Exclusive: Ford Maverick returning to Australia

The Ford Maverick name will return to Australia by the end of 2024, the US car giant has announced today.

But it will not be in the form of the compact ute sold in North America, rather as a new three-row, off-road SUV to sit above the Everest – in a reboot of an old partnership with Nissan.

In the late 1980s – as part of the Australian Government's Motor Industry Development Plan, nicknamed the 'Button Plan' – Ford teamed up with Nissan to rebadge the GQ-series Patrol as the Ford Maverick.

It leveraged the nameplate of a compact rear-drive sedan and coupe sold in North America between 1970 and 1977 as, ironically, a replacement for the US-market Ford Falcon – and now applied to a compact ute in the US.

The original Ford Maverick was offered as a three and five-door SUV, as well as a two-door ute and cab-chassis four-wheel drive.

The 2024 Ford Maverick will be based on the current 'Y62' Nissan Patrol, and share the majority of the Nissan's underpinnings and bodywork, including the 298kW/560Nm 5.6-litre petrol V8 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission.

Trim and equipment will be aligned with the $84,900 Nissan Patrol Ti, but the infotainment will be modified to run Ford's Sync 3 operating system – though with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto deleted to ensure it is not better equipped than the Nissan.

Pricing is yet to be announced, but in Ford showrooms the Maverick is expected to cost more than the range-topping $79,490 Everest Platinum.

The range will be topped by a sporting 'Brock' variant based on the locally-developed Nissan Patrol Warrior, featuring a Ranger Raptor-inspired grille and wheels, with the Warrior's upgraded suspension.

The V8 engine will be enhanced with a mild-hybrid polarisation system, developed by the Nimbin Institute of Alternative Energy.

The Ford Maverick is set to be classified as a light-commercial vehicle under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard – due to its ladder-frame chassis and 3500kg tow rating – however the Maverick Brock Edition may be eligible for additional credits due to its unique hybrid technology.

Orders are due to open at 12:00pm AEDT today ahead of first showroom arrivals in the fourth quarter of 2024.