Trucks and SUVs

2025 Best Compact/Midsize Truck: Ford Maverick

Full-size trucks own the lion’s share of truck sales in Canada, but not everyone wants or needs one that big. This has led to a resurgence of smaller trucks, and this category is packed with strong contenders, but the Ford Maverick has been voted as the Best Compact/Midsize Truck in the 2025 AutoTrader Awards, marking a three-time win for this pint-sized pickup.

The Maverick has always been available with a hybrid powertrain, but to get all-wheel drive (AWD), you had to go with the gas-only model. The big news for 2025 is that AWD is now also available on the hybrid model. Canadians prefer AWD but also don’t want to sacrifice efficiency, and this new configuration makes the Maverick lineup even stronger.

The other trucks in this category like the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and Toyota Tacoma are all great trucks, but the Maverick won over our panel of more than 20 of Canada’s top automotive experts for its performance, user-friendliness, practicality, features, value, and more.

The unibody Maverick shares its platform with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport. It’s a four-door crew cab with 4-foot-5 (1,382-mm) bed that’s able to easily handle camping gear or a trip to Ikea. That bed is designed to easily accommodate accessories for organizing cargo, and with a bed extender, you can even take a dirt bike out to the trails. The tailgate also locks halfway, in line with the wheel wells, for tying down longer items.

The XL, XLT, and Lariat trims start with the self-charging hybrid powertrain, which uses a 2.5L four-cylinder that, on its own, makes 162 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. When working together with the hybrid electric motor, output rises to 191 hp. It’s all mated to an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The XL and XLT hybrids come in front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD, while the Lariat hybrid is AWD-only. All are able to drive on gasoline, electricity, or a combination, automatically switching between them depending on driving conditions.

Available on those three trims, and the only choice on the Tremor and new Lobo trims, is a 2.0L four-cylinder “EcoBoost” engine – Ford’s name for turbocharging – making 238 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic in the off-road-ready Tremor, while the Lobo uses a quick-shifting seven-speed. The Lobo further goes to “street truck” mode with lowered sport suspension, upgraded brakes, and 19-inch wheels, and its unique AWD system allows for sportier driving. Our jury likes the wide range the Maverick offers, especially since you can now get that street-truck setup straight from the factory – and while it isn’t inexpensive, it's likely that adding its unique features from the local custom shop would be even harder on your wallet.

The Maverick starts at $36,695 for the XL Hybrid in FWD, including delivery fee, and $39,195 in AWD; and $37,195 for the gas-only version. The top-end Tremor and Lobo trims, which are not available as hybrids, top out the lineup at $49,795 and $49,995, respectively.

As for fuel economy, the gasoline-only version is rated at 9.4 L/100 km in combined driving. Naturally, the hybrid sips less, at 5.6 L/100 km for FWD, and 5.9 L/100 km in AWD.

Our judges were impressed with the interior. It’s not fancy, but it’s very practical with easy-to-clean surfaces and thoughtful storage that easily accommodates phones, tall water bottles, and other daily-life needs. Our 6-foot-3 tester had plenty of room inside, while shorter judges had no trouble with visibility and finding the right seating position.

The Maverick is the complete package for anybody looking for a manageable and efficient small truck. It’s easy to drive and park, packed with clever features, is rated to tow as much as 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg), and is very user-friendly, helping it cement its win as the Best Compact/Midsize Truck in the 2025 AutoTrader Awards.