Maverick bought January 2022. This isn’t a review, just some observations/thoughts about the car/drive/ownership thus far:
1. The 12V ports do NOT turn off, but the USB ports do. Even with the car engine turned off and key out of the ignition, the 12V will continue to run. This has been evidenced so far by my dash cam plugged into the 12V port. With the car off and sitting for 20 minutes, I can unplug it from the 12V port and the dashcam chimes off. If I plug it back into the 12V, it turns back on. If I plug it into the USB port, nothing happens. This is a serious battery drain! I wish Ford had told me this up front! Or better yet, don’t allow it to be on for long after the car is turned off.
2. After turning the car engine off and key removed, the engine bay makes funny clicking noises every so often. I wonder what it is?
3. If the backseat is not latching properly, it will move around when the car is driving. In my case, it wouldn’t latch because I shoved too many things in the under-seat storage cubby. Once removed, it latched perfectly fine.
4. The seats have zero lumbar support. Ouch.
5. The “water bottle holder” cubbies don’t fit any of my water bottles. I have a non-aerosol Febreeze bottle that fits in the slot but will fall out the instant I take any turns. Apparently, it will fit a small fire extinguisher and I will test this soon. EDIT: I did end up testing this and I fit a First Alert 2.5lb Automobile Fire Extinguisher in one of the back door cubbies.
6. There is a surprising amount of storage space in the vehicle. Very nice.
7. The windshield wiper controls are opposite from my Subaru. Confusing when driving both cars interchangeably.
8. The brakes are crazy sensitive at low speeds, and after 4 8 months I still can’t seem to reliably depress it smoothly.
9. Ford’s CoPilot 360 is very different from Subaru Eyesight. I felt super safe in my Subaru whose Eyesight system almost was “naggy” in an overprotective way. CoPilot seems to work when it feels like it, and definitely not under 20mph. Turns out that I have the cheap one that only alerts and doesn’t brake for you. It still isn’t terribly reliable and sometimes even alerts a few minutes after something close happened.
10. I am not familiar with any other hybrid systems, but immediately loved this one. After driving it for 2 weeks, it made me desperately want either a plug-in hybrid or a straight EV. The transition is smooth between the gas and electric engines, making it hard to tell sometimes. Even the auto start-stop isn’t frustrating. It’s smooth.
11. Just because it’s hybrid doesn’t mean it’s slow. In fact, it’s quite zippy. I just bought it for MPGs not zippiness. I feel like electric engine boosts the accelerator noticeably.
12. Also, just because it’s small and hybrid, doesn’t mean it’s not a truck. Had zero issues hauling heavy soil, lumber, gravel, and pavers. I’ve owned 2 Subaru Outbacks in 9 years, one 2.5 naturally aspirated and one 2.4 turbo-charged. Hauled many loads of gardening/landscaping in both super capable cars. Maverick didn’t even hiccup. The drive felt normal and smooth. Ended up toting several large loads around while cleaning out my storage unit, and it was just like driving on a normal day.
13. I’ve found that driving electric is easier under 30mph and around 60mph. Both is because those speeds mostly see my coasting in either traffic (~30mph) or drafting and feathering the accelerator behind someone else. EDIT: actually, around 20 and 45 is fine, too. It really just depends on how much acceleration is needed. The absolute best for electric driving and MPGs is a smooth, steady drive at one speed, with very little to no braking.
14. The hybrid rewards you for being a good driver: accelerating gradually, braking gently and farther away, and coasting/feathering the pedal at a steady pace. When I am being a nice, calm driver, I easily reach 50mpg in traffic and 43mpg in light traffic. Aggressive, angry driving usually nets me 38mpg in traffic and 31mpg in low traffic. The car is rated 40 city/30 highway. …still way better than 19mpg average for my old cars.
15. Work commute is about 120 miles a week plus random driving on the weekend. I hit 1/2 tank on the gasoline every 2 weeks, using 1/4 tank every week. The tank capacity is 13.8 gallons. Very very nice. I used to be 1/2 to 3/4 empty every week in an 18.5 gallon tank. That’s 3.45 gallons a week vs. 9.25 gallons on a good week. WOW.
16. So far, because the car is currently rare, people will ogle and stare. In fact, an older couple literally RAN up to my car and did a walk around, mouths agape while I was inside of it.
17. Guys in large, monster pickups will drive super aggressively around the vehicle probably because my compact pickup truck offends their egos which are as large as their lifts and tires. Hey, it actually fits in one parking space.
18. People who drive behind me hate that they can’t see well around me and the fact that it’s a hybrid, so will constantly try to drive around only to see that I am, in fact, behind others and now they’re in the slower lane. Interestingly, those who drive behind will try to pass, but those in front will most likely change lanes to get out of the way.
19. I am regularly saddened by the fact that I can’t comfortably carry longer pieces of wood than around 4′. I mean, you can, I just don’t want to have to rig it up by tying it in the bed with it hanging out the back or buying racks. My Outbacks could haul around 6’5″ inside. Beh.
20. I can’t get over how truck-y the thing feels. It’s small. It’s compact, but damn it, Ford knows how to makes trucks. I bought a pickup and want to feel like it is one even if it’s a baby one. You sit inside and you feel like you’re inside of a pickup.
21. Also, I LOVE how cheap the darn thing is. I complain about a lot of things, but in the end it’s almost half the price of my last Outback, AND it’s saving me money with the hybrid system. I actually forget how little I paid for it. The return for my investment is fantastic.
22. Unfortunately, in the same breath, I regret how cheap it is. I’m ashamed to say that even feel this way, because I’m not usually that kind of person, but it’s cheap. Ford did a great job of trying to spruce it up, but the seats are uncomfortable, the plastic is, well, plastic, I’m missing more luxury features like cruise control (which actually breaks the car ownership for me), the exterior is kind of blah without the accessories. I desperately miss the push-button start and keyless entry. The head-unit is very simple. The manual seat adjustments are fine, but I miss the power ones. Other little things, too. I guess I just enjoy nicer things now that I’ve had it? Like I said, it’s embarrassing for someone like me to even admit that. I hate thinking I’m better than others or too good for things, but I want something nicer. Should I have sprung for a better package? I’m sure the Lariat comes with nice things and even the XLT. I feel like if I had, then I wouldn’t be springing so quickly for an EV. It would be easier to wait out a better EV if I had gone more luxurious. However, I had originally intended the Maverick to be a 2nd car, a more MPG-minded car, so that’s why I went cheapo. The lack of cruise control is the biggest killer because trying to make a long trip out of state would be not the best without cruise control (especially for someone prone to leg cramps). …as if driving out of state with an EV is much easier…no cruise control is not the same as having to re-charge at weird, out-of-the-way places where the charger might not even work well. A 2-hour charge could easily turn into a 5-hour charge.
23. After 8 months of ownership and driving it around, I have come to the conclusion that I really really like the Maverick, but I’m not in love with it. I would be in love with it, had it been my first car or even if I’d never gotten a higher trimmed Outback. I’d also be quite enamored with it if it had been a plug-in hybrid and AWD. Then why would I get something else? It’d be perfect.
24. So far, I’ve had one major recall: Under hood fire risk. Took it to Ford and they just drilled out some holes underneath of it.
25. Sadly, I’m very much ready for the Mach-E I’ve ordered (and probably won’t get for another half a year at this point). I’m so ready to get back into a car that is not as long, that doesn’t have a pickup bed (I like it a lot, but I really don’t need it anymore after the storage unit is done), can corner well, and has nice seats. Like I mentioned, I very much like the car and would love to keep it as a second vehicle if I could, but I can’t.
26. Took the Maverick on a 4 hour/200 mile total trip (so highway driving) and the stats came back 39.8mpg!! Also, I was terrified that I’d get muscle cramps from the lack of cruise control, but thanks to coconut water, nothing (this time…)! It felt good, it was fast, great passing power. Drove through lots of rain, no problems. Navigated backwoods gravel, steep hills and curves, no issues, no struggling. And, wow, the MPG! The truck is rated 30 highway! It got 40! I’m super impressed. Truly a wonderful truck that Ford could easily charge more money for (it is more expensive than $20k now than before, for sure). The next trip is supposed to be a long one: 6 hours and 300 miles one-way.
