Tour the $35,000 Ford Maverick Lariat's small but wildly functional truck bed

The new Maverick is Ford's smallest and cheapest truck.

But that doesn't mean it skimps out on capability.

Though it's smaller than most, the Maverick's 4.5-foot bed is packed with clever features and optional add-ons that make up for its petite size.

Ford calls the Maverick's back end the FlexBed. It's do-it-yourself friendly and super versatile.

The little truck is intended for light household projects and weekend adventures, and its bed has plenty of space for that.

I tossed in a mountain bike with relative ease (after taking off the front wheel).

And the Maverick does its best to accommodate larger items when needed.

Reposition some cables and the tailgate will open to a halfway position.

That configuration lets owners lay down sheets of plywood across the lip of the tailgate and wheel wells.

Like some other trucks, the Maverick also has handy stamped-in slots that fit 2x4s and 2x6s.

The idea is that owners can stick in inexpensive, DIY bed dividers and the like.

Another big pro: The Maverick isn't high up off the ground like a regular truck. It's SUV sized, so it's low enough to easily load things in or hop into.

The base Maverick XL comes with some tie-down points, some holes for mounting accessories, and not much else.

But buyers can add on tons of useful options by paying a bit more, as I saw in the well-equipped, $35,000 Lariat model I tested recently.

First off, the Lariat came with a spray-in bed liner that made its bed less slippery to stand on and more durable.

On the left side of the bed, it had an LED light…

… and a power outlet.

On the right, it had a cubby that would be perfect for bungees or other small cargo you don't want bouncing around.

Removing a little plastic piece makes the cubby deeper and opens up more storage space.

On both sides of the bed, Ford included 12-volt access points that owners can tap into to rig up lights, air compressors, or other accessories.

That's standard on all Maverick trucks.

The Lariat came with rails on either side with adjustable tie-down points.

That's on top of several other tie-down spots scattered throughout the bed.

Tie-downs flanking the tailgate double as bottle openers, putting the tailgate in tailgating.

You can also option a bunch of different bed covers.

My tester came with a folding one that you can open to several different positions. Fully closed, it locks in place, protecting the bed from other people and the elements.

Overall, the Maverick brings an exciting choice to the truck market. It's great for people in cities or anyone who wants some pickup capability without the unwieldy size of most models.