Best Value Hybrid Pickup Gets a Boost
The Ford Maverick pickup has always been one of our favorite hybrids. Built on the same platform as the Escape SUV, the mid-size Maverick drives like a car, with a smooth ride and sharp responses, and it combines spaciousness and versatility with impressive fuel economy. That’s particularly true of the Maverick Hybrid version, which also happens to be one of the cheapest hybrids you can buy in the U.S. But there’s one thing the Maverick Hybrid has lacked until now: all-wheel drive. That changes with the 2025 model – which should open up hybrid pickup ownership to a whole new group of buyers.
A new all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain option is one of many enhancements for the 2025 Maverick, which continues to have the lowest starting price of any midsize pickup, with a starting MSRP of $26,295. More capability, new tech, and additional value should help Maverick remain a strong seller and a great entry to the Ford brand – in fact, the company says that over 60 percent of Maverick buyers are new to Ford, making this model one of the most important in its lineup.
New All-Wheel Drive Maverick Hybrid
The biggest news for 2025 is the addition of an all-wheel drive hybrid version of the Maverick, which customers have been requesting for years; previously, you could have a hybrid front-wheel drive Maverick, or a turbo all-wheel drive model, but not both. Now, all-wheel drive lets you have additional capability and bad-weather confidence along with amazing fuel economy.
Maverick Hybrids are powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter Atkinson Cycle four-cylinder engine, which combined with an electric motor, produces 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. It’s connected to a “PowerSplit” continuously-variable transmission similar to what you’d find in a Toyota RAV4 hybrid, and promises an EPA-estimated 42 mpg for the front-wheel drive version and 40 mpg for the all-wheel drive version.
Maverick hybrids aren’t plug-in models, so you can simply get in and go, enjoying significantly improved efficiency compared to the pure-gasoline version, whose highway EPA estimate is 30 mpg.
2025 Ford Maverick Versatility
If you’re thinking of towing, capacity is an impressive 4,000 lbs when equipped with the optional towing package, and the maximum payload is 1,500 lbs, or 1,400 lbs with the all-wheel drive model. An optional Pro Trailer Hitch Assist package uses the rear camera and corner radar to help drivers align the hitch and trailer coupler easily, while automatically controlling the truck’s speed, steering, and brakes to stop in just the right place. The system also makes it easy to back up with a trailer, indicating which way the driver needs to turn to place the trailer in the desired position.
Impressive towing capability and good payload aren’t the only reasons drivers with active lifestyles, or business owners that need an economical work truck, will love the upgraded Maverick.
Pockets molded into the side walls of the pickup bed allow pieces of 2x4 wood to section off the bed to prevent cargo and gear from moving around, and dividers in the top pockets even help create a two-tier cargo area – you can put bags of mulch on the bottom, and landscape timbers on top. The pickup bed, with the multi-position tailgate down, is big enough to hold up to 18 full sheets of 4-by-8-foot plywood. The tailgate can also be latched at an angle, to help carry a mountain bike, or fit a bed extender accessory. Inside the bed, there’s a handy 110-volt, 400-watt power outlet, in addition to the one found in the cab.
Tech Enhancements Inside the 2025 Maverick
While passersby will notice the Maverick’s freshened exterior, with its darkened LED headlamps, signature LED lighting, new grille, and optional 19-inch wheels, drivers will be more impressed by the upgrades to the Maverick’s interior.
The largest touchscreen in a midsize pickup, 13.2 inches, replaces the previous 8-inch screen, and now features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – meaning you can leave your charging cables at home. Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system also features enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation, and a built-in 5G modem lets the Maverick receive updates over the air. There’s a new 360-degree bird’s-eye view for the camera system, making parking easier, as well.
2025 Mavericks also come with a full suite of driver assist systems, which ford calls Co-Pilot360. Standard featured include pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking; lane-keeping assist; rear-view camera; auto LED high-beam headlamps, and more. Higher trim levels include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane centering, and predictive speed assist – and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist as standard.
Conclusion: The Best-Selling Hybrid Pickup Gets Better
Maverick continues to be available in four trim levels: XL work truck with standard front-wheel drive, hybrid power, and steel wheels; XLT with additional convenience features and alloys; Lariat, with the most luxurious interior trim and upscale exterior; and Tremor, which is focused on delivering off-road thrills.
Other than the starting MSRP of $26,295, pricing for the different trim levels has yet to be announced, as it will be early next before you’ll be able to pick up a 2025 Maverick from your local Ford store. What we do know is that the new all-wheel drive hybrid model, which is available on XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, should help the Maverick retain its title as the best-selling hybrid pickup in America, and the truck with the most loyal customers in the business.
