By Jim Meachen
MotorwayAmerica.com Editor

(February 11, 2024) The Ford Maverick small pickup was an instant success with its unveiling on June 8, 2021 — an affordable truck that offers all the truck-like qualities of mid-sized pickups, but with better gas mileage and a smaller more fuel efficient footprint that is considerably easier to park in any garage.

Since the introduction of the 2022 model-year truck, Ford has been struggling to keep up with orders. People see the value in an attractive small pickup. But the immense popularity that has Ford scrambling to build more trucks faster hasn't stopped the Blue Oval from developing a new off-road-focused Tremor edition for 2023 — and it has been a big hit.

The Maverick started life with three trim levels —  XL, XLT and Lariat   — and now comes the Tremor Off-Road Package that adds $3,000 to the already affordable price of the Maverick, while the Tremor Appearance Package is an extra $1,495. Ford already offers Tremor editions for the mid-size Ranger, the F-150 and its Super Duty trucks.



Ford sent us the Maverick Tremor that’s only offered for the upper XLT and Lariat models with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250-hp, 277 lb.ft torque) and all-wheel-drive for a week of testing. Tremors also get five selectable drive modes and Trail Control, which works like cruise control for off-road crawling, with the vehicle handling throttle and brake inputs to maintain a steady speed on challenging terrain. The system also adds a twin-clutch locking rear differential.

We were also impressed that Ford did more than just add the superficial Tremor Appearance package that adds black exterior graphics about the hood and lower body and, a gray-painted roof (something we’d skip), there’s the standard steel skid plate incorporated into the front bumper that allows for a nine degree steeper approach angle than the standard 21 degree over other all-wheel-drive Mavericks. It also receives a one-inch lift for a total of 9.4 inches of ground clearance.

The Maverick Tremor is shod with aggressively knobby 30-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires aiding in its capability to tackle rocky off-road trails, inclines, sand, mud and deep ruts. There’s a Trail Control feature that will automatically adjust both accelerator and brakes maintaining a set speed.

The Maverick — regardless of trim level — offers all the truck amenities albeit on a reduced scale, which makes it a perfect fit in the suburbs for weekend chores such as hauling flowers and mulch back from Home Depot or towing a couple of jet-skis to the beach. At the same time its car-like demeanor works for a single-car family who needs passenger-space for four adults and safe and dry luggage or grocery hauling under an optional $1,160 tonneau cover.

Parking lot maneuverability even in the modern mid-sized truck can be an issue. Not so with the Maverick. It's not much different than parking your standard-sized crossover such as the Escape or Explorer.

Its unibody construction differs from the Ranger's and F-150's classic body-on-frame construction, but the Maverick still delivers an impressive maximum tow rating of 4,000 pounds and payload capacity of 1,500 pounds.

The Maverick’s styling mimics the rest of the Ford truck lineup. The black mesh grille is a scaled-down take on the current F-Series front end. This Ford has an upright, boxy appearance, and its unibody construction means there’s no gap between the cab and the bed. While the ride height looks lower than on some body-on-frame trucks, there’s still up to 8.6 inches of ground clearance.

With the four-door configuration in a smaller size rear-seat legroom as been reduced and the bed is a rather short 4.5 feet. That being said, a normal-sized adult can get comfortable in back albeit with cooperation from his or her front-seat counterpart. And the back seat can be folded up to accommodate a bicycle or other assorted playthings inside the cabin.

One of the best features of the Maverick is its choice of drivetrains that give the buyer the option of stellar fuel economy or above average performance. On the economy side, there's nothing in the pickup community outside of EVs that rivals the Ford. The hybrid powertrain includes  a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4 cylinder making 162 horsepower combined with two AC motors and a 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for a total output of 191 horsepower, mated to a continuously variable transmission.



This combination is EPA-rated at 42 mpg city, 33 highway and 37 combined. This outstanding mileage does not translate to "slow." The hybrid has been clocked from 0-to-60 in 7.7 seconds with a quarter mile time of 15.9 seconds at 90 mph. And the hybrid has a decent tow rating of 2,000 pounds.

For those who desire more power or who need up to 4,000 pounds towing, there's a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque — which has been made the truck's standard engine for 2024. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic and can complete a 0-to-60 run in about 6.5 seconds. Gas mileage numbers are rather good — 23 city, 30 highway and 26 combined for front drive, and 22/29/25 for AWD on regular gas.

The Maverick interior is an exercise in simplicity, and for us that's refreshing. There aren't a lot of frills or buttons, but finding the controls you need is very easy. The driving position is relatively upright, but the driver's seat and steering wheel don't offer much adjustability. Visibility is excellent in all directions looking through big windows in the boxy cabin. The seats are firmly padded, but supportive, and they hold up over long trips.

One of the interior highlights is the large amount of storage incorporated into the cabin. The doors can accommodate huge water bottles, the rear under-seat storage is large, and there are numerous small-item storage areas.

While there isn't much tech in the base version — standard eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and forward collision mitigation — we would strongly advise considering the Luxury Package which brings adaptive cruise control, upgraded touchscreen, upgraded audio system, a wireless charging pad, and lane keep assist.

Base price of the 2024 Maverick is $24,995. Our Tremor in Lariat configuration carried a bottom line of $34,247. Overall, the Maverick Tremor is a sensational vehicle especially given its bargain price of under $35,000 MSRP including a $1,495 shipping cost.

Jim Prueter contributed to this review

2023 Ford Maverick Tremor

Essentials
Base Price: $24,995; as driven, $34,247
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 250 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 277 pound-feet @ 3,000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: all-wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 121.1 inches
Length: 199.7 inches
Curb weight: 3,829 pounds
Turning circle: 40 feet
Towing capacity: 4,000 pounds
Payload capacity: 1,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 13.8 gallons (regular)
EPA rating: 20 city, 24 highway, 21 combined
0-60: 6.0 seconds (Car and Drive)
Also consider: Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Good
• Off-road goodies come with Tremor
• Quick acceleration
• Useable towing capacity
• Excellent starting price

The Bad
• Small pickup bed

The Ugly
• Base version has few amenities