Is the Hybrid Ford Maverick snow capable? How much MPG do you lose in the Midwest?

I have had my ford maverick hybrid for over a year and 16K miles. This is technically the second winter it has gone through (I didn't drive it much that winter). I will give you one or two things I don't like about how it performs in the snow and also a few things about how well it performs in the snow. At the end I divulge the winter MPG and how it compares to the summer MPG.

[@timjohnson1199]

Yes, "digging these warmer winters"!

[@rockobeam2706]

Thanks for the video. My hybrid xlt with the luxury package and sunroof is one boat ride away from being here on Vancouver Island BC. So stoked. Waited along time lol. 15 months 🫣

[@IllInformedHuman]

Oof... I had to wait 6 months on top of 11 months originally promised (they don't like sending hybrids to the Midwest apparently). Was completely worth the wait, I trust you will agree!

[@rockobeam2706]

@@IllInformedHuman good things are worth waiting for 😉

[@rockobeam2706]

@Ill-Informed Human I finally did get mine 2 weeks ago now. I'm at 2100 kilometers already. Such a nice vehicle. I do renovations and it's actually been perfect for the everyday stuff. No regrets

[@IllInformedHuman]

@@rockobeam2706 That 1500 lb bed cap really makes it so you can put anything back there! (as long as it fits)

[@jamesmaccari9128]

My new Maverick is doing awesome here in the Pennsylvania hills. Of course my CMax was great in the snow too but the Maverick with the extra ground clearance is the bomb.

[@IllInformedHuman]

I have also been appreciative of the ground clearance :)

[@trevorbraun2574]

I’m in New England and just picked up my Maverick Hybrid. Getting it undercoated first thing but so far I’m loving it. My only issue with non-4x4 trucks is that they’re RWD so the fact that these aren’t AWD but FWD instead is just fine by me. Cheers

[@IllInformedHuman]

It makes the hybrid a little more attractive than one might have originally thought :)

[@danielpilachowski2424]

Will undercoat void the warranty.

[@danielpilachowski2424]

I live in Massachusetts. Who does a good undercoating

[@trevorbraun2574]

@@danielpilachowski2424 I called both Ford directly as well as my local dealer on this exact question. Ford said no, but to confirm with my dealer... my dealer said no. As far as I know (and I had the service done based on this information) it does not have any affect on the warranty. I'm a bit further north than you, but regardless of where you go I'd recommend NHOU BossWax if you're having it done on a new car. It's a lifetime application and after its cured it has a sort of thick/tacky texture to it that doesn't run. It's a bit more expensive, and does require bi-annual inspections to maintain the warranty, but my experience with it has been really good so far.

[@morrismonet3554]

Just picked up a Hybrid and drove it home on country roads in the snow. Handled fine and pulled the hills with no problem. Agree, you can never expect great mileage in winter especially with shorter trips, when you spend so much time warming the vehicle up and defrosting the windows.

[@IllInformedHuman]

Try explaining this to a southerner! :D

[@nezihvarisligil7140]

I heard (it might not be true but..) the older Mavericks having an adjustable grill(?) that opens and closes automatically depending on the temp. but the '23s dont have that feature. I am getting about 10% better mpg on my 23 hybrid when I block off some portion of the grill with a good ole piece of cardboard!

[@IllInformedHuman]

My maverick is a 22 and it has the adjustable grill flaps. They are pretty sweet! The only thing I don't like is that one of the recalls had the mechanic take out two of the flaps to always have airflow over the engine in case the oil started leaking...

[@g2823]

Hi, are you running stock tires or a winter tire? Thanks, Gary

[@IllInformedHuman]

Stock tires.

[@ModerateFr4nk]

Would you (or anyone for that matter) know if adding off-road tires add some height to the truck? If so will it hinder the hybrid drive trans without damaging it like a lift would?

[@IllInformedHuman]

I doubt you could change the rim size, but you could change the tires with little issue.

[@timothybruggeman9332]

How do you engage the "Low Gear" button you mention?

[@rockobeam2706]

I haven't actually gotten my maverick yet but I believe there's a button in the center of the shift dial with an L on it. I believe that engages low gear.

[@timothybruggeman9332]

@@rockobeam2706 thanks. Well of course there is. Right there in the middle of the shifter knob! I need to get my eyes checked... LOL.

[@IllInformedHuman]

@@timothybruggeman9332 I had to check the manual to understand what that thing was! In addition to getting me up hill, I have engaged it to tug a few toys out of the mud :)

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Come to California’s Sierra Nevada if you want record snowfall to drive in.

[@IllInformedHuman]

🤭 I will take my snowfall gently spread throughout the season thank you!

[@timjohnson1199]

Get some snow there recently, did ya?

[@markgeller5900]

Anyone in a snowy area using the FWD hybrid Lariat stock all weather tires and occasionally cables for emergency deep stuff?

[@markretuya9059]

Do we need chains

[@IllInformedHuman]

I run the stock tires and have had no issues. I would say no you don't need chains.

[@Yikes_its_Psychs]

Can you show it going through the snow?

[@IllInformedHuman]

I can plan on a winter update video when I next get snow! It's going to be a few months... I am in the middle of summer.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I couldn’t drive in clothes, gloves or caps that are made to be worn outside.

[@IllInformedHuman]

That is something I have been doing my entire life up until now!

[@timjohnson1199]

Had my Maverick for a couple of weeks now and really enjoying my heated seats/ steering wheel.

[@IllInformedHuman]

@@timjohnson1199 I had no clue how badly I needed them!

[@joshgutierrez7380]

having the heater on doesn't effect mpg at all lol there is no additional drag on the engine. even with the a/c compressor on, the difference is negligible. the only reason your mpg is worse is because the engine has to run a little more frequently due to the cold temperatures

[@IllInformedHuman]

"Engine has to run a little more frequently" I wonder why the gas engine would need to step in more often 🤔Could it possibly be the blower motor? BTW that phrase make no sense as you wrote it, I assumed you meant the gas engine has to turn on as opposed to being able to use the electric motor. I had to respond and then mull it over lol