When it brought back the Maverick, Ford did more than just restore a name from decades back. It also brought back a level of choice that we haven’t seen in decades.
From eco-friendly commuter to off-roader to sport compact, the Maverick can do it all. But can it really do it all, or did Ford just add some new stickers and call it a day? We drove four different versions of the truck to find out.
Marketing Differences or Real Differences?
The Ford Maverick comes in four models; the XL/XLT pair is the most basic, differing mostly in trim options. The Maverick Lariat is a luxurious upgrade. For pavement driving, the Lobo offers a slightly lower stance and sporty handling. Finally, the Tremor is a rugged, off-road–worthy small truck.
Below, we break down the differences to help you choose which is right for you.
What do we mean by choice? If you’re shopping for a new model these days, picking a different trim level is mostly about deciding whether you want leather or cloth and whether you want six or 10 speakers. It’s all just slightly fancier models in the same package.
Turn the clock back 60 years, and you could find a lot more choice. A coupe, a sedan, maybe a wagon. There was probably a convertible and a pillarless coupe, too, all with the same model badge on the trunk. The pinnacle of this might have been the Chevrolet Corvair, with that name on all the ones just mentioned above, plus passenger and cargo vans and two different pickups.
The Maverick is only available in one body style, but since the crew cab pickup is the modern sedan, maybe it has two covered? The variety here isn’t in the shapes; it’s in what each version of the Maverick is designed to do.
Every Success Story Needs a Solid Base
Ford’s most basic pair is the XL and XLT models. These two trucks are both at the 30 grand point, which is about as affordable as you’re gonna find in 2026. Even better, the hybrid is now available with all-wheel drive, and it offers 37 mpg. The front-drive model gets 38.
The XLT I drove was a basic truck that could tow 4,000 pounds or hold 1,500 pounds in the bed. That bed is smaller than an F-150’s, but not by much, against the short box size most buyers purchase. It will hold full sheets of plywood, using the upper position of the two open position tailgate, and my 6’3″ self can lie down for a nap back there with the tailgate shut.
I tested the hybrid in AWD form. It got 35 mpg, no problem, and that was in a cold winter, bed full or bed empty. Not bad.
If you want a truck but don’t need to tow a car or a big camper, this might be the Goldilocks truck. Especially with gas prices at near record highs.
Maverick Lariat Looks to Rope In Some Luxury
The Lariat model is the more luxurious. It’s also $8,000 more than an XLT, while the XLT is just $2K more than an XL. Lariat gets fancy with black or brown seats with Ford’s ActiveX leather substitute, and B&O audio. OK, it’s not as fancy as an F-150 in King Ranch or higher, but it’s nicer than any Ranger inside.
Finally, with the Lobo and Tremor, Ford makes some much bigger changes. The standard trucks all ride well, but they’re a compromise. They’re comfortable on the highway, but too soft for enthusiastic driving and not ready for more than gravel roads if you venture off pavement.
Lobo and Tremor are much more rugged. The Lobo is for buyers who loved their Focus RS but are now homeowners or Civic Si intenders who can’t bear to be seen in a sedan. Tremor is for people who take their off-roading a little more seriously, but not “modified Wrangler” seriously.
Can they actually deliver those different experiences, though? Can the same truck that offers a sub-$30K front-drive hybrid be a sport compact or a fun day on the trail? With enough changes, the answer is yes.
Lobo and Tremor Are Two Very Different Weekend Experiences
Forget the lame-duck F-150 Lobo; the Maverick version is serious. It starts with about a 1-inch suspension drop and firmer shocks. It even has a new Lobo drive mode that adjusts the Lobo-specific torque vectoring rear differential to make the truck more fun. Off-road use only, of course.
The Lobo isn’t a Focus RS, and maybe not even an AWD ST. But it is more fun on pavement than anything else with a bed. It rides firmer, but in a hot-hatch way, not a full-size truck way. But there is a lot of truck behind you and behind the rear axle.
Ford has made the steering a bit too heavy, and the 2.0L turbo-four was loud enough in the other trucks before Ford made it a bit louder here. But annoying the neighbors with engine noises is at least 20% of the point of a sports compact.
It doesn’t just go well, it looks great. The rally-inspired wheels, new ground-effects kit, and Ford’s choice to make most of the trim body-color are a win. Ford should have added some stickier tires, but it might be hard to find grippy rubber that can also tow that trackday Miata on a trailer that would go perfectly with it.
Maverick Tremor Won’t Shake the Ground, But It Will Rumble
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Maverick Tremor has all-terrain rubber to go along with its 1-inch lift. More clearance, a trail-ready suspension, and skid plates underneath make it better for rough roads, but there’s even something for when you get really stuck.
It has a twin-clutch rear differential like the Lobo, which lets it send nearly all the power and torque to just the rear tire with grip. But it can also lock the rear differential, ensuring both wheels are turning. Even the drive shafts are upgraded for strength.
The result, along with a healthy dose of orange trim, is a truck that’s surprisingly capable. Yes, you can get it stuck if you want to, and no, it won’t do what a Bronco can. But it can do a lot, while remaining ready for daily driver use.
Is the Ford Maverick the Affordably Priced Goldilocks?
Each one of these gives you a taste of their chosen direction, without pushing you too far one way or the other. An XL Hybrid will save your wallet, but it’s not a Prius or a Rivian R1T. The Lariat is comfortable, but it’s not a Lincoln Corsair. The Lobo is weekend fun, but it’s not a Mustang EcoBoost. The Tremor will be great for getting to a remote trailhead, but it won’t cross the Rubicon.
Overall, these are small, capable vehicles designed for specific customers. The difference between them and competitors is that, at least compared with sedans and sports cars, it has a pickup truck bed.
2026 Ford Maverick Pricing
| Maverick XL | $28,145 |
| Maverick XLT | $30,645 |
| Maverick Lobo | $35,930 |
| Maverick Lariat | $38,090 |
| Maverick Tremor | $40,645 |
Ford might not sell any cars anymore, Mustang excluded, but it does sell a lot of trucks. In this case, there are four distinct offerings, two with trim-level tweaks. Some might be too hard, and others too soft, but this is more variety than you’ll find on nearly anything else on the market right now. This means you should be able to find the one that is, if you’ll forgive me, just right.
