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To say that the Ford Maverick is a sales success is undoubtedly an understatement: It has outsold every one of its potential competitors, including the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Honda Ridgeline, the entire Lincoln lineup, and even its fellow Ford, the Ranger.
Now, while certainly a highly versatile pickup, the Maverick’s towing capacity maxes out at 4,000 pounds, and even then, that’s assuming you’ve purchased the car with the optional 4K Tow Package upgrade. Without it, the tow rating drops to just 2,000 pounds.
What Can You Tow That’s 4,000 Pounds or Less?
If you were to upgrade to the 4K Tow Package, you would be able to pull a 17-foot camper, a 20-foot utility trailer, a moderate-sized boat, and even a small livestock trailer.
Although there are Maverick owners who have pushed their towing to the limits and beyond, including at least one who exceeded 8,000 pounds, doing so runs the risk of you losing control of the car and either damaging or outright wrecking it.
Towing with the Maverick: The Good
It’s important to point out that the Maverick is not a traditional body-on-frame pickup truck, which means it doesn’t share the massive towing capacity of a truck such as the Ram 1500 or Ford F-150. However, the Maverick’s unibody construction means it will behave more like a regular car. For those not used to the wandering, barge-like feel of a large truck, the Maverick will feel more familiar, especially when towing.
With its optional 2.0 EcoBoost 4-cylinder and its 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, the Maverick has plenty of power to pull swiftly and easily. Reviewers and owners alike report that the Maverick never feels taxed or treacherous, even when bumping against its maximum capacity. Even if you don’t get the 4K Tow Package, the 2,000-pound towing capacity still provides enough utility to handle a cargo trailer. In fact, The Maverick is overkill for occasional or light towing needs, such as with a U-Haul trailer or some canoes.
Towing with the Maverick: The Bad
If you’re looking for the right pickup truck to tow your yacht, car trailer, or 35-foot 5th wheel, you have to look elsewhere. Given the Maverick’s reasonable size and power, 4,000 pounds is an excellent figure, but it pales in comparison to the capabilities of a Duramax Chevy or Cummins Ram.
Without the 4K Tow Package, the Maverick’s brakes can become taxed when roads become hilly, and the car’s mileage, while still adequate for a tow vehicle, takes a huge hit as the weight increases: Reports exist of large-capacity towing bringing the EcoBoost Maverick down to 11 MPG. The Hybrid Maverick can maintain reasonable numbers, but if you want to tow more than 2,000 pounds, you must opt for the EcoBoost and the 4K Tow Package.
The Final Word
If you’re wondering whether the Maverick will be enough to tow your stuff, the answer is a solid “It depends.” Get the tow package and keep your tow weight under 4,000 pounds, and you’ll have a daily driveable truck that keeps its manners when pulling a trailer.
Summary: Tow vehicles are usually large, body-on-frame trucks with massive engines. The Ford Maverick has a unibody construction and a lineup of 4-cylinders, and amazingly, it can still tow decently well, though not without some caveats.