The Blue Oval has been streamlining its lineup – and that means eliminating certain features from some of its vehicles like the 2026 Ford Maverick. In fact, the compact pickup’s XLT trim no longer sports rear seat armrests.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the 2026 Ford Maverick XLT trim has lost its rear armrests. For the 2025 model year, the Maverick XLT featured a fold-down set of armrests with integrated cupholders situated in the center bench seatback, but now, this feature is no longer available on the XLT trim at all.
FITS cupholders in the Ford Maverick
Instead, the 2026 Maverick XLT gets the Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) cupholders as standard. The cupholder inserts are designed to fit in the FITS receivers that are built into the rear of the center console and under the back seat. Note that second-row armrests with integrated cupholders are still standard on the 2026 Ford Maverick Lariat, Lobo, and Tremor trims.
The 2026 Maverick also loses its power sliding rear window, gaining standard fixed privacy glass across the lineup instead. In terms of aesthetics, Black Ford ovals are no longer offered on the compact pickup as a factory installed option after previously being included on the Tremor and Lobo trims, which means blue Ford ovals are standard on all trims. Wireless smartphone charging is also a thing of the past, and is no longer offered on any trim.
Additionally, the certain 2026 Maverick configurations are losing the standard spare tire. In fact, it’s no longer standard on all models featuring the turbocharged 2.0L EcoBoost I4 or the Hybrid all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. That spare tire can still be ordered as a standalone extra-cost option. Trims without the standard spare tire do have the inflator and sealant kit as standard, so assuming the blowout isn’t serious, 2026 Maverick owners can still get themselves unstuck in the event of a flat.
To help meet demand, Ford is boosting production capacity for popular configurations, including XL, Hybrid, and Lariat in all-wheel-drive (AWD) guise. Pricing for the entry level 2026 Maverick XL starts at $27,145, not including destination freight charges.
Comments
Ready…..Set……Decontent.
Amenities decrease while prices increase. Frustrating.
The Blue Oval has been streamlining its lineup
This isn’t streamlining, it’s decontenting. Just another deletion of features that customers like while maintaining the price. And to Ford Authority, an inflator and sealant kit is not going to be of benefit in the case of a blowout, no matter what you state in the article.
Well pretty soon the tires will be compact spares so that you can buy a 30k truck but spend additional money to add options that aren’t going to available on the trim pkg you want. Maybe you’ll be able to rent a steering wheel. All these deleted things have been announced but I’m sure the price tag will go up. Jim Farley needs to go and they need a car guy around Ford. I used to be in the retail food business. We always said if you take enough perks away you can drive your customers to the competition
P.S . Ashamed to be a share holder.
If it doesn’t have a spare it’s not going in my driveway.
Seriously… When are we getting rid of Farley? He’s the worst thing to happen to Ford.
Charging more, getting less
There’s still plenty people paying $40k plus for a cheaply built disposable vehicle designed to cost $20k. Fords pretty smart.