This content was aggregated from local dealer and data and insights provided by the USA Today Network Automotive Insights team using Google Gemini and the Vehicles For Sale Near Des Moines Register Edition marketplace writing team.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat pairs a 2.0L EcoBoost engine with 250 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
- EPA-estimated fuel economy for this Maverick Lariat configuration is 25 MPG combined (22 city / 30 highway).
- Standard payload is 1,400 lbs, with towing capacity up to 4,000 lbs when equipped with the Class III Trailer Hitch package.
- Available AWD, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Centering, and Predictive Speed Assist come with this trim.
- Moffitt's Ford in Boone, Iowa carries the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat for families across Central Iowa and the Des Moines area.
Boone, Iowa families driving US-30 into Des Moines for work, school, or Iowa State University events often assume a three-row SUV is the only vehicle that can keep up with a busy household. The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat, available now at Moffitt's Ford in Boone, challenges that assumption with a compact-truck package built for daily commuting and weekend hauling alike.
This Ford Maverick pairs everyday efficiency with genuine truck utility, making it a practical complement — not necessarily a replacement — for families who already own a larger SUV.
Why Are Central Iowa Families Trading SUV Space for Maverick Versatility?
Central Iowa families are choosing the Maverick because it covers most weekly driving — commuting, school runs, and hauling gear — without the size and fuel costs of a three-row SUV. It fits daily routines while still handling weekend jobs a sedan or crossover can't.
Families commuting from Boone to Des Moines on US-30, or navigating Story County's freezing winters and road-salt season, benefit from the Maverick Lariat's available all-wheel drive, which adds traction on icy pavement without sacrificing the truck's fuel efficiency. Moffitt's Ford's service team also offers seasonal maintenance and undercoating protection to help guard the Maverick's frame against Iowa's winter road salt.
Beyond winter traction, the open bed handles youth-sports gear, home-improvement supplies, and landscaping materials that wouldn't easily fit inside a folded-down SUV cargo area.
What Are the Key Specs and Features of the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat?
The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat runs a 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine rated at 250 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive. Inside, the Lariat trim adds a Smoked Truffle interior with ActiveX-trimmed heated front bucket seats.
- 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine, 250 HP
- 8-speed automatic transmission with available AWD
- Smoked Truffle interior, ActiveX-trimmed heated front bucket seats
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and SYNC 4 connectivity
- Optional Power Moonroof and B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen
- Power-Sliding Rear Window
- Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Centering, and Predictive Speed Assist
Moffitt's Ford stocks the Maverick alongside its broader Ford SUV, truck, and EV lineup, so shoppers comparing a compact truck against an SUV or a hybrid can view options side by side in the dealership's new vehicle inventory.
What Are the Fuel Efficiency and Towing Numbers for the 2026 Maverick?
The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat delivers an EPA-estimated 25 MPG combined, with 22 MPG city and 30 MPG highway, keeping fuel costs manageable for families driving between Boone, Ogden, and Des Moines. Towing and payload figures make it useful for more than commuting.
- Combined fuel economy: 25 MPG (22 city / 30 highway)
- Standard payload capacity: 1,400 lbs
- Towing capacity: up to 4,000 lbs with the Class III Trailer Hitch, Upgraded Cooling Fan, and Higher Capacity Radiator
That towing figure covers small utility trailers, a pair of kayaks, or a light camper — enough for most weekend trips without stepping up to a full-size truck.
How Does the Maverick Handle Weekend Adventures at Ledges State Park and Beyond?
The Maverick's open bed carries bikes, coolers, and camping gear that would otherwise compete for space with passengers in an SUV, making it a strong match for families who spend weekends outdoors around Central Iowa.
Ledges State Park, located at 1515 P Ave. in nearby Madrid, Iowa, features a four-mile trail system winding past sandstone ledges rising 100 feet above the Des Moines River. The Maverick's bed can haul bikes, coolers, and camping gear for a day trip, while its available AWD helps on the park's gravel access roads. The campground there takes reservations March through November.
Closer to town, the bed also handles gear for trips to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and day trips toward Reiman Gardens in Ames, without leaving muddy boots or wet equipment inside the cabin.
Can a Compact Truck Replace a Three-Row SUV for Family Use?
A compact truck like the Maverick can realistically cover most of a family's weekly driving, but it isn't built to replace a three-row SUV for large carpools or multiple child seats. The two vehicles work best as a pair.
For a Boone-area household that already owns a three-row SUV for road trips and carpool duty, the Maverick Lariat becomes the vehicle handling solo commutes, hardware-store runs, and gear hauling — the tasks that don't need seven seats. Families cross-shopping a second vehicle can compare financing options through Moffitt's Ford's financing and specials page or price a trade-in with the dealership's trade-in value tool.
Common shopping mistakes include buying for occasional needs instead of daily driving, assuming a bigger vehicle is always the better one, and overlooking how much a truck bed can simplify errands and projects that an SUV cargo area handles awkwardly.
Sources
- Iowa DNR — Ledges State Park
- Vehicles For Sale Near Des Moines Register Edition
- Vehicles For Sale Near Des Moines
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat tow?
The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat can tow up to 4,000 lbs when equipped with the Class III Trailer Hitch, Upgraded Cooling Fan, and Higher Capacity Radiator. Standard payload capacity is 1,400 lbs, giving the truck enough cargo room for gear, tools, and small trailers for weekend projects and outdoor trips around Central Iowa.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Maverick Lariat get?
The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat is EPA-estimated at 25 MPG combined, with 22 MPG city and 30 MPG highway. That efficiency comes from the 2.0L EcoBoost engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, making it a practical daily driver for commutes between Boone and Des Moines.
Does the Maverick Lariat offer AWD for Iowa winters?
Yes, all-wheel drive is available on the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat, giving drivers added traction on snow and ice. It pairs with the truck's 2.0L EcoBoost engine and 8-speed automatic transmission for confident handling through Central Iowa's winter driving season.
Is the Maverick's back seat big enough for kids and car seats?
The Maverick Lariat's SuperCrew cabin seats up to five and includes rear doors sized for installing child car seats. While it has less interior room than a three-row SUV, most families find the back seat comfortable for kids on daily errands, school runs, and shorter trips.
What safety features come standard on the Maverick Lariat?
The 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat includes Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Centering, and Predictive Speed Assist, an automatic curve-slowdown feature. These systems work together to support safer driving on both city streets and rural Iowa highways.
See the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat at Moffitt's Ford in Boone
Moffitt's Ford in Boone, Iowa invites Central Iowa families to see the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat in person and compare it against the rest of the Ford lineup. Browse current new Ford inventory, or contact the dealership for details, and once you own one, keep it road-ready with the team's online service scheduling. Stop by 1819 SE Marshall in Boone or get directions to the showroom on Google Maps.
Written for Moffitt's Ford
By the USA TODAY Network Automotive Insights Team, in collaboration with https://vehiclesforsaleneardesmoines.com and the Vehicles For Sale Near Des Moines Register Edition.