The World Needs a Plug-In Ford Maverick Hybrid
As a small truck, the Ford Maverick has been extremely successful. And if you told me back in 2019 that a compact pickup would be one of the hottest vehicles on the market, I probably would have said that’s nuts. But apparently, folks are willing to put their money down on Ford’s small truck. At the same time, something does feel like it’s missing from the 2023 Ford Maverick, and that is a plug-in hybrid variant.
Is there a Ford Maverick plug-in hybrid?
As it stands, the Ford Maverick is not available as a plug-in hybrid. But I think that should change in the coming years. PHEVs are becoming fairly popular as they mix the benefits of an electric car with the practicality of an internal combustion engine.
The Blue Oval has proven it’s willing to take a risk with its small truck; after all, the Maverick comes standard with a hybrid engine. A plug-in hybrid Maverick would take things to the next level. You’d get some all-electric range, but you’d also have the peace of mind that comes with a gas engine.
According to MotorTrend, Ford might actually already have a PHEV Maverick. One was spotted driving around Michigan, so maybe there is some hope for a plug-in variant. At the same time, Mike Levine, a Ford spokesperson, says that there is no need for a PHEV model of this truck. So, who knows what’s going to happen.
A PHEV Ford Maverick would be good for trucks and plug-in hybrids
Ford is no stranger to PHEVs; the Escape, which the Maverick is based on, already offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Clearly, the brand has the tech and know-how on how to make this happen.
It’s entirely possible that Levine is correct with his take, though. Some folks have reported getting up to 50 mpg in the Maverick hybrid. So maybe there’s not really a point to making a plug-in hybrid variant. I think it would be good for compact trucks and PHEVs as a whole.
The Maverick is attracting younger buyers as a small pickup. And that segment of consumers is interested in the benefits of EVs. If the Blue Oval drops a new version of its compact pickup, it could give shoppers another option to see if electric vehicles are right for them or not.
Will there be a 2024 Maverick?
Although we don’t have a lot of detail, there will be a 2024 Ford Maverick. The 2023 model added things like the Tremor package, and it removed the add-on cost of the EcoBoost engine. It is kind of doubtful that any major changes are coming for the 2024 model year.
Currently, the only major rival to Ford’s small truck is the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. That truck has not been as popular in terms of sales, but when I drove it, I was thoroughly impressed. It just lacks the hybrid engine and some of the off-road capability that the Maverick can come with.
