Review: 2025 Maverick Hybrid AWD - by Ben Hardy

[colinl]

I wouldn’t buy it if I knew Ben Hardy drove it. For both my Bronco and Maverick my dealer didn’t even start PDI until I came and looked at them.

Ben Hardy is pretty awful though. He isn’t an enthusiast, he isn’t a journalist, he doesn’t have media access to events like the Maverick reveal - he hounds dealers in Utah to test drive vehicles he googles 3 minutes before starting his videos.

The video and audio quality suck and he is anything but informed on the vehicles he drives.

He is the poorest of Topher or Tedward and I can’t believe he has gotten as popular as he has.

Man, I wish this guy would speak just a little bit faster. I was able to understand a few words here and there. None of them were helpful.

I'd never heard of him or come across his videos before. I'm pretty selective and don't have enough time to watch stuff I actually do see value in like TFL and TestDriven TV, so I will definitely skip Ben's "content".

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[Scott Asheville]

Possibly the closest-to-zero information "review" I've watched to date. To save others several minutes of wasted time, the "reviewer" drives an XL hybrid (I think) through the dealership parking lot and says "not much changed from 2024". Total waste of your brain's memory cells.

Or as I like to say about my favorite zero nutritional foods... A total waste of calorie allowance. Except without the reward.

 

[HeyBales]

How come people don’t like the new HVAC controls?

Because they aren't buttons, even though they are set in place.
Requires the video screen to show them.

From other models contrast - they could have put buttons right under the screen, and the screen could have provided more info as it does now about temp setting or fan speed.
But having something physical to turn that doesn't require using the screen.

Shoot - even having a fan button you press 8 times to cycle thru the speeds would be nicer than requiring tapping button for fan, then swiping finger with outreached arm to adjust speed.
Or Temp.
I know while driving my out stretched arm is always rock steady for such things...

 

[Ozarkbeard]

How come people don’t like the new HVAC controls?

The new system is less safe.
With the old physical HVAC controls, you can just reach out and adjust the fan or temperature or turn the system on/off completely and quickly, without even looking away from the road. And even with gloves on.
Huge knobs to turn instead of tiny little virtual buttons on a screen.

Screens in vehicles are the reason for the huge increase in rear end collisions. An unintended side effect of requiring backup cameras (and their associated screens) in all new vehicles. With the camera screen already in the vehicle, automakers now can't resist cramming things like HVAC and radio controls into a screen/menu operation, so they can get rid of physical knobs and save a little money.

 

[Packer Bill]

Screens in vehicles are the reason for the huge increase in rear end collisions.

I thought that people holding and using their phone was one of the biggest reason for rear end collisions.

I am looking to using my voice for HVAC controls. This should be safer than using physical controls, at least for me it will be...

 

[Gumby]

The new system is less safe.
With the old physical HVAC controls, you can just reach out and adjust the fan or temperature or turn the system on/off completely and quickly, without even looking away from the road. And even with gloves on.
Huge knobs to turn instead of tiny little virtual buttons on a screen.

Screens in vehicles are the reason for the huge increase in rear end collisions. An unintended side effect of requiring backup cameras (and their associated screens) in all new vehicles. With the camera screen already in the vehicle, automakers now can't resist cramming things like HVAC and radio controls into a screen/menu operation, so they can get rid of physical knobs and save a little money.

Makes since, I personally wont mind. From what I understand you can voice control heat/ac. I guess I’ll see.

The new system is less safe.
With the old physical HVAC controls, you can just reach out and adjust the fan or temperature or turn the system on/off completely and quickly, without even looking away from the road. And even with gloves on.
Huge knobs to turn instead of tiny little virtual buttons on a screen.

Screens in vehicles are the reason for the huge increase in rear end collisions. An unintended side effect of requiring backup cameras (and their associated screens) in all new vehicles. With the camera screen already in the vehicle, automakers now can't resist cramming things like HVAC and radio controls into a screen/menu operation, so they can get rid of physical knobs and save a little money.

Guess I’ll have to get used to it when I get it. In my sport-Trac I hardly adjust mine it’s set to 70* auto.

 

[Gumby]

Because they aren't buttons, even though they are set in place.
Requires the video screen to show them.

From other models contrast - they could have put buttons right under the screen, and the screen could have provided more info as it does now about temp setting or fan speed.
But having something physical to turn that doesn't require using the screen.

Shoot - even having a fan button you press 8 times to cycle thru the speeds would be nicer than requiring tapping button for fan, then swiping finger with outreached arm to adjust speed.
Or Temp.
I know while driving my out stretched arm is always rock steady for such things...

I understan.

 

[Stevezilla]

It's wild how Ford's little basic pick-up went from $20,000 to $30,000 in 3 years.

 

[colinl]

The new system is less safe.
With the old physical HVAC controls, you can just reach out and adjust the fan or temperature or turn the system on/off completely and quickly, without even looking away from the road. And even with gloves on.
Huge knobs to turn instead of tiny little virtual buttons on a screen.

Screens in vehicles are the reason for the huge increase in rear end collisions. An unintended side effect of requiring backup cameras (and their associated screens) in all new vehicles. With the camera screen already in the vehicle, automakers now can't resist cramming things like HVAC and radio controls into a screen/menu operation, so they can get rid of physical knobs and save a little money.

sync4 has voice commands.

I just spent 20 minutes trying to find in the 2025 Maverick owner's manual and in any Ford online documentation.. no luck at all.

in fact, it wasn't easy to find even 3rd party lists of the voice commands. here's a list of everything, but bear in mind some features may not be supported by the 2025 Maverick (source):



Audio

• AM <530–1710>
• FM <87.9–107.9>
• Bluetooth® Audio
• SiriusXM® with 360L <0–233>
• SiriusXM with 360L <channel name>
• USB

Climate (if equipped)

• Climate list of commands
• Climate set temperature <# degrees>

Mobile Apps

• List mobile apps
• Find new apps
• <App name>
• <App name> Help

Navigation

• Cancel route
• Destination <home/work/favorites/previous destination>
• Detour
• Find <an address/POI/intersection>
• Help
• Show <3D/North up/heading up>
• Show <traffic/weather map/5-day forecast/fuel prices>
• Show route
• Voice guidance on/off

Phone

• Call <name>
• Call <name> <on cell/at home/at work>
• Dial <number>
• Listen to message
• Pair phone

Simple Commands

• Cancel
• Go back
• Help
• List of commands
• Next page/previous page (scrolls through voice lists only)

Vehicle Expert

• Call Roadside Assistance
• Find a charge location
• What is hill start assist?
• What can I do with MyKey®?
• Where are my USB ports?
• Where can I find a charge station?
• What’s my odometer reading?
• What is my oil level?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

The larger displays are nice, but I miss the older style HVAC controls. The MSRP >$30K for a base XL was interesting...

It's wild how Ford's little basic pick-up went from $20,000 to $30,000 in 3 years.

Holy !!!
Oops forgot the reviewed XL Maverick had $10,000.00 AWD

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I thought that people holding and using their phone was one of the biggest reason for rear end collisions.

I am looking to using my voice for HVAC controls. This should be safer than using physical controls, at least for me it will be...

Likely both. And neither one is safe.

 

[L30n1d45]

drives an XL hybrid (I think) through the dealership parking lot

Better yet, the dude floors it through the parking lot as some kind of "performance test".

I've been waiting for a real 2025 Maverick drive review, so I figured I'd watch this one, and it was less informative than the car show videos that came out months ago about the MY25 Mav.

Absolute waste of time and quite honestly will not be watching this guy if he shows up again.

 

[Snowbird]

How come people don’t like the new HVAC controls?

Because you have to take your eye off the road to use them, just like all the other touch screen controls.

 

[PNWMaverick]

It's wild how Ford's little basic pick-up went from $20,000 to $30,000 in 3 years.

Yes it is. Not really unexpected given that people were paying upwards of $15K over MSRP when they launched.

 

[JLB]

How come people don’t like the new HVAC controls?

Knobs that quickly get to a desired setting without even having to look at them are good.

Buttons that require multiple pushes to get a setting, like temperature or fan level, are not good.

Controls that require diverting eyes from the road are bad.

Needing to browse through menus to find a control to adjust are way bad and downright horrible in traffic.

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