Quick Look & Dyno Numbers | 2022 Ford Maverick | 5 Star Tuning
The All-New 2022 Ford Maverick has been somewhat polarizing in the online performance community. Some see it’s small’ish size and payload capacity as a hindrance to performing truck-like duties. Other’s see the base hybrid powertrain and impressive MPG rating (42 city/33 hwy/37 combined) as major highpoints for any truck. I think everyone can agree that the impressively low base price ($19,995) is something to take notice of. However, if you’re on SVTP you’re probably interested in wringing our all the performance you can from the optional 2.0L EcoBoost power-plant.
On a recent trip through Florence, SC we stopped by 5 Star Tuning for a visit and happened to catch them working on a new performance calibration for their 2022 Maverick R&D vehicle. Since time was short and the mini-truck was still strapped to the rollers, we didn’t have time to get it out on the street and give their work a proper test. However, they report that the preliminary numbers (this isn’t the final version of the tune they will eventually offer to the public) were baseline of 225.5 HP @ 5250 RPM and 315.6 lb-ft @ 2850 RPM and 247.2 HP @ 5350 RPM and 336.3 lb-ft @ 2900 RPM on 87 Octane fuel. When they filled the tank with Premium 93 Octane the 5 Star tuners were able to crank up the boost and timing to pump out 267.5 HP @ 5350 RPM and 373.2 lb-ft @ 3050 RPM.
That should be enough to make this little AWD truck pretty fun for DD duties. Since we had the truck available to inspect, we decided to give it a quick once over to see how it compares to the rest of the Ford truck line-up in terms of initial fit-&-finish impressions. Unfortunately, you can definitely tell where Ford allocated their expenditures. Both the base hybrid and optional AWD drivetrains are very nice, but that technology seems to have come at the price of the interior material choices. The Maverick’s insides are a sea of hard plastics that don’t always match in color from one panel to another. Material wise, the 1998 Ranger I had a million years ago had higher quality materials (dash pad, door panels, seat covering, etc) in the interior than this brand-new 2022 model. The cost cutting here is very evident. I have absolutely no issue with a hard plastic utilitarian interior in a truck; but it should look tough, not cheap.
Conversely, there are some really nice electronics in the particular truck. I really like the digital gauge cluster, though I wish Ford would give the end customer more freedom to customize its style and layout. This is where a web based tech integration would be welcome. Simply log into an app on the device of your choice design your own personalized cluster, then hit a button and it ports over to your truck’s display. All the necessary hardware appears to be in place to make something like that work, Ford’s software engineers just need to make it happen.
Still, there are a host of other features that are both pleasant to look at and practical. The nav screen is well integrated and looks well placed and properly proportioned to the vehicle. The bed has tons of clever features that will allow buyer to up-fit with a host of accessories, and the overall fit & finish of the exterior is decent. There’s still a lot to discover on this new Ford truck, so if you want to see all our first impressions of this Ford Maverick check out this video:
The familiar 2.0L that has been found under the hoods of many Fords.
Looks like we have some EGR components hiding in there.
The Maverick interior is pretty good considering it's price point. This one is instrumented-up while 5 Star is working on their tuning package.
Always great to see Ford adding more charging/power options to new vehicles. The bed lights are handy too.
Speaking of power options. Ford added two 12V DC power points to the bed to up-fit future electronic additions.
The harness come attaches to these dummy plugs. Pigtail connectors are included in the glove box to wire in whatever you like.
This is a better integration of the keyless entry pad than we see on a lot of new Ford vehicles, including the Bronco.
I like seeing all these little built in Easter Eggs Ford is adding to their newer releases.
Solid gains from the 5 Star custom tuning.
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