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Ford’s small pickup has been a huge success. While many people were concerned that it might be too small to really be a truck, the mighty Maverick has proven the naysayers wrong. The truck has enough of a truck bed and towing capacity to satisfy the entry level truck crowd. Ford vowed to build an affordable truck that truly performs. It performs so well that MotorTrend just named the 2026 Ford Maverick the MotorTrend 2026 Truck of the Year. The Ford Maverick is also a finalist for the North American Truck of the Year, which will be announced in January.
“With nearly half a million sales under the Maverick’s belt, Ford is updating the hardware and software in ways that make it both a better truck and a friskier, more fun commuter,” MotorTrend wrote. “Over two weeks of intensive truck testing, the Ford quickly distinguished itself amid our field of two new and three revised contenders against our six key criteria: performance of intended function, engineering excellence, advancement in design, efficiency, value, and safety.”
In its article explaining the award, MotorTrend raved about Maverick’s spacious interior as well as new trailering features that were first tested on the F-150. The Maverick now even has Ford’s popular Pro Trailer Hitch Assist. “A new 13.2-inch touchscreen powered by Sync 4 enables Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, which uses the backup camera and corner radar units to steer and brake the truck’s ball right under a trailer hitch.”
“Back in 2022, when Ford introduced the Maverick, it was an open question whether Americans would accept a truly compact, crossover-based pickup truck. All those sales later, the answer is, ‘Yes, they will, if truck experts design it and build it.’ Now the Maverick lineup has been further refined, improved, and broadened to become even more appealing to even more people.”
MotorTrend describes the Ford Maverick as “a pickup that allows normal-sized human adults to reach in over the side rail and grab items off the bed floor without even standing on tippy-toes. The climb into the bed is manageable without steps, and many tailgate partiers may find their feet resting comfortably on the ground. Revolutionary.”
“For 2026, this cheerful can-do compact pickup receives significant midcycle enhancements that broaden its appeal, improve its capabilities, and generally up the ante in this segment before Toyota launches its competitor in fall 2027.”
The Ford Maverick outsells the other compact pickup, the Hyundai Santa Cruz, 3-1. The Maverick is doing so well that at some point Ford may regret not putting the Maverick under the F-Series umbrella, which are typically the top selling vehicles every year. The F-Series has been the top seller for nearly five decades.
MotorTrend’s Judging Criteria
MotorTrend judges its entries based on six criteria: performance of intended function, engineering excellence, advancement in design, efficiency, value, and safety.
MotorTrend appears impressed on all of the criteria especially the little truck’s capability even off-road.
“Where the pavement ends, the little Maverick keeps galloping right along. The Lobo’s ability to lock its twin-clutch rear axle adds capability, though its lowered ride height works against it. All-wheel-drive hybrids don’t get the FX4 package (all-terrain tires, skidplates, hill descent control, full-size spare, and special drive modes), yet it managed to surmount a few obstacles that challenged the Chevy Silverado EV Trail Boss. And of course, the Tremor model gets a 1-inch suspension lift plus all the FX4 goodies for those looking to take bite-size bushwhacking to the next level. The full-size spare tire is also a stand-alone option.”
Plus, MotorTrend notes that the compact Maverick offers more rear head and legroom than the Toyota Tacoma.
Ford Maverick Fuel Economy
MotorTrend gives the Maverick high marks for its fuel economy. “The EPA city/highway/combined mpg numbers are impressive: 42/35/38 for the front-drive model and 40/34/37 mpg with all-wheel drive. Even the 2.0-liter turbo EcoBoost models manage to eke out 30 mpg on the highway (except the off-road-focused Tremor, whose knobby tires and elevated ride height drop that number to 27 mpg).”
Improved Ford Maverick Lineup
Ford has added a new Lobo street truck version to the truck’s full line of trim packages. The Maverick has an XL, XLT, Hybrid, Tremor and Lobo version.
“Now the Maverick lineup has been further refined, improved, and broadened to become even more appealing to even more people. And that’s why MotorTrend is seizing this opportunity to name Ford Maverick our 2026 Truck of the Year.”
Ford Photo
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories
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