Prior to the introduction of the Ford Maverick, a majority of pickup trucks sold were full sized behemoths with V8s, luxurious interiors and prices that weren’t too far off from reaching six figures. Mid-sized pickups passed the fifty grand mark, and these were considered entry level. Consumers that wanted a bare bones, affordable pickup were left high and dry. Three years ago, Ford re-introduced the Maverick and gave people what they wanted. Consumers could no longer complain about the lack of an affordable pickup truck. This week’s 2025 Ford Maverick XL is as bare bones as you can get. How does it stack up today?
Pricing and options
The 2025 Ford Maverick XL does not have much competition, and that works in Ford’s favour. Of all the car manufacturers to release a competitor, it comes from the most unlikely of companies: Hyundai. While the Hyundai Santa Cruz is a competent product, the Ford name goes hand and hand with pickups. With a lower starting price, several models to suit your taste and more conventional truck looks, truck buyers seem more inclined to purchase a Maverick.
With a starting price of $34,500, the 2025 Ford Maverick XL is the most affordable pickup truck currently on sale in North America. The Ford Maverick XL is a bare bones pick up that is unheard of in the pickup segment. When we say bare bones, we are talking about steel wheels, cloth seats, a 4-cylinder engine, and two wheel drive; specifically, the front two. It’s a far cry from the decked out tanks that ask for close to $100,000. Our tester’s only option was a $400 bed extender.
Buyers that are looking to be a little more coddled have the option of trim levels with more niceties, but for those that need an affordable, simple truck with a manufacturer warranty, the Ford Maverick has you covered. The most expensive we’ve tested Maverick has an MSRP of $49,300, which is still well under the starting price of its much larger siblings.
Powertrain
Under the hood, you have two 4-cylinder engine options. Don’t look for any V6 power plants in the Ford Maverick lineup. Our tester has a standard 2.5-liter hybrid engine, with the hybrid addition being very unique among pickups. With 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, the 2025 Ford Maverick XL is no rocket, but with a curb weight of 3,685 lbs, it’s enough as a daily work vehicle, and doesn’t feel sluggish. Thankfully, if you need more power, a 2.0L EcoBoost engine is offered with an impressive 250 horsepower and 277lb-ft of torque.
The base engine does an admirable job, but I would have reservations loading up the bed and taking along three passengers for a road trip. Passing vehicles on a highway will require planning. The e-CVT operates smoothly and does its job getting the front wheels going. All wheel drive is an option, too. You really can get a Maverick with as many or as little options as you’d like.
Styling updates
The 2025 Ford Maverick XL has an updated front end over last year’s model. LED headlights are now standard, and the revised fascia is clean and attractive, if a little plain. You can opt for one of the more expensive models if you are looking for a more aggressive look; the new Maverick Lobo shows what is possible with this platform, and it looks really good. Our base XL forgoes all the fluff associated with pickups. You won’t find any flashy or fragile alloy wheels. Steels wheels with a Ford hub cap are present. The rear bed is plain steel. No liners or spray. To top it off, a flip key does duty here. You will need to insert the key into the ignition to start the Maverick XL. Very old school. Again, its as base as you can get.
Interior updates
Inside, there’s a much larger infotainment screen when compared to last year’s 8-inch screen. Now at 13.2 inches, the increase is significant. The analog gauge cluster has now been replaced with an 8-inch digital cluster, with typical Ford graphics. Our 2025 Ford Maverick XL is covered in hard plastics, which is expected at this price point, as are the manual cloth seats, which are reasonably comfortable. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have also been added as standard. I was able to connect easily and the operation was smooth. Over the week, the system worked as expected without any hiccups or delays, unlike some other, costlier vehicles I’ve tested recently.
The rear seats are flat and do their job moving people around, and legroom is surprising for how small the vehicle footprint is; it’s better than some larger trucks. These seats do fold up if you wish to load up the second row with cargo that need to stay out of the elements and prying eyes. Cargo volume in the bed is rated at 943 litres.
Efficiency
The 2025 Ford Maverick XL with the base engine offers consumers a fuel efficient pickup that leaves every other ICE pickup in the dust. Rated at 5.6 L/100km in the City and 6.7 L/100km on the highway for a combined 6.2 L/100km. These are compact car numbers. Add the fact that only regular grade fuel is recommended, the hit on your wallet is quite light. Over my week with this tester, I achieved an impressive 6.7 L/100km.
Summary
While a base 2025 Ford Maverick XL might not be for everyone, the fact that something as basic as this for a pickup is offered says a lot about Ford and their willingness to listen to its customers. This is a great pickup for first time buyers, contractors on a tight budget, and city dwellers that need to haul gear in a compact package. As the old saying goes, sometimes less is more.
