DETROIT – Ford Motor's new Maverick truck will be the first pickup in America with a standard gas-electric hybrid engine when it goes on sale this fall starting at about $20,000.

The company unveiled the compact pickup Tuesday as the smallest vehicle in its highly profitable truck lineup, slotting below the full-size F-150 and midsize Ranger pickups.

The Maverick is about 3 feet shorter in length and 7 inches lower than an F-150, Ford said.

Ford expects the new Maverick to attract new buyers to the brand as well as the extremely loyal pickup truck segment, according to officials.

The vehicle is a standard five-passenger, four-door pickup unlike other Ford trucks such as the F-150 that start with two doors and seat only two or three people.

Analysts have said the Maverick would need to be priced well below the Ford Ranger and other midsize pickups to be competitive in the U.S.

The Maverick will start at $19,995, according to Ford.

The smaller size of the Maverick will allow for easier access to the vehicle's bed and cabin compared with larger pickup trucks, Ford said.

The pickup is being produced at Ford's Hermosillo plant in Mexico alongside its new Ford Bronco Sport SUV.