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Consumer Reports Adds To Its Praise Of The Ford Maverick

Already one of Consumer Reports top pickups, the compact Maverick continues to add to its reputation.

Although the Ford Maverick has only been offered for a few years, it has become one of the automaker’s best-sellers. There is little doubt that the Maverick, a compact pickup, is one of the automaker’s leading trucks.

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Why is this so? It’s quite simple: the Maverick has been a “smash hit with consumers since its launch in 2022; indeed, it has been a hit since it went on sale.

Maverick Has Been A CR Hit For Some Time

Indeed, Maverick says the Ford Authority, a leading independent source of information on Ford, has not only been a source of great reviews by customers but also a hit with the automaker’s critics.

Consumer Reports, for example, not exactly a pushover, named the Maverick one of its “recommended vehicles.” Even more tellingly, the consumer group has also named the pickup “one of the most reliable new vehicles … for less than $30,000. And, this has only been on the new side of the story; this year, the Maverick has added another feather to its proverbial cap as it has also been named one of CR’s “most reliable pickups.”

It joins the Ford Ranger in this category.

Quoting the consumer group, the Ford Authority (FA) points out that “three-year-old vehicles are smart buys given the fact that they’ve already experienced a good deal of depreciation, yet are” new enough “that they still have” lots of new tech and standard safety features.

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Also, with many leased for three years – a standard lease length – they are beginning to be turned in. The turn-ins have low miles and likely have been treated well “with care over that period, too, with scheduled maintenance completed, as prescribed, to boot.”

Maverick Has Made The Cut

Indeed, CR notes that the Maverick “cut” thanks to its solid predicted reliability scores based on feedback from CR owner surveys.

“The popular pickup also performed well in CR’s road-testing and received a good overall satisfaction.”

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Other than its many stellar qualities such as reliability, CR also gave the Maverick lavish praise for its excellent fuel economy – particularly in the hybrid model – along with a quiet ride, smooth operation, ‘super-easy to use controls and commendable maneuverability, visibility, and access into the cabin. CR also noted that the interior is pretty utilitarian. It also noted that the 2.5-foot bed length is small – as well – but it is deep enough to be useful and practical.

Two Major Models

The Maverick is available in two major models. The first features a hybrid drivetrain, which allows users to run on either gas or battery. The drivetrain is linked to a continuously variable transmission. The second is a standard gasoline version with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-mated to a standard automatic transmission.

Ford Motor Photo

 Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, and Special Interest Autos. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.