks until tomorrow, when it opens its order books ahead of deliveries in “late 2024.” Right now, we only know the price of the standard front-wheel drive hybrid Maverick, and it’s a fair bit more expensive than it was in 2021, starting at $26,295, plus a $1,595 delivery charge.