2025 Maverick hybrid XLT arrived - initial review / impressions (by former 2023 XLT owner)

[c_olsen]

Seems like a lot of folks are posting these and I wish I had read a few of them before ordering/receiving our new 2025. Anyway, I had a 2023 XLT Hybrid which we were mostly happy with but it had a rash of recalls and living in the Rocky Mountains, I thought going AWD made sense. We ordered up the 2025 last Fall and it showed up this weekend. Dealer gave us darn near what we paid for the 2023 on trade-in (we had low mileage and it was in excellent condition) so it seemed like a no-brainer upgrade.

Here's what I liked:

• As many have observed, the new touch-screen is really amazing. Not Tesla-sized, but well laid out and integrates seamlessly with CarPlay (only tried Apple).
• You lose physical climate control knobs, but the climate icons are always available on the touch-screen and easy to navigate.
• The electric->hybrid->charging transition is completely unnoticeable whereas I would sometimes feel a hiccup in our 2023. On that note, the power is upbeat and responsive compared to the 2023.
• We're getting snow tomorrow, so I haven't tested the AWD in snow yet, but I'm sure it'll do great (better than the '65 Mustang in the garage behind it anyway).
• Navy upholstery is quality looking and overall the fit/finish of the interior is nicer. They've had a few years to work on things and it feels like a more quality vehicle.
• Road noise dampening seems slightly better and the hands-free phone audio quality is better as a result - I called someone from the 2025 who always commented that my side of the conversation was noisy/choppy in the 2023 and they said the conversation was a lot more clear.
• My add-on accessories from the 2023 (mud flaps, BakFlip tonneau, etc) all bolted right on to the 2025.

What bugs me a bit (but not enough to return):

• I didn't understand the Co-Pilot360 didn't include ACC unless you are getting a Lariat. The Co-Pilot360 Assist includes ACC whereas the the package available on the XLT does not. We don't do a ton of freeway driving with traffic, so the ACC isn't a "must have" but given that the 2024 Mazda we bought for our daughter (for less than the new Maverick) had ACC standard, it seems like a cheap-out for Ford to not bundle it with all the Co-Pilot360 packages.
• Others have commented on the lack of the dial-gauge that used to show charging/electric/gas driving mode - there is an "EV Coach" option that you can enable on the console screen, which works pretty well, but it's not an always on (i.e. you have to select it every time).
• Still not a plug-in: friends of ours have a 2023 Escape PHEV and they get like 30+ miles of on-electric driving before the gas motor ever kicks in and they love it. I know that would jack the price a bit of the Maverick, but that might be an upgrade worth going for.
• They still have the rear speakers right near the rear-passenger's heads. Whenever we have someone in the back I have to slide the fader all the way forward to not blast their ears. I don't know why they don't put those speakers in the door.

So the pluses outweigh the minuses for me at least. It's still a super versatile, economic and comfortable vehicle. Glad to be part of "the club".

Chris

Sponsored

 

[Hunters Edge]

Hello and welcome to MTC. Congratulations on your new Maverick. Thanks for the picture when posting. I think you will enjoy and appreciate the AWD. What's not to enjoy.

 

[JacobEleventeen]

Did the prior year XLTs have ACC I didn't think the 2024 did.

 

[c_olsen]

Honestly I'm not sure if they ever offered ACC on the XLT - and it's consistent across the truck lineup (i.e. it doesn't look like you can get any XLT truck with ACC). That said, it just seems like a ploy to try to get you to jump to the Lariat when you don't want leather and also really don't want a $40K Maverick.

In the end I'm glad I went with the build I did - the luxury package (for the heated seats/steering wheel) was tempting but not for $1,900.

 

[Mikestill1]

Picked up my XLT, LUX, 4k, copilot other day, brought it home parked it. Been driving my old beater, until I can sit in truck and learn all the ins and outs. I was unaware of a few items lacking, just because of poor research on my own. If I had to do it again, I probably would have bought a lariat. Few items I miss that were on my previous vehicle .

I didn't think I'd miss leather, but I do. What ever leather is in the lariat I'm sure its some sort of leather.

I'm not sure how I missed it, but no homelink or auto dim mirror, yes I now see in the documentation but Jesus such a small item to leave out, and not that I need it, but lighted survivor mirrors. Again small item.

No rear defroster, small inconvenience

No auto up/dwn passenger window

No option to have rear camera on screen while driving, maybe that can be fixed with forscan?

Would have liked the 360 cameras, yes I know, I could have bought a lariat.

Memory seats, my wife said she wasn't going to drive the Maverick, but once she drove it, she says she would like to take it occasionally.

Wireless charging pad would have been a nice option, again yes I could get it in lariat.

It was also disappointing to see there was a couple incandescent bulbs in vehicle.

I liked i got an AGM battery.

So 65 miles on it so far, appears to be a solid vehicle. Would I have spent another $3k on lariat after this, yes.

 

[MM Mav]

What ever leather is in the lariat I'm sure its some sort of leather.

The Lariat has ActiveX™ seating material.
Ford describes it as:
ActiveX™ is a high-end synthetic seating material designed to fit your active lifestyle. It is easier to clean, resistant to staining, and more durable than leather while maintaining a premium look and feel over time. ActiveX™ does not include any animal-based material.

 

[Dakota]

Picked up my XLT, LUX, 4k, copilot other day, brought it home parked it. Been driving my old beater, until I can sit in truck and learn all the ins and outs. I was unaware of a few items lacking, just because of poor research on my own. If I had to do it again, I probably would have bought a lariat. Few items I miss that were on my previous vehicle .

I didn't think I'd miss leather, but I do. What ever leather is in the lariat I'm sure its some sort of leather.

I'm not sure how I missed it, but no homelink or auto dim mirror, yes I now see in the documentation but Jesus such a small item to leave out, and not that I need it, but lighted survivor mirrors. Again small item.

No rear defroster, small inconvenience

No auto up/dwn passenger window

No option to have rear camera on screen while driving, maybe that can be fixed with forscan?

Would have liked the 360 cameras, yes I know, I could have bought a lariat.

Memory seats, my wife said she wasn't going to drive the Maverick, but once she drove it, she says she would like to take it occasionally.

Wireless charging pad would have been a nice option, again yes I could get it in lariat.

It was also disappointing to see there was a couple incandescent bulbs in vehicle.

I liked i got an AGM battery.

So 65 miles on it so far, appears to be a solid vehicle. Would I have spent another $3k on lariat after this, yes.

Do the 2025 XLT's come with an AGM battery or is that something you purchased after delivery of your vehicle? Any idea if the CV axles have been upgraded or are they the same as in past years?

 

[XLTLUXRED]

Thanks, Chris!
Would love to see an interior photo.

 

[Kenv24]

Honestly I'm not sure if they ever offered ACC on the XLT - and it's consistent across the truck lineup (i.e. it doesn't look like you can get any XLT truck with ACC). That said, it just seems like a ploy to try to get you to jump to the Lariat when you don't want leather and also really don't want a $40K Maverick.

In the end I'm glad I went with the build I did - the luxury package (for the heated seats/steering wheel) was tempting but not for $1,900.

Wait, you live in the Rocky Mountains and you didn’t get the heated seats and steering wheel??? That would’ve been my first checkbox. . Hell…. I’m in Texas and if it’s under 60 my seat and steering wheel are on. Enjoy the new truck. Looks great.

 

[Panther City Outdoors]

I almost had a 25 built, but couldn't get over the front end. I haven't seen one in person yet, so maybe it better than pics.

 

[Cherokee]

Picked up my XLT, LUX, 4k,
I didn't think I'd miss leather, but I do.
No rear defroster, small inconvenience
No auto up/dwn passenger window
Would have liked the 360 cameras, yes I know, I could have bought a lariat.

Wireless charging pad would have been a nice option, again yes I could get it in lariat.

I liked i got an AGM battery.

So 65 miles on it so far, appears to be a solid vehicle. Would I have spent another $3k on lariat after this, yes.

As I was reading options and packages. XLT, Lux, 4K tow
My Lariat kept sounding like the best deal.
I’m glad I got it.

Like you Mike, mine sits, too icy to get down my steep gravel roads.
I got my beater, a 2004 escape parked down at the bottom.
For two weeks now I have to hike down. So much ice I go straight down through the woods.

What is, ‘ACC’ ?

I do like the white,

 

[710-oil-614]

Others have commented on the lack of the dial-gauge that used to show charging/electric/gas driving mode - there is an "EV Coach" option that you can enable on the console screen, which works pretty well, but it's not an always on (i.e. you have to select it every time).

And others are wrong! The power meter is not on by default but can be turned on and stays on for every drive.

When the battery icon is blue it is consuming battery. Blue throttle bars indicate EV power and gray indicate ICE power. Green battery indicator and green bars are regen mode.

I haven’t played around with it enough but it doesn’t appear I can set the truck to lock when I walk away with the fob (proximity access). This is a departure from Hondas and Tesla that I’ve driven so I wish that was possible.

I would like memory seat functionality. My wife’s 2018 mid level Honda Odyssey EX-L has it for 2 positions and each is tied to a key fob. Get it and it adjust the seat and mirrors for you.

Lastly is that the drivers power seat (passenger should be power as well) bottom seat cushion be adjustable independently and not fixed at the back.

I’ll kick in a rear defroster/fogger for good measure as something that should be standard.

A pretty simple list of kibbutz and wishes

 

[jeffbrx]

Wait, you live in the Rocky Mountains and you didn’t get the heated seats and steering wheel??? That would’ve been my first checkbox. . Hell…. I’m in Texas and if it’s under 60 my seat and steering wheel are on. Enjoy the new truck. Looks great.

When I ordered my 2025 cot, I wanted the adaptive cruise control and lane centering the whole package. Sales person said it was included. But once the build started and the details were posted I saw that it didn’t have lane centering. Cancel that order and I bought a 24 lariat. Has lots of extras moonroof all that jazz And I love it. And the adaptive cruise control, and lane centeringwork perfectly. It’ll be a great for long trips to Seattle and elsewhere.

 

[c_olsen]

Wait, you live in the Rocky Mountains and you didn’t get the heated seats and steering wheel??? That would’ve been my first checkbox. . Hell…. I’m in Texas and if it’s under 60 my seat and steering wheel are on. Enjoy the new truck. Looks great.

Yeah - that's one of the debates. Our older Powerstroke SuperDuty didn't have them and we had some easily removed aftermarket ones that we really liked. When we got our 2019 SuperDuty we got the LUX package that includes them - we like the factory heated seats just fine, but the aftermarket ones did just fine. Soooo, when we got the 2025 Maverick it was like "are they worth $2K?" - and we'll be ordering up some aftermarket ones again. That said, we were down to 8F this morning, so I'm glad we're not driving anywhere early today...

 

[c_olsen]

And others are wrong! The power meter is not on by default but can be turned on and stays on for every drive.

When the battery icon is blue it is consuming battery. Blue throttle bars indicate EV power and gray indicate ICE power. Green battery indicator and green bars are regen mode.

Good morning - how do you get the EV meter to stay on? I've enabled it, driven around, turned off the car and then when I start back up the console screen is back to what you have in your post (i.e. no EV meter).

Sponsored