Quick Look & Dyno Numbers | 2022 Ford Maverick | 5 Star Tuning

SID297

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Quick Look & Dyno Numbers | 2022 Ford Maverick | 5 Star Tuning
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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:





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The familiar 2.0L that has been found under the hoods of many Fords.

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Looks like we have some EGR components hiding in there.

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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.

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Always great to see Ford adding more charging/power options to new vehicles. The bed lights are handy too.

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Speaking of power options. Ford added two 12V DC power points to the bed to up-fit future electronic additions.
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The harness come attaches to these dummy plugs. Pigtail connectors are included in the glove box to wire in whatever you like.
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This is a better integration of the keyless entry pad than we see on a lot of new Ford vehicles, including the Bronco.
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I like seeing all these little built in Easter Eggs Ford is adding to their newer releases.
STK vs 87 vs 93.jpg


Solid gains from the 5 Star custom tuning.
-SID297
 
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CobraBob

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Very nice (limited) review, Sid. I'm not a fan of the new Maverick, but I can definitely see its application for those on a more modest budget. Ford trucks are not cheap, money wise.

Decent power/torque gains with the 5-Star Tuning tune and 93 octane fuel.
 

SID297

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Very nice (limited) review, Sid. I'm not a fan of the new Maverick, but I can definitely see its application for those on a more modest budget. Ford trucks are not cheap, money wise.

Decent power/torque gains with the 5-Star Tuning tune and 93 octane fuel.

I'll be getting to spend some more time with one next week, then we'll have a more detailed review.
 

gimmie11s

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That would be a hell of a DD/weekend tripper to the hardware store.

I like it.
 

SHOdown220

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Part of me wants a full size truck part of me realizes I’ll almost never use one for its potential and I should buy one of these. Too bad they all seem marked up right now which defeats the purpose of a cheap truck.

Seems like it would be decently quick with a tune for its size
 

TerminatoRS

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Could be fun with FBO+tune and an AWD launch. Would help make up for the looks.
 

13COBRA

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Travis it's funny you thought the interior was lacking. I can't tell you how many customers have been all over the interior saying how awesome it was!
 

Black02GT

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Very nice (limited) review, Sid. I'm not a fan of the new Maverick, but I can definitely see its application for those on a more modest budget. Ford trucks are not cheap, money wise.

Decent power/torque gains with the 5-Star Tuning tune and 93 octane fuel.

Friend is looking at one. Lease is up on his Taco and says the gas mileage sucked and the interior was lacking in the Toyota. Problem is can't even find one to look at around here.
 

SID297

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Part of me wants a full size truck part of me realizes I’ll almost never use one for its potential and I should buy one of these. Too bad they all seem marked up right now which defeats the purpose of a cheap truck.

Seems like it would be decently quick with a tune for its size

So that's sort of the issue I find my self in. 99% of the time I could get by with a truck like Ranger. However, I have two gooseneck trailers and several boats in the family. A Super Duty is about all that really fits the bill for me.

Could be fun with FBO+tune and an AWD launch. Would help make up for the looks.

I'll have to check in on 5 Star and see if they have had a chance to drag test theirs.

Is the AWD version a fwd based system?

Yes

Travis it's funny you thought the interior was lacking. I can't tell you how many customers have been all over the interior saying how awesome it was!

Circling back around, it isn't bad considering the base price. It's very utilitarian, and should be easy to keep clean.
 

7998

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My wife likes these. She thinks they're cute but they don't come with cooled seats so it's a non-starter. I seen a few in person, it's not a bad looking little truck.
 

SolarYellow

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Shockingly I don't think the truck looks bad (except the base model) but I don't see much of a reason to pick it over a Ranger.
 

SHOdown220

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Shockingly I don't think the truck looks bad (except the base model) but I don't see much of a reason to pick it over a Ranger.

Cost, and if I'm not mistaken I think I read somewhere it actually has more back seat space than the ranger. It's something like a $10,000 difference between a awd/ecoboost maverick and a 4wd crew cab ranger. I think the xlt maverick is also fitted with more features than an xlt ranger standard. But again I haven't done enough research to know for sure.
 

CobraBob

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Travis it's funny you thought the interior was lacking. I can't tell you how many customers have been all over the interior saying how awesome it was!
It's an inexpensive truck with an expected inexpensive looking interior. A lot of hard plastic and some trim pieces that could have been better designed to give it a more modern and softer/blended appearance. JMO.

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Overall, it's a nice truck for the money. I'm not a big fan of the interior, but I love the exterior and features. A pretty much loaded XLT SuperCrew bathed in Cactus Gray paint came to $28,995, including a console safe for my S&W 9mm Shield. That is a lot of lighter duty truck for the money. And a nice DD.

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kevinatfms

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I want to see someone slap a big turbo on this thing and go for broke. I still think Ford is missing the mark without a performance pickup truck.
 

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