- Joined
- Jul 25, 2021
- Threads
- 15
- Messages
- 231
- Reaction score
- 602
- Location
- seattle wa
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Maverick Lariat
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
Day 1!
I placed my Maverick order on July 8, 2021 and took delivery on March 29, 2022. The latter date also marked the day I stopped spending hours perusing the Maverick Truck Club forum. As you might guess, this was not a coincidence. I didn’t exactly plan my hiatus from the forum, I just had a small pile of accessories to install and a new vehicle to learn about. Then I wanted to put some miles on it so I could write a more informed review. I’ve now put 380 miles on it so I’m an expert!
Anyway, to pass the time while waiting for my Maverick to be built, I read and watched every review I could find. So if there are others out there like me, here’s yet one more customer review.
My truck:
Hybrid, Lariat with Lux and cp360. 11 miles on the odometer when new. 379.4 miles now.
Former Vehicle: 2002 Honda Civic which I drove for 20 years and had a few more miles on the odometer.
Overall:
I love my new truck!
The Ride:
It’s smoother than my old Honda but the suspension doesn’t absorb the bumps as well as my father’s 2019 Forester. The Michelins are slightly over-inflated at 36-37 psi but the ride isn’t harsh enough for me to even bother with bleeding the extra air out.
Performance:
So far I’ve been driving like an old man so I can’t really report on how peppy it is. I drive in ECO mode all the time. I haven’t had to engage in any emergency acceleration maneuvers on the freeway. Basically I’m enjoying trying to maximize my MPG’s at all times. Well not "all" times. I'm trying to maximize MPG's within reason. You wouldn't flip me off if you were driving behind me but you'd probably pass me.
Mine's the one on the left.
Steering feel:
I love it. It’s better than I thought it would be. It’s not as direct and heavily-weighted as my old Civic but not too far off!
Visibility:
The areas between the A-pillars and side-mirror mounts are pretty chunky. The rearview mirror also seems mounted low along with the housing that it’s attached to. I placed a slightly convex rearview mirror over the stock mirror. It eliminates the blindspots but requires a little neck straining. It just gives me a redundant measure in addition to the blindspot monitor signals built into the side mirrors. I’m rapidly growing used to my new view of the road but I had to mention that the sightlines aren’t the best.
Interior Noise level:
After reading some negative reviews, I was prepared to add dynamat or a different sound-dampening material. However, after living with my truck for a while, I find the cabin to be relatively quiet, especially when I compare it to my old car. Yes you can hear road noise which becomes more pronounced at highway speeds. You also notice when the internal combustion engine (ICE) is active but neither noise source is excessive. So far, I’m not hearing any unwanted and/or unidentified pops, squeaks or rattles anywhere in the cabin.
Stereo:
I opted for the Lariat Luxury package to avoid purchasing and installing things afterwards. I wanted the spray-in liner, the trailer hitch, the extra bed tie downs, the adaptive cruise control, and the upgraded sound system. I really didn’t want to upgrade the head unit and speakers if I could help it. And I’m happy to report that I find the stock Lux package B&O system to be very good. While it’s true you don’t have a robust equalizer to help optimize whatever you’re listening to, the three band eq works well enough for me. I usually leave the treble around 70%, the mid around 40% and the bass around 90%. This provides decent highs, good support for the vocals, and big bass. I also have the settings in surround mode instead of stereo.
Sync 3:
The voice activated Sync 3 system works great. It almost always understands what I’m saying and reacts quickly. I listen to music through a USB thumb drive. The Sync system catalogs the music though it sometimes has to recalibrate when I restart the car. You can browse for music by the usual categories using voice commands or the touch screen. You can also access the usb device menu. So if you want to lump your music into a bunch of folders, the system allows you to select your custom folders to play music from. This was tested with the touch screen, not voice controls. One bummer is that when you have android auto running, the voice commands to adjust your music, no longer work to access the USB device. The system will continue to play music from your thumb drive but if you say, “play artist Arcade Fire,” it will search whatever music app you have installed that functions with Android Auto instead of accessing your USB drive.
Hybrid:
The power management seems really dialed in. There are no harsh transitions between electric and ICE power. When I depart from my parallel-parking spot, I’m required to first back up the truck, put it in drive to maneuver around another vehicle, put it in reverse again as I back into a neighbors driveway before finally pulling away. I mention this because there is a bit of a delay as I shift between Drive and Reverse before the gearing changes. It’s not a big deal but it’s not something I am accustomed to.
Engine-braking & battery-regeneration:
This is brilliant. When used in conjunction with adaptive cruise control, (ACC) the regenerative braking really shines. My commute is very hilly and the ACC seems to always provide the appropriate amount of resistance/engine braking; letting me coast on the flats when I’m at speed or slightly over, or providing maximum engine braking, (without using the Low gear feature) when heading down steep hills. Many of you might be rolling your eyes and muttering, “well what did you expect?” To which I’d reply, “I dunno!”
ACC with lane centering:
Also during my work commute, I drive a winding 2-mile stretch of road with a speed limit of 25mph. I’ve been messing around with the ACC during this patch of roadway and it works amazingly well. There are several hairpin turns that you can’t comfortably take at 25 mph. I don’t know if it’s the ACC alone or the fact that I have co-pilot 360 or if ECO mode factors into the equation but my truck slows down for the turns. I usually set the ACC at 27mph and the truck will slow down to the mid and high-teens for the turns and then will gradually pick up speed on the straightaways until it reaches 27mph again. The lane centering feature works very well on the freeway but has difficulty at times with city driving. Lane centering doesn’t work at all on really winding stretches of roadway. I wish you could turn off the chime that sounds when it loses tracking ability and automatically shuts off. It sounds like the “fasten your seatbelts” audible warning you hear in airplanes.
Backup Camera:
It’s not the greatest as people have commented on but even on the wettest days and nights, it still provides enough clarity for me to back up safely.
Interior comfort:
I love the seats. I have issues with lower back pain in some cars I sit in but have none in my Lariat. I drove my Dad, my aunt, my sister, my brother-in-law and my 16 lb lap-dog out to my other sister’s place for dinner last week. Round-trip it took a little over an hour and a half. In the back, 2 full-sized adults and one tiny sister got to know each other better. My sister kept commenting on how comfortable the backseat was and she was in the middle holding my dog! I think I have a good sister. 2 of them actually. I think I’m getting off track. I love the heated steering wheel. It heats up quickly and between it and the heated seats, I often don’t use the climate control system. (It’s been a cool April in the PNW with temperatures usually ranging from the mid 30’s to the mid 50’s). I figure that this is a more efficient way to heat me bones and when you’re chasing them jackpot mpg’s, sacrifices must be made. Oh, about the heated seats, they heat the lumbar area as well.
Accessories:
Window Tint and PPF:
https://www.bellevueautotint.com/
I had professionals ceramic tint the front passenger and driver’s side windows to match the rears as well as apply a partial PPF package. They also knocked off 10% when they were totalling the bill. To be clear, we agreed on a price and then after chatting for a bit and learning I was a teacher, Jim, (the owner) said, “well I’ll give you the teacher discount.” Nice! If you live in King County in Washington state, you might reach out to Bellevue Auto Tint. They are a very small business so don’t expect to be wowed by a fancy showroom; just quality work done by quality people.
XLT Bed Mat:
https://bedrug.com/bedrug-xlt-bed-mats/2022/ford/maverick
I bought an XLT Bed mat by Bedrug. I love it. It’s easy on the eyes and easier on the knees. I love that it covers the hinge gap between the tailgate and the bed. It’s 100% polypropylene so it’s waterproof and highly resistant to stains and mold. Though it’s my first bedrug product, I’m expecting it to hold up well as finding negative reviews on them is pretty difficult.
Lomax Stance hard trifold tonneau cover:
https://www.agricover.com/lomax-stance-hard-cover/
I’m pleased with the Lomax Stance. It’s very well built and was simple for me to install by myself. I chose Lomax because I’m hoping the simplicity in design leads to a longer life. There is no vinyl or other fabric that might fade or rip, no seams that could fail, or glue that could delaminate. I’m hoping it will last a decade or so. I debated on whether to buy the Stance or the Lomax standard tri-fold which doesn’t fold up vertically to the rear window but instead removes easily. I chose the Stance primarily because I don’t have a garage or a good place to store a tonneau cover. I also don’t foresee a time when I’ll need every single inch of the bed and if that time occurs, I can remove the Stance. It will just be a 5 minute job instead of a 20 second one. I was not expecting it to keep the bed 100% dry and it doesn’t.
No water seems to get in at the front and the sides seal out the elements very well but not 100%. There are areas on both sides that allow a tiny amount of rain water to enter. We’re talking about a couple of water droplet trails after a downpour. At the rear, rain water enters more easily. I’m not surprised. Look at the gaps on any truck where the tailgate meets the sidewalls and it’s easy to see why it’s nearly impossible to find any tonneau cover that keeps your bed 100% dry. Overall, the Stance provides more water resistance than I expected. I purchased both the bedrug and tonneau cover from tonneaucovered.com. They offer very low prices, free shipping and I wasn’t charged sales tax. https://tonneaucovered.com/The yellow stuff is pollen.
Ford decal stickers:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/324863031348?var=513862808887
Believe it or not, the front and rear Ford emblem decals were the most stressful mods I worked with. I wanted them to be perfectly centered and I couldn’t find a practical way to line them up properly before the sticky adhesive said, “nope, I want to stick here instead.” The rear, (the larger emblem) was more difficult than the front, and I ended up with some miniscule air bubbles or adhesive balls trapped underneath the overlay that annoy me when I see them. They probably occurred because I had so many failed attempts before finally pressing them on for the final time. I ordered matte black background with silver lettering.
Steering wheel decal:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/677087484/ford-steering-wheel-air-bag-overlay?
The steering wheel overlay went on easily because it’s so tiny. I chose the matte carbon fiber background with matte gray lettering. It doesn’t look like carbon fiber to me. It’s textured and feels/looks as if it were embroidered or stitched or something. I love it.
MaverickFuel Cap sticker:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393973004665
I found this on Ebay. After much deliberation, I decided to stick it next to the Lariat logo on the driver’s side. You know… so it’s like a fake fender badge next to a fake cooling vent.
Tailgate letters:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1128871003/my-car-my-way-maverick-tailgate-insert?
Can you believe I couldn’t find faux Western Red Cedar bark tailgate letters anywhere? Luckily, this ebay seller came to my rescue. I submitted a photo, talked through the details, paid an extra $20 for the customization, and got these little beauties. They look a little washed out in this photo.
Ford OEM All-Weather tray style floor liners:
https://accessories.ford.com/products/maverick-crew-cab-2022-hev-all-weather-floor-liner-tray-set
I tried to cancel these from my order twice but my dealership dropped the ball. The protection these provide is just enough that I’m not losing sleep over not having aftermarket floor mats that offer more coverage.
OEM Vertical and Horizontal bed nets:
https://accessories.ford.com/products/maverick-2022-horizontal-bed-net
https://accessories.ford.com/products/maverick-2022-vertical-bed-net
Originally I thought I’d be using the flexbed grooves and partition the bed with lumber. Seeking a simpler solution, I thought I’d try the vertical bed net instead. For my needs so far, the vertical bed net is getting the job done. It holds things in place and doesn’t add the weight and potential fitment and rattling issues that 2x6’s could. It’s also much easier to stow when I need access to the full bed. I haven’t used the horizontal net yet. It’s very small and is designed to fit snugly to the bed floor. If you order through Ford Accessories, make sure you get the one you want. The SKU’s were swapped at one point and I’m not sure if they fixed that. Also one of the photos on the page for the vertical net is still showing the horizontal net.
Tailgate assist:
https://accessories.ford.com/products/tailgate-assist
It works great. I’ve had no issues with the shock absorber coming loose at the tailgate or with it rubbing against an exposed screw head as some others have reported. I followed Shay’s informative install video. Thanks Shay! https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/video-diy-tailgate-assist-installation.10142/
Custom tailgate tie down by MTC member Chandonnet:
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-assist-installed-recovers-lost-tiedown.4953/
When you install the tailgate assist, you lose the OEM tailgate tie down. I wanted that tie down point back. Chandonnet to the rescue! These suckers are expertly crafted from stainless steel.
Mud guards by Rokblokz
https://rokblokz.com/collections/fo...d-flaps/products/ford-maverick-2022-mud-flaps
I followed Rokblokz’ installation video. The nylon clips they provide are cheaply made. I stripped two of them applying just a minimum amount of torque from a puny handheld driver. Others have complained that the “stainless steel” hardware is already rusting. I’m just hoping the flaps stay in place. If you told me there are better mudflap solutions out there, I’d believe you.
License plate frame
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125176742882
I bought this frame for the rear license plate because it compliments the same pattern that’s on my tonneau cover. It’s overbuilt. Which isn’t a bad thing.
Accessories I once thought were must haves that I don’t plan on buying
LED reverse/cargo lights:
I would upgrade my reverse/cargo lights if I felt they were needed for better visibility while backing up. To me, the stock lights work well enough. I don’t want brighter lights to see in the bed more clearly as these same lights would also be shining in my eyes.
Cravenspeed Platypus front license plate holder:
https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-pla...DVe8XgkOecD__sHHnbY2jB3Ncvq7VQPcaArbmEALw_wcB
A front license plate is required in the state of Washington. I’m pretty sure this gizmo works well enough. For me, I ultimately decided that I was okay with the dealership screwing their license plate holder into the plastic part of my bumper. I apologize to those of you that just fainted.
Accessories that I ordered and didn’t like:
Evoc Duo Tailgate Bike pad:
https://evocsports.us/collections/bike-travel-accessories/products/tailgate-pad-duo
I’m sure this is the answer for some bikers out there. I just didn’t like the idea of having to thread the straps between the gate and the bed every time I wanted to attach the pad. If I had kept it, I would have applied helicopter tape or ppf to the critical areas of the tailgate to prevent scratching and I would have cut slits in my bedrug for the straps to fit through.
Instead of a tailgate pad or hitch mount, I'm using this method:
I use the bike stand you can see clearly in the third photo to hold the bike for me as I prepare and cinch tight the ratchet straps. I will strap the stand to a tie-down point as a just-in-case measure. I also don't see a need to drive with the tailgate in this position. I'll probably just leave it fully open.
Low profile window deflectors by Lund:
https://accessories.ford.com/products/smoke-low-profile-side-window-deflectors
These are another item that I did not get removed from my Maverick order in time. The deflectors still sit unopened in my room. I don’t love the fitment and I’m not sure I really need the rain resistant access to fresh air.
That's it for now! Thanks MTC members for all the help!
Also, Jordi says “Hi!”
My mistake. She just wants down.
Sponsored
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