A value-first U.S. buyer guide to the XL trim, hybrid and EcoBoost choices, AWD, towing, bed utility, safety, and whether XLT is worth the step up The 2026 Ford Maverick XL is easy to misunderstand if you judge it only by the word “base.” It has steel wheels, a manual tailgate lock, single-zone manual climate control, and a cabin that makes no attempt to imitate a luxury crossover. At the same time, it comes with…