John of the jmc6000 YouTube channel is much obliged to demonstrate how efficient a hybrid-powered Maverick is up Lookout Pass on Interstate 90. Despite a maximum elevation of 4,725 feet (1,440 meters) and six degrees for the maximum grade, but the unibody truck averaged 33.9 mpg (6.9 l/100 km) with 850 pounds (386 kilograms) of payload.
Pretty sweet, right? More so if you remember the EPA’s fuel economy ratings for the FWD-only Maverick Hybrid. The most frugal specification of the lot is good for 37 mpg (6.3 l/100 km) on the combined test cycle, split between 42 mpg (5.6 l/100 km) city and 33 mpg (7.1 l/100 km) highway. Even more impressively, John’s truck was indicating 35.8 mpg (6.6 l/100 km) before hitting the Lookout Pass on the border of Idaho and Montana.
The fuel-sipping truck in the featured clip was driven in tow/haul mode at 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour). Of course, the aforementioned gas mileage wouldn’t have been possible without regenerative braking.
Still the most affordable new truck in the United States of America, the hybrid-powered Maverick is available for $19,995 excluding destination charge as long as you’re fine with steelies and urethane for the steering wheel’s rim. Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.5-liter aluminum block and 16-valve head, aluminum pistons, powder-forged connecting rods, a composite intake manifold, and an integrated exhaust manifold. Produced in Mexico, the Atkinson-cycle lump is connected to an electronic continuously variable transmission, dubbed HF45 yet advertised under the PowerSplit handle.
Gifted with 2.91:1 final gearing, the hybrid-powered Maverick has a base curb weight of 3,674 pounds (1,666 kilograms), a maximum payload of 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), and tows up to 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms). The permanent magnet electric traction motor is officially rated by FoMoCo at 126 horsepower (94 kW) and 173 pound-feet (235 Nm) of torque.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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