2023 Ford Maverick Tremor Review — The Tiny Truck that Could
The 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor is much more capable than the FX4, but the Lariat trim level lacks the quality found in other Ford trucks.
Ford recently sent over a 2023 Maverick Tremor for review. Spec’d in the Lariat trim with a sticker price of just under $37,500, it’s one of the more expensive Mavericks we’ve seen in person. Which left us with a few questions. Does the Maverick retain its massive appeal this far north of its $20K base MSRP? Is the Tremor package worth $3 grand? And is the Lariat trim level worth $3,700 over the XLT? Let’s explore.
Amongst Ford trims and packages, Tremor sits between FX4 and Raptor. FX4-equipped trucks include 4WD, skid plating, revised shocks, mildly upgraded tires, and, sometimes, locking differentials. Raptors, of course, boast more power, long-travel adjustable suspensions, and rugged trail tires. Tremors are, therefore, Goldilocks trucks. Not quite as badass as a Raptor, but noticeably better than an FX4 in terms of tires, suspension tuning, and ride height.
Debuting for the 2023 model year, the Ford Maverick Tremor is available on the XLT and Lariat trims and requires both the 2.0L EcoBoost engine (a no-charge option) and the Advanced 4WD system ($2,220). To this, the Tremor adds revised springs and shocks, both front and rear, that ultimately lift the truck an inch for a total of 9.4 inches of minimum ground clearance. Coupled with a revised front bumper, approach angle improves by 10 degrees to 30.7. Meaning, Ford has delivered a Maverick that can literally go where other Mavericks dare not tread. (More on this in a moment.)
The Tremor package also adds unique graphics and badges, 17-inch Falken Wildpeak All-Terrain tires, trail control, special off-road driving modes, and a lovely set of all-weather floor mats. All at a cost of $2,995 (or $5,215 if one includes the required Advanced 4WD system.) By comparison, the FX4 package costs $800 (or $3,020 with its required 4WD system).
Tremor Package Highlights
- Unique front & rear shocks
- 1″ ride height lift
- Trail Control
- Front skid plates
- Electronic locking rear differential
- 4WD lock
- Selectable drive modes, including Normal, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, & Sand
- Off-road screen in the gauge cluster
- Heavy-duty transmission cooler
- Full-size spare
- 17″ aluminum wheels with orange accents
- 235/65R17 A/T Tires (Falken Wildpeak)
- New front bumper with an improved approach angle
- Unique orange accent grille
- Orange tow hooks
- TREMOR graphics & unique Ford badges
- Black Onyx interior (cloth for XLT, ActiveX for Lariat)
- Black chrome headlights & taillights
- All-weather floor mats
As you can see above, there’s a fair amount of carryover between the FX4 and Tremor packages. But unlike the Ranger and F-150, the Tremor package is the only way to get a locking rear differential in a Maverick. And if you wanted to add Falken (or similar) tires just by themselves, expect to pay around a grand (including taxes and installation). In that sense, you’re effectively paying $1,200 for a locking diff, 1-inch lift, springs, shocks, new front bumper, floor mats, and graphics. All with a factory warranty.
Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
Tremor > FX4
Driving a 2022 Maverick Lariat FX4 (pictured above) out in the desert hills of the Hungry Valley SVRA in Southern California revealed a reasonably capable truck severely undercut by its lack of grippy tires, ground clearance, and approach angle. Seriously, take a look at any base Maverick, or Bronco Sport, and you’ll see far too much plastic material in places a tire might want to travel.
The Tremor erases these flaws in four vital ways. First, the revised front bumper improves approach angles dramatically. Next, Falken Wildpeak A/Ts are a terrific street and trail tire that also work wonders on snowpack. Ford also added an electronically-locking rear differential for added traction. And the upgraded suspension acts as the icing on the off-roading cake. Tremor shocks are better at absorbing random bumps and obstacles, which smoothes out the experience on dirt as much as it does on pavement.
In short, the Tremor is not only noticeably more capable, it’s also the most comfortable Maverick thus far. (Although to be fair, the unibody platform is overall more comfortable that its solid-axle, body-on-frame big brothers.) If you’re a weekend adventurer or live someplace with snowy winters, the Tremor is a fantastic package.
Just don’t expect it to go as far off-road as a (full-sized) Bronco Sasquatch or a Ranger Tremor.
Lariat Highlights
- 18” aluminum wheels (not on the Tremor)
- ActiveX synthetic leather
- LED signature lighting
- 6.5″ productivity screen
- Intelligent Access
- Push button start
- Power Seats
- Dual climate control
- Acoustic windshield
- Ambient lighting
Both the XLT and Lariat trim levels offer Luxury packages, which add heated front seats, upgraded radios, and extra power outlets (among other features).
Lariat Lacking
It seems smart for a company like Ford to standardize trim levels — like XL, XLT, and Lariat — across a variety of products. And while they do a bang-up job with the XL and the XLT models, Ford’s definition of Lariat varies widely. In the F-150, Lariat trucks add heated and ventilated leather seats as well as larger infotainment screens and fancy garage clusters.
In the Maverick, however, the Lariat only adds a semi-improved gauge cluster (along with the features listed above). But the seating material is kinda terrible and heated seats still cost extra. Ventilated seats aren’t even an option, despite being standard on a similarly priced Mustang EcoBoost Premium. In short, subjectively speaking, the Maverick Lariat feels just as cheap inside as the XL and XLT despite a few extra gizmos, making it harder to justify its pricing.
Turbo Tradeoff
When the Maverick debuted, it wasn’t a big surprise. Ford deciding to make the standard engine a Hybrid, however, was a bit of a game changer. In my time with the Hybrid Maverick, I averaged a little over 33 mpg combined, with a few individual bursts north of 45mpg.
(Yes, that’s well under EPA estimates, but I suspect most folks don’t sit in their trucks for extended periods taking photos and filming reviews while wasting gas. Also, as a person who drives a lot of V8s, 33mpg around town is a revelation.)
By contrast, the 2.0L EcoBoost-powered Tremor was lucky to hit 13mpg in mostly city driving. It’s faster, of course, which is nice. But adding four-wheel-drive and all-terrain tires while reducing aerodynamics (taller truck, revised front bumper) reduced economy dramatically in our testing. That said, those who spend more time community on highways will likely see something closer to the EPA-estimated 26mpg.
If you need a Tremor, the package overall is one heck of a deal, but just be prepared to pay a little or a lot more at the pump depending on your driving needs & habits.
Final Thoughts
The Ford Maverick is a gem. The tiny truck that could. Smooth on the road. Efficient with the hybrid engine. And all sorts of ergonomic. For a small business or small family, it gets so many things right as long as you keep the pricing down. But, as its feature list and MSRP grow, it becomes harder to ignore the cheap interior and outdated infotainment. In that sense, it’s really hard to recommend the Lariat, which lacks the refinement and features of the F-150 Lariat (or even something like a Mustang Premium, which is a similar price).
To me, the XL or XLT Hybrids remain the best of the Mavericks.
However, if you’re into light off-roading — running trails or weekend camping — or you live in a snowy environment where you see more highway than in-city driving, the Tremor package is absolutely worth a look. There’s a trade-off in terms of economy, of course, but Ford once again delivers an excellent 4WD package with improved tires and suspension components. In short, the Tremor package will get you further into the bush on the weekends without sacrificing any Monday-through-Friday commuting comfort.
Maverick Hybrid Video Review
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