Ford Bronco, Maverick Keep Winning Awards; This Time C/D’s ‘10Best Trucks, SUVs’

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Submitted by Marc Stern on January 17, 2023 - 3:23PM

Ford's Bronco, which has garnered its share of attention, has added to its list of honors by being named Car and Driver's "10Best SUV." Meantime, the popular compact Maverick pickup was named the publication's "10Best Trucks."

Ford announced today two more wins for its products, the 2023 Ford Bronco® and the 2023 Ford Maverick. They have been recognized by Car and Driver in the “10Best Trucks and SUVs” list. For the Bronco, it marks the second consecutive year appearing on a “10Best” list.

C/D’s 10Best Criteria

The vehicles were reviewed on a 100-point scale by Car and Driver editors and selected based on the publication’s criteria: delivering the vehicle’s intended purpose better than its competition, offering great value, and entertaining to drive.

“It’s an honor to see Maverick and Bronco receive this recognition,” said Jim Baumbick, vice president of Ford product development operations, cycle planning, and internal combustion engine programs. “Both vehicles are the result of intensely focusing on meeting customer needs and providing iconic vehicles they love to drive.”

The full list is available now on the Car and Driver website. The vehicles also will be in the publication’s February/March issue, which will be available everywhere by Feb. 7. The 10Best list had its beginnings in the 1970s when Car and Driver first printed its “Best vehicles.” Car and Driver said the following about each vehicle:

What C/D Said About Bronco, Maverick

  • The Bronco– “Although the hype is passing and Broncos are now a common sight, we’re still smitten with this SUV, which combines supreme open-air off-road chops with tolerable highway manners. Recent additions to the lineup include the retro Heritage model, the swamp-creature Everglades, and the all-conquering Raptor, which hits 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and comes with tires that would do it proud at the King of the Hammers competition. Minimalists can get a four-cylinder two-door model with steel wheels. Realists might go for a four-door Outer Banks and its on-pavement civility. And survivalists can park the Everglades, with its winch and snorkel, at their bug-out compound. All those models share a commitment to fun, an attitude that driving ought to be a good time. A Bronco is supposed to deliver a little spark of excitement every time you fire it up. And in its third model year, it still does.”
  • The Maverick– “The Maverick makes a very strong case for a compact pickup. The cab doesn’t require a big climb to get into. Loading its bed doesn’t mean lifting heavy cargo four feet off the ground. And the sightlines allow you to see what’s in front of you. Easy to own, easy to use, and easy to live with, the Maverick proves that when done right, a compact truck is a just-enough truck. It may lack the body-on-frame construction of its bigger siblings, but with up to 1,500 pounds of payload capacity, this isn’t a truck in name only. It may not tow a jetliner, but the 250-hp turbo 2.0-liter’s 4,000-pound max rating can handle real-life tasks such as a small snowmobile trailer or a pair of personal watercraft. At the same time, the standard front-wheel-drive-only hybrid powertrain tugs just 2,000 pounds but returns an eye-popping 42 mpg city, according to the EPA.”

This recognition joins the shelf of awards and honors the vehicles have received since being unveiled in 2021. Below is a snapshot of some of the awards and honors:
Ford Bronco

  • 2022 North American SUV of the Year
  • Forbes – 2022 Forbes Wheels of the Year
  • Top Gear – 2021 American Car of the Year
  • iF Design Gold Award 2021
  • Car and Driver – 2022 10Best Trucks & SUVs
  • Motor1 – Best Adventure Vehicle

Ford Maverick

  • 2022 North American Truck of the Year
  • KBB Best Buy Awards – 2022 Best New Model and Best Compact Pickup
  • TFLTruck – 2022 Best Truck of the Year
  • Detroit Free Press – 2022 Truck of the Year
  • The Detroit News – 2021 (Maverick) & 2022 Vehicle of the Year (Maverick Tremor)
  • Newsweek - Autos Best Family Truck
  • Motor1 – 2022 Best Value

    • Ford Motor Photo

    Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, "You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent the usual number of misspent hours hanging out at gas stations (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars. From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper, "You Auto Know," an enterprise I handled faithfully for 32 years. Not many people know that I also handled computer documentation for a good part of my earnings while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc. You can follow me on: Twitter or Facebook.