Recently, Consumer Reports got its hands on the newest pickup truck in the Ford lineup. As the smaller sibling of the most popular vehicle in America, the Maverick has a lot of expectations. It’s cheap, affordable, and very fuel-efficient. There were things Consumer Reports liked and disliked, but also some they’re unsure about. Here are four things about the Ford Maverick Consumer Reports wants to keep an eye on.
Consumer Reports wants to keep an eye on the Ford Maverick powertrain
The 2022 Ford Maverick | Ford
Firstly, Consumer Reports is unsure about the Ford Maverick’s powertrain. There’s not too much to complain about, but its performance could change long-term and with more wear and tear. The publication noted that the turbo engine is excellent and perfectly matches the pickup truck’s size and weight. Additionally, accelerating from a complete stop is snappy and contains little-to-no turbo lag.
Specifically, there are a few more tests CR would like the Ford Maverick to undergo in this department. Firstly, carrying more adults. All tests were performed with a driver and one or zero passengers. A full cabin could change things, albeit mild. More prominently, CR wants to test the Maverick’s performance while towing and hauling a load. Those are the real pickup truck performance tests to see how the Maverick compares to the competition.
Consumer Reports would like more time in the front seats
The 2022 Ford Maverick | Ford
Firstly, CR reported that the front seats are nothing to write home about. Complaints included the button cushion being too short and the lack of a tilt option for the bottom of the seats. Additionally, the seat’s firmness is good for remaining supportive but could wear down your backside on a long drive. Consumer Reports wants more seat time in these chairs, specifically with more people of varying shapes and sizes.
Comfortability is paramount in the cabin of modern pickup trucks. While the Ford Maverick does enough, CR is unsure whether it is excellent in this area or not. More testing is required to find out how these firm seats hold up.
The Ford Maverick has a surprising amount of rear seat space
2022 Ford Maverick | Allison Barfield, MotorBiscuit
At first glance, most people will think the rear seat in a Maverick is cramped beyond belief. However, it’s deceptively roomy back there. More importantly, CR said its more spacious than rivals like the Nissan Frontier and Hyundai Santa Cruz. Passengers don’t feel cramped, thanks to an angled seatback. It provides enough support without making the rear passenger feel like they’re sitting awkwardly.
Additionally, this makes it so head and foot space feels perfectly comfortable. These two things are comfortable for the average-sized adult. However, the knee room is pretty tight, so most space is at floor or head level. Like with front seat firmness, CR would like to test the rear seat with more varying-sized adults.
Ride comfort may require long term testing
Ford’s hybrid pickup truck has an excellent suspension that smooths out most roughness from bumps. Even larger bumps that other similarly priced trucks and SUVs struggle with don’t feel bad in the Ford Maverick. However, the lack of jolt from those bumps doesn’t come without sound. CR reported excess suspension noise when coming into contact with larger bumps. Moreover, the noises make the pickup “feel unrefined” and could be bad news long term.
Consumer Reports wants to keep an eye on these things about the Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick is a small pickup truck with excellent fuel economy, surprising rear roominess, and utility. More importantly, it’s wildly affordable, starting around $20,000 for the base model. However, there are some things Consumer Reports wants to monitor long-term or test again in the future. Specifically, the powertrain, seats, and ride comfort. That’s why they’re the four things about the Ford Maverick Consumer Reports wants to keep an eye on.
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