The handling of a sedan, the convenience features of an SUV, and the capabilities of a truck all merged into one vehicle is something you don’t find often—but the Ford Maverick has it. Drivers can’t get enough of this playful yet powerful compact pickup truck. It’s insanely versatile, making it popular among DIYers and adventurers alike; it’s no wonder it snagged a North American Truck of the Year Award and Utility of the Year Award in 2022.
Ask any Ford dealer and they’ll tell you that the Maverick has even converted some car drivers into truck drivers because it’s just so easy to navigate and so fuel-efficient. In fact, the 2024 Maverick has an available hybrid powertrain for those looking for serious fuel savings—and it’s available on every trim. However, even the standard EcoBoost gas engine gets an incredible fuel economy, so you can’t go wrong as far as efficiency is concerned.
Thanks to its unibody construction, the Maverick gives a great in-command behind-the-wheel feel. If you often have to manage busy city streets or parking lots, you won’t struggle in this small truck. When adventure or labor calls, you can put the 4.5-foot bed to decent use. Plus, thanks to the multi-position tailgate, you can leave the tailgate partially propped open to make room for even longer items—not to mention all of the other things you can do with this versatile tailgate! Add to that the FLEXBED Storage System, with its ten available tie-towns, and you can guarantee your items stay secure.
Loaded with fun-ready features to boot, like an available Bang & Olufsen sound system and built-in bottle openers, the 2024 Ford Maverick is THE truck to check out this year. Available in three trims, the Maverick offers a few distinct driving experiences—and here’s a look at what sets each one apart…
The XL
The XL is the base trim; highly affordable and functional, it’s loaded with features that make it an excellent value. If you simply want the easy driveability, fuel-efficient engine, and great standard infotainment and safety features found in the Maverick without many extras, this trim will do the trick.
The XL enjoys an 8.0-inch LCD touchscreen and standard Bluetooth. Drivers can opt for Ford’s SYNC 3 system and get voice-activated commands to do things like make calls, ask for directions, and more without taking their hands off the steering wheel. You’ll also get standard smartphone compatibility with tools like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Inside, the driver gets a six-way manual adjustable seat, and the passenger gets a four-way one. The rear seats fold down to make extra cargo room when needed, and cubbies throughout the cabin will seriously come in handy. As for the outside, you’ll find LED headlamps across the front of the Maverick’s sporty frame.
The XL is a bare-bones trim, but it’s really not so bare. It is rich with great features for a starting level, and it’s a savvy choice for someone looking for comfort, utility, strength, speed, fuel savings, and initial affordability.
The XLT
The XLT trim builds on the XL, adding some upgraded touches in the ways of comfort, convenience, and functionality.
You can opt for a vinyl-wrapped steering wheel in the XLT for a softer-feeling steering experience. Like with the XL, the XLT has standard six-way and four-way manual driver and passenger seats, but you have the option to upgrade to a power eight-way driver seat and a six-way manual passenger seat, giving both front-row riders a little more modulation in their body posture. Plus, there is an optional four-way headrest for the front riders and optional heating elements for their seats.
Moving to the back, the rear seats get armrests with cupholders, which is a significant upgrade from the basic bench seat of the XL trim; if you plan on loading up your Maverick with passengers for long drives, this is a terrific feature to have. Also note that, on the XL, the tailgate has a manual lock, but on the XLT, you’ll get a power tailgate lock.
The XLT gets some fun interior and exterior design options, like orange tremor accents on the grille and available black headlamps. Plus, it gets wiper-activated LED headlamps, so your wipers will indicate to your headlamps that there is precipitation and that it’s time to turn on. As for the exterior mirrors, you have the option to get power and heated ones, which is critical for colder climates.
The XLT is a good option for those who spend considerable amounts of time on the road, which is clear from the comfort features in the cabin and safety-boosting exterior features like LED headlamps that go on when it rains.
The Lariat
The Lariat is the Maverick’s luxury trim. It has everything you find in the XLT, but Ford designed it with its own distinct look. It also made the upscale features that were available on the XLT standard on the Lariat.
Inside, you’ll find attractive seating featuring Active-X upholstery—a synthetic material that’s softer than leather and easier to clean. The heated seats that were available on the XLT are standard on the Lariat, as are the heated exterior mirrors.
Additionally, the eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and six-way adjustable manual passenger seat that were available on the XLT are standard on this trim. If you are looking for the most standard luxury and convenience features paired with a distinct aesthetic, the Lariat is for you.
Special Packages for the XLT and Lariat
It is also important to note that drivers looking for an off-road-ready Maverick can choose between two special packages: the Tremor Off-Road Package and the FX4 Off-Road Package. These are both available on the XLT and Lariat trims.
The Tremor package gets you all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, an off-road-tuned suspension, and skid plates where you need them. The FX4 package enjoys those Tremor features, as well as five drive modes, Hill Descent Control, and front tow hooks.
If you’re looking to do some modest off-roading, the Tremor has you covered. If you’re looking to do more aggressive off-roading and tackle a great degree of terrain, consider the FX4 package.
The XLT and Lariat also have the available Black Appearance Package, adding blacked-out details to the door handles, mirrors, headlamps, grille, taillamps, and wheels for a distinctly city-ready look.
The Maverick Is Fun, Functional, and Affordable
You can quickly see why people who thought they’d never drive a truck are buying Mavericks. It doesn’t feel “too much like a car,” instead providing easy handling to those who want the solid capabilities of a pickup. Put simply, the Maverick is just a lot of fun. It can power your adventures or your projects and get you and your stuff where you need to go—and without using too much fuel.
Ford kept things simple in the way of trims for this pickup. There are just two powertrain options, too, but you can enjoy up to 4,000 lbs of towing capacity and 1,500 lbs of payload capacity with this peppy pickup. Go with the base-level trim if versatility and value are your priorities. Check out the XLT and Lariat trims if you like VIP features.
The great thing is that each of these trims sits at a remarkably low price point, so you can have it all without spending too much.
