Short hops between downtown Belleville errands suit the 2.5L full hybrid, standard on the 2027 Ford Maverick XL, XLT and Lariat. Its gas-electric setup, rated at 184 combined horsepower, works through a power-split electronic CVT with front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive XL and XLT hybrids carry up to 1,500 lb of payload, properly equipped.

The available 4K Tow Package is the one to know when a project needs a trailer. On an all-wheel-drive hybrid or the EcoBoost XLT, it adds a Class III hitch, 4-pin and 7-pin connectors and a trailer brake controller, for up to 4,000 lb when properly equipped. Otherwise, Ford rates the Maverick at up to 2,000 lb, properly equipped.

• XLT AWD option: 2.0L EcoBoost with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft
• Standard EcoBoost and Advanced 4WD on Lobo and Tremor
• 8-speed automatic on the EcoBoost XLT and Tremor
• Paddle shifters on the Lobo's 7-speed quick-shift transmission
• Ford Trail Control and a locking differential on Tremor

Power at a Metro East job site often comes from the truck. Every 2027 Ford Maverick bed has two pre-wired 12-volt connections as standard, enough to keep a mini-fridge running, and available Pro Power Onboard 400 W adds 110-volt outlets in the cab and bed.

Inside, every trim has a standard 13.2-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4. Compatible phones link to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with no cord, and XLT and Lariat drivers get an 8-inch cluster display. The available Ford Connectivity Package adds an unlimited Wi-Fi hotspot, included for the first year with an activated modem; features vary by model.

• Theft Alerts from the available Ford Security Package, activated plan required
• Available B&O Sound System, 8 speakers including a subwoofer
• Wireless charging in the Lariat Luxury Package
• Intelligent Access with push-button start on XLT and Lariat
• XLT Luxury Package includes Pro Power Onboard 400 W

A utility trailer and a tight Belleville driveway can test anyone's patience, and the 2027 Ford Maverick Lariat brings standard Pro Trailer Backup Assist plus Pro Trailer Hitch Assist. With a trailer in tow, the available BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert and Trailer Coverage still watches the blind spots. Driver-assist features are supplemental, and the driver stays in charge.

The Lariat and Tremor come with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, and the Lobo can add it: Lane Centering, Intersection Assist, Predictive Speed Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go. The XL has standard lane-keeping technology and automatic emergency braking, and the XLT gets Post-Collision Braking and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking.

• 360-Degree Camera standard on the Lariat
• Rear view camera and Lane-Keeping System on the XLT
• Automatic high beams on the XLT's LED headlamps
• Pre-Collision Assist with AEB on XLT and Lariat
• Post-Collision Braking on the XLT

An icy January morning tests a truck cabin, and the 2027 Ford Maverick Lariat answers with heated front seats, mirrors and steering wheel, remote start and dual-zone automatic climate control. On the XLT, the available XLT Luxury Package covers heated front seats and steering wheel, an eight-way power driver seat and remote start.

Tools for a Saturday job tuck into the rear under-seat storage bins, and the Ford Integrated Tether System adds slot mounts behind the console and in those bins for Ford accessories or 3D-printed add-ons. Door pockets fit most water bottles. Both a power moonroof and a power-sliding rear window are available.

• Cloth-trimmed seats on the XL
• XLT: unique cloth-trimmed bucket seats, FITS kit console cupholders
• Lobo: ActiveX seats with Grabber Blue and Lime stitching
• Smoked Truffle ActiveX-trimmed seats in the Lariat
• Tremor: orange-stitched ActiveX, heated front seats and steering wheel

Yard work fills plenty of humid July Saturdays around Belleville, and the 2027 Ford Maverick keeps the lifting low. With the multi-position tailgate lowered, the floor of its 4.5-foot bed sits no higher than 30.4 inches. Secure that tailgate partway down, level with the wheel wells, and a 4x8 sheet of plywood rests on top of them.

The Lobo wears a black-painted roof over a lowered suspension, the Tremor a unique grille with Tremor Orange accents, and the Lariat 19-inch machined-painted aluminum wheels. Paint choice is widest on the XLT and Lariat, which offer all nine colors, including new Neptune Blue, Gladwin Green and Glacier Gray Metallic.

• FLEXBED Storage System for segmented compartments and DIY carriers
• 54.4 inches long and 33.3 cubic feet, tailgate closed
• 53.3 inches wall to wall, 42.6 between the wheelwells
• Tailgate tie-downs double as bottle openers
• XLT or Lariat Bronze Appearance Package: Sinister Bronze-painted wheels