Affordable pickup. Those are two words not connected in recent automotive history. Some of you may remember the days when a pickup was a bargain ride, but that truck drove out of town some time ago.
Those price dynamics help explain why the internet exploded in late April with the news of a coming electric pickup from a startup car company that would be priced under $20,000 after applying the current tax credit for EVs. The Slate will be American-made, basic, but functional and capable of being upgraded to the specifications of many of the higher-priced trucks on the market.
The Slate will carry two passengers in its base form, have hand-crank windows and rely on you and your phone to supply any in-cab entertainment. It redefined basic, but was still intriguing.
However, if the EV tax credits go away, it looks like the truck’s starting price will be $26,200 based on a sticker they are offering as part of the initial package. Oh, and first deliveries aren’t expected until late 2026.
A Pickup for purchase now
But wait—or rather don’t wait. Here is this week’s test model, the 2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid, starting at $28,145, according to Ford’s website, reasonably close to the Slate’s base price. (Our test model came with some welcome optional equipment like a tow package, power seats and some advanced technology, totaling $36,860.)
But the Maverick comes backed with a company that’s been selling pickups and other vehicles for more than 120 years. It also comes with power windows, seating for five and a 13.2-inch screen filled with Ford’s Sync 4 software that includes an AM/FM radio and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The Maverick is a small pickup, but it doesn’t give up much because of its size. Its 4.5-foot bed is similar in size to the Slate’s, but the bigger cabin includes a back seat bench that will seat two—three for short distances.
Drop the tailgate on the bed and you can use the bed’s multiple tie-downs to anchor down a six-foot sofa bed (we did!). The bed also has power outlets if you want to turn this into a classic work truck.
While the Maverick isn’t all-electric like the Slate, its hybrid system is pretty sophisticated. EPA-rated at 40 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway, our Ford delivered on those numbers—even while hauling several hundred pounds of “stuff.” We got read-outs of the electric and overall miles on the dash; our final tally was about 1/3 of the time we were running on electrons. It also can tow 4,000 pounds.
Powering the Maverick is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 191 horsepower and 173 foot-pounds of torque. It’s augmented by a small battery and a continuously variable transmission. The power is more than adequate around town and up-to-speed on the freeway, even with a load. All-wheel drive is an option on all trim levels.
The Maverick is a truck, but it’s a small truck, which means a more car-like ride than its bigger siblings—the compact Ranger and full-size F-150. The 121-inch-wheelbase and 17-inch rims give it a compact SUV ride height. That shouldn’t be surprising since the Maverick is based on the same platform Ford’s compact Escape SUV and built in the same Hermosillo, Mexico, factory.
If you visit a Ford dealer you may see another version of the Maverick. It’s not a hybrid, but powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four that puts out more horsepower than the Hybrid’s naturally aspired engine. This model is more expensive, can’t match the fuel economy of the Hybrid, but also has some interesting offerings like the Tremor model for the off-road enthusiast.
I like the compact pickup form, which is a bit of a throwback to the mini-truck days. It functions like a truck, but has many car-like attributes. As a hybrid, the Maverick ups the ante by delivering exceptional fuel economy, while surrendering zero functionality. It’s an affordable pickup you can buy right now.
