The Ford Maverick is a sub-$20k pick-up

“Maverick” used to be the name on a rebadged Nissan Terrano 4x4 but this one is a bit different. It’s all new, compact of size at a smidge over 5m and claimed to be the first hybrid pick-up – in America but (we think) in the UK as well. Across the pond it’s being sold as the most fuel-efficient truck on the market, with 40mpg and a 500-mile range.

The Maverick eschews pick-up old-tech – the separate chassis, diesel motor, manual gearbox and rugged 4x4 drivetrain – for something very un-truck-like. The four-door, five-seat double-cab is unitary construction and in standard form has a petrol engine driving the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Despite this Ford claims it delivers on the things that people expect of a double cab: butch looks, and a big and flexible load bed and ability to tow. In this form it’s hardly an off-roader then and with a payload maximum of just 680kg it won’t convince the UK taxman that it’s a vat-exempt commercial vehicle, but it still makes some valid work/lifestyle points for people, in Ford’s words, “who do stuff and make things”. Like DIYers and party people.

Doing stuff and making things is sweetened by a range of neat features for fun or work: a multi position tailgate and anchor points to strap your load down, 12-volt and 110-volt power outlets and a cab well equipped with 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wi-fi for up to 10 devices and lots of clever storage solutions.

But the biggest sweetener of all is the price: in the US the Maverick has just gone on sale at $19,995 or the equivalent of just over £14,000.

In this form it’s a faux 4x4 for sure – the Matra Rancho of the pick-up world – but you can pay more for an EcoBoost engine version that ups power from 191PS (140kW) to 250PS (184kW), boosts the towing ability and brings all-wheel drive as well.

But it’s at the entry-level price you can see it going down a storm with young buyers. As one of the engineers who developed it says, “it’s the ultimate first vehicle for my kids.”

So will it be joining the larger, more convetional Ford Ranger in Ford showrooms in this country? No confirmation but it’s unlikely. If only Ford offered the Ranger Raptor at £14,000!