I tried to test drive one, but the only one the dealer had in stock was a Lariat on the showroom floor, and they didn't allow test drives in that.
I had sat in one a few months prior. I fit in it OK, so I took a leap of faith and ordered one (but not from the dealer that wouldn't let me drive one).
Got a call from the dealer that a special order (2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid) was refused by the original customer the day after it arrived - I looked at it, sat in it, drove it around the block, walked in the dealership and purchased it and drove it home - I never looked at one upclose in person before that day
I pretty much ordered blindly. Having never driven a Maverick much less Hybrid.
My wife, and I won't say nagged but she kept asking why I haven't test driven one at the very least. My response was, "don't see a Hybrid on the lot, besides there are no 2025's yet".
About two months before deliver I was at the dealer one Sunday. Every few weeks I would pop in asking if they had some update I was unaware of on my order. Anyway I pulled in next to a Silver MY22 Hybrid with yellow stickers on saying "NOT FOR TEST DRIVE" or something kind of similar. Not sure of the exact wording. So my salesman was off and this other kid rushed up to help me. "Sure I want to drive the Silver one, got one on order". About fifteen minutes later I was off driving the "do not test drive" Maverick. Cracked windshield, shimmy in the front end from I suspect CV joints and camera recall no sale and all.
I was surprised they let me drive it. But they did.
Had already read about the windshield cracking and CV joint issues. Maybe I was foolish but it didn't deter me. I'm enjoying my MY25 so far very much.
There were valid reasons for not test driving one before ordering in the early years. But today, I guess it's still happening although not as common. As always, after test driving the one you ordered, you can always refuse it.
Added edit: In my case I never saw one in the metal untl about four months afterward and then for only long enough to just touch it.