2023 Ford Maverick Tremor - Re- Driven Off Road Outfitted

UNBRANDED CALF BRED FOR TRAIL: Home improving city dwellers have driven the success of the unibody compact pickup truck. For maximum urban handiness it is hard to beat the five occupant + cargo bed + cinch to park + impressive fuel economy practicality of the waiting list worthy Ford Maverick.

For an outdoor adventurous rendition, Ford has applied somewhere between their FX4 and full on Raptor treatment to its cute truck. The post pavement rated 2023 Ford Maverick XLT Tremor is the subject of the latest Roadblazing.com Re-Drive.

2023 Ford Maverick XLT Tremor AWD DRIVING HITS: (vs. 2022 Ford Maverick 2.5L Hybrid FWD in parentheses)

• 2.0L turbocharged DI 16V DOHC engine (vs. 2.5L gas battery hybrid electric)
• 8-speed torque converter planetary automatic transaxle (vs. Continuously Variable Transaxle)
• 250 net horsepower @ 5500 r.p.m. (+59 horsepower)
• 277 pound feet torque @ 3000 r.p.m (+68 lb-ft)
• ♦ Towing: 2000 lbs. ; ♦ Payload: 1200 lbs.

• On demand all-wheel drive, PTU to locking viscous multi-clutch center differential, 100:0% nominal to 20:80% front to rear maximum torque split w/ front ABS torque vectoring open axle (vs. open axle front wheel drive)
• NEW FOR '23 TREMOR package:
  • Dana AdvanTEK Ultra^TM dual clutch e-locking rear axle differential = 100% L to R vectoring lock
    • 50:50% F:R differential lock
    • Trail Control ABS off road cruise control
  • "TREMOR" Drive Modes x 5: Normal, Slippery, Trailer Tow, Mud & Rock, Sand

• Fuel Economy: 23 Miles Per Gallon, 460 miles maximum range (vs. 36 m.p.g., 470 miles)
  • Front strut + rear twist beam independent suspension
• NEW FOR '23: TREMOR Package
• 9.4" inches ground clearance (vs. 8.6" inches Maverick FX4)
• 30.7^o degrees approach, 22.4^o departure, 19.9^o breakover angles (vs. 21.6^o / 21.2^o / 18.1^o Maverick FX4)
• Aluminum engine + transmission bash plate
• "TREMOR" specific dampers with internal bump stops

• Vented rear brake rotors
• 17" inch alloy wheels + 235/65-H Falken Wildpeak All Terrain AT3W tires
• Little body roll, understeer at limits

2023 Ford Maverick XLT Tremor AWD DRIVING MISSES:

• No hybrid powertrain
• Automatic transmission hunts around in normal drive modes
• TREMOR Pkg. ineligible for greater 4000 lbs. towing
• All-terrain tires = slower turn in, noisier
• Ride jitter over rougher pavement
• Tenuous road to steering helm feel
• Rotary drive position selector confuses, especially when seeking Reverse from Drive
• No off road protection for rear differential or fuel tank

2022 Ford Maverick 2.5L Hybrid - Bottom Line Review

ANIMATED MEASURE OF THE “CAR”: In the historic vernacular traditional sedans, coupes and hatchbacks comprise “Cars,” while all else can be summed up as “Trucks.” Fortunately for work vehicles, Disney’s Pixar embraces Sir Tow Mater, a tow pickup truck no less than Lighting McQueen, a NASCAR race stock car, in

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

WHAT the 2023 Ford Maverick XLT Tremor AWD HAS GOT:

• Pricing: from $24,090 (incl. destination) for an 8-speed automatic 2023 Ford Maverick 2.0T XL front-wheel drive. As tested high-spec 2023 Ford Maverick 2.0T XLT Tremor all-wheel drive trim priced at $34,207.

• Style: The Blue Oval's C2 platform is a master of many disguises. Where the Bronco Sport takes cues from Bronco SUV, Maverick is the pre-teen analog of the F-Series Tremor pickup truck. inboard "C" shaped LED head and taillamps. Those are bisected in front by amber directionals; Consistent with other unitized body truck beds, a urethane top sill slopes towards the rear; Locating the trailer hitch panel on the center rear bumper asymmetrically displaces the license plate bowl to the right side.

TREMOR appearance: ♦ Orange grille raceway character bar, ♦ Orange front tow hooks, ♦ Orange single spoke wheel border, Orange "XLT" fender louver lettering, ♦ "TREMOR" decal upper rear quarter panels + tailgate lower right side, Black "FORD" oval emblems.

• Space: Fits neatly within a 20 foot garage, easy nose-in perpendicular stall parking; √ Compact car row 2 passenger legroom

• Utility: √ 4.5 foot long cargo bed; √ Deep bumper spanning step; √ Easy action tailgate hinges; √ White LED overhead bed light; √ 60:40 split 2nd Row fold-up bench cushions; √ 2nd Row sub-bench seat storage tray; √ 1st Row full fore center console deep storage management; √ 1st & 2nd Row door pocket management

• √ 4x8' drywall or plywood fits above wheelhouses, exceeding bed (with liftgate lowered) by 1 foot.
• + FlexBed^TM abundant dealer available bed add-ons, including spray in or molded polyurethane bed liner
  • +/- EZ tailgate (hydraulic strut) assist is a user installed $50 accessory
  • -1 FlexBed^TM w/ power supply, J-channel adjustable cargo box cleats optional; No Backlight aperture (Lariat trim exclusive); Short door pockets

• Fit & Finish: Colorful tablet style screens, open storage trays, decorative exposed hex bolt style trim fasteners, precision rotary knobs with outdoorsy two tone chalk & grey color schemes appeal to the light work & youthful outdoor lifestyles.
• Standard Feature Set:
• √ Keyless entry, √ Steering column twist key or Ford Pass remote ignition start; √ B-pillar keypad entry
• √ 1-zone automatic climate control w/ pre-conditioning
• √ LED headlights, DRLs & sequential taillights
• √ Full express power windows x 4
• √ Cloth bucket front seats, manual adjust; √ Tilt + telescoping steering wheel w/ integrated controls
• Infotainment Technology:
• √ Twin analog dial gauge cluster + 4.2" TFT multifunction driving display
• √ MyFordSync 3.0 Touch 8.0" inch portrait swipe and touch LCD media display w/ voice command + guidance HDD GPS navigation, Ford Connected Apps; √ FordPass App;
  • By Subscription: Wi-Fi (4 years trial); √ SiriusXM satellite radio ( 90 days incl.)

• √ USB-A, C x 2; √ Bluetooth and smart phone messaging
• √ 6-speaker, 240 W streaming audio with HD-radio
• √ Android Auto + Apple CarPlay phone app projection (wired)
• Safety: +1 2023 IIHS overall Acceptable;^* 8 airbags; Backup camera w/ predictive grid lines + front & rear warning park assist
• ^{* predominantly good safety marks, marred by poor rear occupant safety}
• Driver Assist Technology: STD: Pedestrian, cyclist, large animal forward traffic and oncoming traffic turn vehicle collision avoidance braking; Blind spot & rear cross traffic warning & avoidance braking; Post collision brake lock; Auto high beam lights
  • Co-Pilot360 (optional): Adaptive cruise control; Lane Keep Assist with Travel Assist
• Warranty: 3 year / 36k miles bumper to bumper, 5 yrs. / 60k mi. powertrain warranty

WHAT the 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor AWD HAS NOT (or NOT PREFERRED):

• Most operational settings including climate accessible ONLY in the central touch infotainment screen
• Steering wheel limited telescoping range

STANDOUT FEATURES on 2023 FORD MAVERICK XLT TREMOR AWD :

• ♦ Spray-in bedliner
• ♦ 6.5" inch color TFT multifunction display includes off road modes & position
• ♦ "TREMOR" bronze embroidered "stone wash"Black Onyx" denim look front bucket seats, manual adjust
• ♦ Ambient cabin illumination (white)

Roadblazing.com Says: Unbranded Blue Oval pickup calf trades away FX4 towing capability for greater off road ambition.