Ford’s compact hybrid pickup still offers the size, fuel economy, and utility many buyers actually need. But at $44,735, this loaded Maverick forces a much harder value conversation.
The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid AWD might be the right truck for my house.
It’s small enough for my limited parking space. Its bed would be useful for lawn care, landscaping, and the small projects I always seem to find. It also offers the type of fuel economy that makes sense when the bed is empty, which would be most of the time.
There’s just one problem.
This Maverick costs $44,735.
Daryl Killian Daryl Killian
That’s only $3,210 less than the 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport I recently tested. So the question is no longer whether the Maverick is a useful truck. It clearly is.
The real question is whether Ford’s small truck still makes sense when the price is no longer small.
Why the Ford Maverick Matters
When the Maverick arrived for the 2022 model year, its starting price was $19,995 before destination. The hybrid powertrain was standard, and Ford had created a four-door pickup that started near the price of a compact car.
That original Maverick challenged the idea that every truck had to be large, expensive, or built around capability most owners would rarely use.
I drove one in 2022 and liked the formula. It was useful, easy on gas, and far easier to justify when its price was closer to $22,000.
Four years later, the Maverick’s basic formula remains strong. The price story has changed.
As-Tested PriceMy 2026 Maverick Lariat came with the 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain, all-wheel drive, and a power-split electronic continuously variable transmission.
The pricing broke down this way:
- Base price: $38,090
- Factory and dealer-installed options: $4,800
- Destination and delivery: $1,845
- Total MSRP: $44,735
The major options included a $1,260 hard tri-fold tonneau cover, a $995 moonroof, and the $745 4K Tow Package.
The truck also had a $745 seven-year connectivity package, a $350 power-sliding rear window, a $300 three-year SiriusXM plan, a $230 dealer-installed keypad, and $175 floor liners.
Some of those options add real function. The bed cover can help keep tools and shopping bags out of sight. The tow package matters for someone who will use it.
Other options are much harder to defend when the final price is approaching $45,000.
Exterior Design: A Truck Without the Theater
I think the Maverick is more attractive than the current Honda Ridgeline.
It has a clean, honest shape. It looks like a truck without working too hard to prove how tough it is.
That matters because the Maverick’s small size isn’t a weakness. For many owners, it’s one of the truck’s most useful features.
A Ranger, Tacoma, Colorado, or Frontier can tow more and handle more serious trail use. Those trucks also require owners to deal with their added size every day.
The Maverick is easier to place in a driveway, garage, or parking space. For someone with a small yard and limited room at home, that can be more valuable than an off-road feature that may only get used once or twice a year.
The smartest truck isn’t always the one that can do the most. It’s the one that fits the work you actually do.
The Bed and Everyday Utility
The Maverick’s bed offers 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space and measures 42.6 inches between the wheel wells.
That should be enough room for the type of work I do around my house. I can picture using it for bags of soil, plants, hand tools, and supplies that I wouldn’t want inside a nice car.
Daryl Killian
I didn’t load lawn equipment or pull a trailer during this review, so I won’t pretend this was a cargo or towing test.
Daryl Killian
What I could assess was the bed’s design.
The low height makes the bed easier to reach. The spray-in liner is appropriate for dirty or wet cargo. Ford also provides bed lighting, tie-down points, enclosed storage, and its FLEXBED system.
The optional hard tonneau cover adds security and some weather protection, although buyers shouldn’t assume any folding bed cover is as dry or secure as a conventional trunk.
Towing Capability
A standard Maverick is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped. The optional 4K Tow Package increases that rating to 4,000 pounds.
The package adds a Class III hitch receiver, seven-pin trailer connection, trailer brake controller, and upgraded cooling equipment. This truck also includes a conventional spare tire.
Those additions could make sense for a small utility trailer or other light-duty towing needs.
Daryl Killian
Ford also warns that towing and payload limits vary based on equipment, passengers, and cargo. Buyers should use the capacity label on the specific truck rather than relying only on a maximum figure from an advertisement.
Interior: Smart Design, Modest Materials
The Lariat cabin makes a good first impression.
Ford uses color and shape to keep the interior from feeling dull. The Navy Pier and Smoked Truffle color combination gives the cabin more personality than buyers may expect from a small truck.
The equipment list is also strong. The Lariat includes a 13.2-inch center display, an eight-inch driver display, a B&O sound system, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera.
Daryl Killian
The camera is especially helpful in a vehicle whose small size and easy parking are major selling points.
Daryl Killian
However, attractive design shouldn’t be confused with premium materials.
There’s still a lot of hard plastic. The front passenger seat is manually adjusted, and the heated steering wheel is wrapped in soft vinyl rather than leather.
Daryl Killian
Hard surfaces can make sense in a work-focused vehicle because they’re easy to clean. They can also show scratches and polished wear over time.
A short vehicle loan can’t tell me what this interior will look like in five years. That’s something buyers should investigate by looking at used Mavericks with real mileage.
At nearly $45,000, those material choices are harder to overlook.
Passenger Space and Daily Use
The Maverick gives buyers four full doors, seating for five and useful storage under the rear seat.
It isn’t intended to provide the same rear-seat space or overall cabin width as a midsize truck. Buyers who regularly carry adults in the back should sit in both rows during a test drive and compare the Maverick directly with the Ridgeline.
For occasional passenger use, the Maverick’s smaller cabin may be a reasonable trade for easier parking and better fuel economy.
For frequent family travel, the Ridgeline’s added space and more substantial road feel may justify its higher price.
Daryl Killian
Hybrid Power: The Maverick’s Best Argument
I like the dual nature of hybrids.
Electric power can make low-speed driving calm and efficient. The gas engine provides highway range and quick refueling.
Daryl Killian
I appreciate a good hybrid for the same reason I can appreciate an EV or a V8. Each powertrain can make sense when it performs its intended job well.
Daryl Killian
Fuel economy remains one of the Maverick’s strongest advantages. This AWD hybrid carries EPA estimates of 39 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 36 mpg combined.
That’s exceptional for a vehicle that provides a pickup bed, all-wheel drive, and available 4,000-pound towing capability.
The Maverick Hybrid isn’t meant to replace a performance car. Its real achievement is giving buyers useful truck capability without imposing the fuel bill normally associated with owning a truck.
Week in the Seat
My time with the Maverick reinforced what I liked about the first one I tested in 2022.
This is a useful truck that doesn’t feel oversized for normal life. It’s easy to understand why a homeowner, city resident, or first-time truck buyer could prefer it over a larger pickup.
It also helped confirm my biggest personal conflict.
I enjoy quick acceleration, a smooth ride, luxury features, and an attractive automotive shape. I’m not sure I want any pickup to be my only daily driver.
The Maverick makes the strongest possible case because its size and hybrid fuel economy reduce many of the compromises that come with truck ownership.
The $44,735 price creates a new compromise.
Biggest Surprise
The Maverick’s biggest capability advantage may be the one that doesn’t appear in a maximum-towing chart.
It fits.
It fits a smaller property. It fits into normal parking spaces. It fits the type of yard work and small projects many homeowners actually perform.
It might even encourage an owner to tackle more projects because the truck makes transporting supplies easier.
That kind of usefulness can matter more than buying a larger truck based on what you imagine you may do one day.
Maverick Versus Ridgeline
My 2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport carried a total sticker price of $47,945. That’s only $3,210 more than this Maverick.
The Ridgeline provides a 280-horsepower V6, a 5,000-pound towing rating, a larger bed, a dual-action tailgate, and a lockable trunk beneath the bed floor.
It feels like more truck for the money.
The Maverick answers with a smaller footprint, better fuel economy, and styling that I prefer.
Honda rates the Ridgeline TrailSport at 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. The Maverick Hybrid AWD is rated at 36 mpg combined.
That difference could produce meaningful fuel savings for someone who drives every day.
The decision comes down to priorities.
Choose the Ridgeline if you value a larger cabin, more towing ability, and a more substantial midsize-truck experience.
Choose the Maverick if you place greater value on fuel economy, easy parking, and a bed that’s large enough for normal homeowner needs.
What Everyone Else Missed
The Maverick shouldn’t be judged only by how much truck it provides.
It should also be judged by how little truck it forces you to manage.
Buyers often pay for maximum capability and then live with the size, weight, and fuel use every day.
The Maverick reverses that equation. It provides enough capability for many buyers while reducing the daily burden of owning a truck.
That remains its best idea.
Dealer Secret
Don’t begin your Maverick search by choosing a trim.
Begin with the jobs you need the truck to perform.
Decide whether you truly need all-wheel drive, the 4K Tow Package, a moonroof, or prepaid connectivity. Then compare an XL or XLT equipped for those needs against the Lariat.
This particular truck contains $1,275 in the seven-year connectivity package, a three-year SiriusXM plan, and a dealer-installed keypad alone.
Ask the dealer to show you the price of a Maverick with only the equipment you’ll actually use. Also request a complete out-the-door figure that includes dealer fees and installed accessories.
The Maverick’s value can change quickly when options start accumulating.
Buyer Alert
A $44,735 Maverick is no longer an inexpensive alternative to a larger truck.
At this price, buyers should compare it with the Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, and well-equipped compact SUVs. The right comparison isn’t limited to other Mavericks.
Buyers should also verify the payload label inside the driver’s door. The maximum advertised payload doesn’t necessarily apply to a truck loaded with options.
Finally, test every paid connected feature before accepting a long-term subscription or prepaid package. Determine what remains functional after the included service period ends.
Would I Spend My Money?
I would spend my money on a Maverick Hybrid AWD.
I wouldn’t spend $44,735 on this one.
My choice would be a lower trim with all-wheel drive and only the options I know I would use. I’d add the 4K Tow Package only if towing were truly part of my plan.
The Lariat shows how complete and well-equipped a Maverick can become. It also shows how far the truck has moved from the bargain that caught my attention in 2022.
AutoNsider Decision
Buy the Maverick, but don’t automatically buy this Maverick.
The compact size, hybrid fuel economy, and useful bed make it one of the most logical trucks for buyers who don’t need a traditional midsize or full-size pickup.
The value depends heavily on trim and options.
At close to $45,000, the Lariat enters a price range where the Ridgeline’s larger cabin, V6 power, and added utility are difficult to ignore.
The Maverick remains the right-size truck. This configuration is simply the wrong price for me.
AutoNsider Buying Scorecard
- Best for: Homeowners, city drivers, and buyers with limited parking
- Strongest feature: Hybrid efficiency combined with a useful pickup bed
- Biggest surprise: Its small size is a form of real-world capability
- Main concern: Loaded Lariat pricing and long-term wear of the interior materials
- Best value: A lower-trim Hybrid AWD with carefully selected options
- Consider the Ridgeline if: You want more passenger room, a smoother midsize-truck experience, and greater towing ability
- Skip the Maverick if: You regularly tow heavy loads, need serious off-road capability, or expect a luxury-grade cabin
AutoNsider verdict: Recommended with strict price discipline
One for the Road
A truck can represent the work we dream about doing.
The Maverick doesn’t need to conquer a mountain to prove its worth. Sometimes being able to fit beside the house, carry supplies from the garden center, and use less fuel on Monday morning is more than enough.
Just make sure you don’t pay for a bigger dream than you need.
2026 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid AWD
Daryl Killian
