There are many appealing characteristics present in the 2022 Ford Maverick that have made it a hit among shoppers, including its low price tag and incredible efficiency, all in a very utilitarian package. EPA ratings for the hybrid come in at an extremely impressive 33 mpg on the highway, 42 in the city, and 37 combined, which is on par with some super-efficient economy cars. But the real question here is – do those numbers hold up in the real world?
Supreme Range
Cars.com just so happens to have a 2022 Maverick hybrid in its test fleet, and recently gave us a 2,000-mile update on that particular vehicle, with a focus on how efficient it really is. Across four months, six fill-ups, and 2,100 miles, the rag has been getting around 400 miles of range from the truck’s 13.8-gallon tank – an impressive feat, indeed.
Weather Dependent
Feeding it 65.138 gallons of gas across those 2,100 miles, Cars.com has achieved an average fuel economy rating of 33 miles-per-gallon, which is obviously less than the EPA’s combined estimate of 37 mpg. However, it has also managed to get up to 39 mpg out of a tank of gas, depending on the weather.
Cold Weather
The problem, it seems, was the harsh winter this truck was subjected to, as its fuel economy suffered greatly in cold temperatures. Regardless, as Cars.com points out, how many trucks out there in the world are capable of achieving 30 mpg in combined city and highway driving?
Total Cost
Sticking to premium fuel, our reviewers spent a grand total of $353.98 for those 65 gallons of gas at an average of $5.43 per gallon, which is a lot even by today’s lofty standards. Regardless, that’s far less than one would spend operating a full-size, light-duty pickup.
Cheap vs Premium
Ford notes that one can use regular fuel in the Maverick hybrid, but performance may suffer while towing or operating in warmer temperatures. Regardless, if that isn’t a concern, one can save a few hundred more by going with cheap gas.
Actual Driving
We’ve seen plenty of Maverick hybrid owners get much better fuel economy out of their pickups than this, but it’s still an impressive result given how we journalists tend to drive our loaners. That may not include taking the Maverick to the drag strip, but we also aren’t out there trying to hyper-mile in these vehicles, either.
Source: Ford Truck Enthusiasts
