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While not as prolific as Toyota, Ford has a respectable lineup of hybrid vehicles. Also, typically, you have to pay more money for a hybrid compared to a fully gas-powered version. However, as shown by Ford, that’s not always the case. And the cheapest new Ford hybrid car is not what you might think. It’s the 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid compact pickup truck.

2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid is the cheapest new Ford hybrid car

Cabin of 2023 Ford Maverick pickup truck, the cheapest new Ford hybrid car
2023 Ford Maverick | Ford

When you think of an affordable hybrid, a small sedan might come to mind. However, for Ford, the most budget-friendly choice is a pickup truck. The 2023 Ford Maverick has a starting price of $22,595 MSRP, which makes it the cheapest new Ford hybrid car. The next most affordable new Ford hybrid vehicle is also a pickup truck — the full-size 2023 F-150 Hybrid ($34,445 MSRP).

Here are the new Ford hybrid cars — in order of cheapest to most expensive:

  1. 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid: $22,595 MSRP
  2. 2023 Ford F-150 Hybrid: $34,445 MSRP
  3. 2023 Ford Escape Escape Hybrid: $37,960 MSRP
  4. 2023 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid: $40,500 MSRP
  5. 2023 Ford Explorer Hybrid: $47,070 MSRP

With their more complicated powertrains, which combine a gas engine with one or more electric motors, hybrid vehicles tend to cost more than their fully gas-powered counterparts. However, the Maverick is different. Whether getting the hybrid model or the version with the EcoBoost engine, the compact pickup truck has the same starting price. 

Maverick gets high fuel economy

2023 Ford Maverick pickup truck, the most affordable new Ford hybrid car, driving on a highway
2023 Ford Maverick | Ford

Along with being the cheapest new Ford hybrid car, the 2023 Ford Maverick is also affordable to own. This is mostly due to its high fuel economy (up to 37 combined mpg).

Here are the fuel economy ratings of the new Ford hybrid vehicles:

  1. Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid: 105 MPGe combined mpg (electric)/40 combined mpg (hybrid)
  2. Ford Escape Hybrid: 41 combined mpg
  3. Maverick Hybrid: 37 combined mpg
  4. F-150 Hybrid: 25 combined mpg
  5. Explorer Hybrid: 28 combined mpg

For efficiency, the Maverick trails the two Ford Escape models: a traditional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The Escape PHEV is the only plug-in hybrid model in the Ford lineup for the American market. A plug-in hybrid provides electric-only power for short distances. For the Escape PHEV compact crossover SUV, the estimated driving range is 37 miles. The Escape PHEV is also the most efficient Ford hybrid car — with an estimated fuel economy of 105 combined MPGe in electric mode and 40 combined mpg in hybrid mode.

2023 Maverick helped popularize the compact truck segment

With its affordable price and high fuel economy, the 2023 Maverick is a very successful model — with customers buying it in droves. However, before it debuted for the 2022 model year, not many people predicted this success. In America, the land of big pickup trucks, compact trucks are an anomaly. 

The Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz are the only two small pickup trucks currently offered in the United States. However, following the success of these two models, other automakers are considering building compact trucks for the American market. 

For those looking for an efficient and budget-friendly Ford, the 2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid is a great choice. It’s the cheapest new Ford hybrid car — and delivers high fuel economy.

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