TLDR: Ford’s compact pickup takes MotorTrend’s top truck honor four years after losing to the Rivian R1T. The Maverick has sold nearly half a million units since launch, outselling its only competitor by nearly 6-to-1 in 2025.
When the Maverick first competed for MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year in 2022, it lost narrowly to the Rivian R1T. Four years and 434,000 U.S. sales later, Ford’s compact pickup finally takes the crown.
The timing matters. Toyota announced its compact truck competitor for fall 2027, giving Ford at least two more years to define what Americans expect from the segment.
The Sales Reality
The Maverick hasn’t just survived in a segment Detroit abandoned decades ago. It’s dominating. Through Q3 2025, Ford has moved 120,904 Mavericks in the U.S., on pace for another 130,000-plus year after setting a record with 131,142 units in 2024.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, the segment’s only competitor, has managed 20,633 units through the same period. That’s a nearly 6-to-1 advantage for Ford. MotorTrend’s claim that the Maverick has sold “triple” the Santa Cruz’s volume understates how lopsided this has become.
What the Refresh Brings
The 2026 model adds midcycle enhancements borrowed from the F-150: Pro Trailer Hitch Assist uses the backup camera and radar to steer the truck’s ball under a trailer hitch, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist lets drivers reverse a trailer using a dashboard knob. Small trailers jackknife easily, making these features more useful on compact trucks than on their full-size siblings.
MotorTrend praised the packaging: more rear head- and legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma, nearly 90% of the Taco’s short-bed capacity, in a package a foot shorter overall. The hybrid model achieves 42/35/38 mpg, making it the most fuel-efficient pickup sold in America.
Why It Matters
Base pricing starts at $28,840 for 2026, well under the average new vehicle transaction price. That positioning mirrors the Escalade IQ’s strategy in reverse: instead of over-engineering for buyers who don’t care about cost, Ford built exactly enough truck for buyers who care about little else.
By the time Toyota arrives in 2027, Ford will likely have over 600,000 Mavericks on the road, establishing the template for what a compact truck should be. The segment Detroit abandoned now belongs to Ford, and there’s no sign anyone can catch up.
