Small trucks are coming back! First, the Ford Ranger reboot and, as of a few months ago, the Ford Maverick is, hopefully, indicating a shifting tide away from the oversized trucks we have come to know like the Tundras and Rams. The information we get from the 2022 Ford Maverick is still intermittent, inconsistent, and still mostly learned from leaks, rumors, and spy shots. But, now we are learning just a little bit more about the new mini-truck from Ford. 

The Ford Maverick is going to be an actual pickup truck

We have gleaned little bits of information here and there about the Maverick; first, it was a glimpse at the tailgate, then it was some spy shots of it next to a ranger. Now we see a leaked shot of it on the production line, and I’m pleased to announce it looks like a real pickup. I don’t really know what a fake pickup really looks like, but I think you know what I mean, dear reader.

The photos show a good looking pickup that doesn’t appear to be too small or slick. What I mean is, for the millions of people who love pickups but don’t want to drive a house on wheels, the Maverick appears to have all the cool earmarks that should appeal to truck lovers while still being approachable and practical. 

The 2022 Ford Maverick looks good

I think many of us were expecting something closer to the Honda Ridgeline than the F-150. According to MotorTrend, the Maverick will be more sedan-like in construction than the classic pickup. Some believe the Maverick may use the Ford Focus Chassis. This along with the unibody situation made many of us worried that it would be a tall sedan with a chunk taken out of the back (not hating on the El Camino, BTW). But, the images shown here are not only very trucky, they are trucky and cool. 

The front of the truck is wide and commanding while still occupying a small footprint. Although it hides its sedan upbringing well, you can see the seamless transition from the cab to the bed, which is a dead giveaway for unibody construction. 

The stance of the little pickup is right on time. It has a boxy, upright demeanor with plenty of ground clearance. It almost reminds me of a rugby player. Admittedly, I am not super knowledgeable about rugby, so I’m sure there are exceptions, but in general, ruby players aren’t built like the 300+-lb linemen in American football. The rugby cats seem smaller, faster, but still built like a barrel full of concrete. The Maverick puts off that sort of vibe the more we get to see. 

The baby Ford might be little but still has some baby fat

The bulky astetic that is rampant across the truck world is still at play here in the Maverick. Even though the footprint is small, the design cues still show full-size-Ford taste. MotorTrend notes that the Maverick sports some serious Bronco vibes like the wide, simple grille, wide-set headlights, and similar fender flares. I gotta hand it to Ford; it is really giving this little truck thing a fair shot at being cool. 

If this truck ends up being cool, it will be quite the achievement considering that it is built on the compact economy car chassis from the Ford Focus. We are still waiting to see what powerplant it gets, but MotorTrend seems to believe that it could sport the same turbocharged three-cylinder engine from the Bronco Sport with an optional four-cylinder package. 

There is still plenty to learn here, but we have high hopes that Ford hears the labored cries of the small truck fans.