2025 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid AWD
Price: $51,450 CAD
Colour: Desert Sand
To answer my own question – yes, they have. I know, bold claim. Allow me to elaborate. I drove the 2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid a couple of years ago. It was astonishing. The combination of practicality, smallness, utility and incredible fuel economy made for an absolute winner. The only real shortcoming I could find was that if you wanted the hybrid powertrain (which you do) you could only get it in front wheel drive. I said at the time that making the Maverick AWD with hybrid would make it perfect. Cut to two years later, and Ford has done just that. After spending a week with this new model, it doesn’t disappoint. The Maverick really has been perfected.
There are a few changes for the 2025 refresh of the Maverick like the infotainment system and other bits and pieces but nothing to get too excited about. Let’s focus then on what matters. The addition of AWD to the Hybrid offering. The Maverick has been the best-selling hybrid pickup truck since its inception three or so years ago. This means people have embraced the drivetrain and the value that it offers. It also means the lack of an AWD option hasn’t been a real deterrent. Fascinating then that Ford bothered to add it at all. We are blessed that they did however because it really does complete the package. There is no real-world scenario the AWD Hybrid Maverick can’t handle. When the bad weather hits nothing will stop you with the wonder of power to all four wheels. This may sound silly but this kind of refinement and improvement to a lineup gives me faith that maybe, just sometimes, a carmaker does something because it’s what is best for its customers and not just the bottom line on a spreadsheet. In the modern auto landscape, it’s something to be respected.
One thing that must be touched upon in this love letter to the Maverick – pricing. New car pricing continues to climb, and things have changed considerably since I first drove the Maverick hybrid. In 2023 the Lariat Hybrid was just under $42k CAD. All things considered, not bad. Two years later that same trim with AWD is just under $52k. That’s an increase of over 20% in a very short period of time. I’m not sure if this is blatant profiteering (though I suspect it is) or if it’s an actual reflection of the change in costs. Only Ford can answer that question. Luckily, you don’t need to buy a Lariat trim to be happy with your Maverick. You can still get a well optioned XLT trim with hybrid and AWD for the same $42k. It won’t have every bell and whistle, but it has the ones you need.
The Ford Maverick has found the sweet spot for utility, cost, size and function in the market. Sales numbers to date have proven that there is considerable demand for a truck like the Maverick. If Ford keeps iterating improvements with each refresh/new generation it will only see the Maverick’s success soar even higher.
