Are you ready? Are you excited? Or do you just not care?
I speak, of course, about the Ford Maverick — which was teased yesterday and will be unveiled in full next week.
A Ford mini-truck has some of our staff quite excited, while others are indifferent. I lean toward the latter camp for now, though I might get a bit more into it when the truck is unveiled fully. I do like the idea of small trucks, and a cheap Ford pickem’ up will appeal to the former suburbanite in me, but yet I haven’t hopped aboard the hype train.
How about you guys? Can you barely contain your excitement for next week or are you indifferent to the whole exercise?
Speak below or forever hold your peace. At least until we ask you about the Maverick once the wraps come off.
[Image: Ford]
Yes, especially if there’s a hybrid option.
Same here. I’m cautiously optimistic on it and the Hybrid option was unexpected. I will need to replace my C-Max at some point so this could be a good replacement option. I guess we’ll find out early Tuesday morning if it’s what we’re expecting.
It will start at $25k and have the towing capability of a golf cart. Pass.
The previously announced base price is under $20k, but of course the reality is that you are unlikely to find one of those on the lot and your $25k is probably close to the price of the cheapest one you’ll be able to find on the lot at least initially.
If a base Escape can be had for about $20K, it might be interesting. Even the three-cylinder version has more power and torque than my 2003 Ranger. I don’t expect the hybrid version to go for that. But if one really can’t realistically buy any Maverick for less than $25K, why bother?
This’ll be similar to the Santa Cruz: If you really need to do manly trucky things like HAUL or TOW, you’re going to get a body-on-frame truck (or just rent one when the need arises like I do).
For those that have less heavy-duty requirements: this is an SUV with an open bed that should be pretty appealing to those that occasionally need to move bigger or messier stuff than will fit in an Escape. Of course, you could just get an Escape and rent a truck for those times too.
100%
Define tow. For me that’s: A flatbed trailer capable of handling a large motorcycle (Harley Electra Glide – 900lbs) for short distances, or a smaller (400-600lbs) for long distances. I’ve been looking at one of those for years now, since the death of the old Ranger, S-10, or original Colorado.
“Define tow”
forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers/
r-pod/RP-189/3947
“It will start at $25k and have the towing capability of a golf cart. Pass.”
All it has to be is the new Ranchero–call it a C-Max with an open bed instead of a closed hatch/trunk.
I think you’d be surprised at how many people are happy with the towing capability of a golf cart in a form factor like that.
I’m excited to see what the specs are. I don’t need a truck to haul or tow extreme amounts of weight, but a DO need it to be able to carry a sheet of plywood so the bed needs to be large enough to do that. If it can and gets great fuel economy, this will probably be my next vehicle.
I am interested. My life has changed to the point my F150 is pretty well overkill for what I use a truck for nowadays. This would be a cheaper option to one of the electric trucks on the horizon and be more suited to my youngest driving it to band performances every week than current truck. If the prices are such that I can leave with a Maverick and a check in exchange for my F150 I’d consider it.
Memo to Jim Farley: We may have overestimated the extent of F-Series loyalty. [Sorry.]
Honestly I’m back and forth. It is paid for so there really is no rush but life changes. If the Maverick is a 4 door only affair though it honestly makes less sense than just a regular cab F150.
The Lightning is on the table if my wife wants to drive a truck daily and would replace both the F150 and her car. She likes the whole frunk deal.
With the current state of the market I don’t see making a move anytime soon. But I have entered a phase of life where bed space outweighs people space. This wasnt the case when it got my current truck.
Still waiting for Hyundai to release the pricing, MPG and all the options for the Santa Cruz. If Ford gives us this information on the Maverick I am hopefully this forces Hyundai to spill the beans. The SC should be at dealers in a month so I’m not sure what the hold up is.
If all the rumors are true the Maverick will be too under-powered for my use case (towing). Also feel the SC has more style and better tech, nicer interior etc. So not interested in the Maverick in terms of a purchase but having some comparison back to the SC will be helpful.
I’ve been waiting for over 2 decades to replace my Dodge Dakota with something smaller in size. Until now there been no choices, now in short order we will have TWO vehicles in this space. So that has me excited.
I’m not sure about the initial launch specs but I don’t think Ford will allow Hyundai to have a towing capacity edge long-term.
Agree – assume the Maverick needs to leave room for the Ranger. All indications it will have less power and less towing then the Santa Cruz. I believe the Mav and base (non turbo) SC are the in the same class. But the turbo SC already has Ranger levels of power and towing which is why it took the lead in winning my purchase dollars.
I thought the Ranger offers up to 7500lbs while the SC is at 5000lbs.
I expect the Maverick will eventually offer a max 5100lb capacity. That would give “best in class” marketing and keep some breathing room for the Ranger.
Correct. Base Ranger towing is 3,500lb which is matched by the non-turbo SC. The turbo SC gets you to 5,000lb while the Ranger tops out at 7,5000lb. The only thing required on the Ranger is the hitch.
Looks like SC MPG was added to the EPA site in the past few days
FWD 21/26 23 combined
AWD 21/27 23 combined
AWD turbo 19/27 23 combined
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/guides/FEG2022.pdf
AWD getting (marginally) better fuel economy than the 2WD version? Interesting…
I am pro existence on the Maverick but so far I’d prefer the Santa Cruz.
That’s where I am, too.
Honestly, the first company to offer a truck in this size class with a PHEV powertrain will have my money.
Not me. I don’t use half the capabilities of my half ton and parking spaces aren’t getting any bigger but a wrong wheel drive unibody with a four cylinder gives up all of the other things that I like about driving a truck. If I downsize it’d probably be the new Frontier.
I also agree with slavuta that the BLM approved marketing campaign they’ve got going here is absolute cringe.
DAN
Agreed
It may be hard to believe in some circles, but I bet Ford, really any of the Big three truck companies, might be eager to shake a certain image of it’s trucks plowing through BLM protests piloted by proud boys and red-state militia types. There is really a ton of similar imagery in the last political cycle that the truck companies would love people to forget. This isn’t really going to be a rig for good ol’ boys. Sociopaths will definitely look for something much more offensive….so might as well market it to a broader audience.
I guess I’m excited that Ford still offers the keypad on the door! :) :) :)
Looks much too large in that pic, I hope I’m wrong.
I was just coming to say the same thing. Based on that photo alone I can already tell it’ll be too big.
I also don’t need 4 doors.
We discussed this in the previous post, while I don’t expect a regular cap and extended cab should be an option. Otherwise this thing is going to be far too long, and even if a short box is offered its better than nothing but it limits its use as a truck.
There are a number of pictures floating around the internet with it parked near a Ranger and it definitely is noticeably smaller at least in height and length. I expect it to be narrower two.
This is probably the vehicle segment I understand least.
I am very much a “buy more than you need” guy, so giving up so much capability for so little advantage in cost is silly to me.
The amount of complaining about truck sizing has always been really strange to me, I have a CCLB Super Duty and manage to live my suburban life without a lot of compromise. I simply can’t believe there are that many people who both need to street park and want a truck.
All that said, I’m glad this exists so maybe some of the whining on every truck article will go away. There’s no manual, no regular cab, and no crank windows, so I know I won’t get rid of 100% of the complaints, but at least the small truck guys will finally have to put up or shut up.
Not street park but garage park. My Dakota just fits, if it was an inch bigger in any dimension it wouldn’t.
I am on the flip side, I see no reason why anyone would need a truck bigger then a F150 for personal use. Different strokes for different folks.
The 8 foot bed is the killer, and basically the only thing that drove me to a Super Duty. It’s impossible to get any desirable options with a long bed in any half ton.
The fact that you can’t get an 8′ bed and 4 full doors on a 1/2 ton is what keeps me in my F-250.
“The fact that you can’t get an 8′ bed and 4 full doors on a 1/2 ton is what keeps me in my F-250.”
so, you’re the poster child for the manhood replacement meme.
“I do like the idea of small trucks, and a cheap Ford pickem’ up will appeal to the former suburbanite in me”
I feel ATP is not going to be anywhere “cheap”, a least in the foreseeable future.
Yeah but that applies to anything right now. Cheap os relative.
Small contractors here in DC have been holding onto their ancient compact pickup trucks forever, typically covered in Bondo and duct tape, because anything bigger just doesn’t make sense in the city. Most of them probably don’t have the cash to run out and buy a new Maverick but once they start filtering into the used market maybe the landscapers can finally start replacing their trucks.
I expect that the Maverick will surprise us with its capability, considering its FWD platform roots. Ford can’t help but make a functional truck.
Okay so this is going to be an Escape/Bronco Sport pickup. So 3 and 4-cyl turbo engines, front and all wheel drive, tow 3500 lbs and have a starting MSRP of $27k. They should have duct taped th front end of the Bronco sport into it and jacked the base price to $35k, that’s what it’s going to cost pay with options anyway.
Spot on. Rumor is the base price will be down around $22-25. But how are they going to manage to pull that off? A true stripper interior? Will that sell in today’s market?
Ford announced some time ago that the base price was supposed to be under $20k. Of course that was before the chip shortages, but it is a good possibility that they will stick to the starts at $19,995 even if you won’t be able to find one for that price on the lot.
Since the crappy third world EcoSport starts at $21k I just don’t see how an Escape based pickup platform with four doors is going to have a starting price below the Escape. But I guess we’ll Find out next week.
The 2-door Bronco with a stick is supposed to start at $29,999 but when they finally get around to launching it, in 2025 or so, I think that will all be forgotten.
Time will tell, but fact is that is what insiders have mentioned in the not so distant past. Of course that doesn’t mean that you will actually be able to find a base model on the lot.
not excited. Gladiator is more exciting than this. MT, convertible, v6….
The Gladiator has its charms but:
0. It’s expensive. It starts at $35k, the cheapest one within 250 miles of me is $37K and 99.5% of the on-lot inventory for that distance is over $40k.
1. From the reviews I’ve watched and read its capability as a truck isn’t especially impressive. If you’re going off-road that might be a different story.
I don’t need off road (only to rip neighbor’s lawn), and I don’t need bed (I’ll use it for sure). I just think that Gladiator is that cool
And a Miata is more exciting than a Mazda 3. It is almost like they are 2 very different products in different segments.
You will be surprised how similar in size Maverick will be to the Ranger. Only it is unibody
I took this picture and sliced it side by side https://fordusacars.com/2022-ford-maverick-pickup/
Hats off and lots of respect for FORD- there obviously has been quite a bit of development behind the scenes and it’s finally at the point of paying off for them: eMach, new Explorer, Bronco Sport, Bronco, Lightning F150 and this. These are huge investments and complex introductions and hit the market square spot on! There is a bit of Yankee in me rooting for FORD to show world leadership in all of these market segments!
Ask EBFlex. He will explain you in details why everything in your post is wrong.
It’s the first new truck I’ve considered buying in years. I no longer need the versatility of my Fullsize and the 13MPG average I pull has done me no favors over the years.
Probably going directly for the Hybrid model and hoping this can be a 15 year truck like my current truck.
…posted this on the wrong page the first time
I do think it is great that it is offered, but not particularly interested for myself. Too small to fill all my truck needs at this point. However if they offered a locking, hard, waterproof cover, that isn’t too hard to remove for taller items then maybe it could work as a daily driver and do some truck things. However the big truck would have to stay in the fleet for doing serious work. It would also need to be a Hybrid to do daily driver duty.
Not a truck guy at all, but I suppose it’ll be refreshing to see a truck on the road that isn’t sized like a freakin’ oil tanker.
FREED
Agreed.
Agreed. We need our mini trucks back.
No one makes anything for me. ☹
Design a vehicle for you and 3-D print it.
BEETLEJUICE
Another truck. That’s so exciting! Ford – the truck company. More trucks. Yeah!
Ford isn’t really on my radar anymore because of their focus on trucks. But then I owned a couple of Fords and they simply were not that great.
I am sure the truck lovers will rejoice. Because in North America everyone driving a vehicle needs a truck or an SUV.
That’s because people like to drive a vehicle that fits the lifestyle they WISH they had.
Truth! I believe this is half the reason CUVs sell. Everyone sees those commercials with the young, beautiful people hanging out at the lake, beach or mountains and dreams of being there, maybe even this weekend… but meanwhile back in reality your creeping along at 20 MPH in endless traffic with the kids screaming from the back seat and your coffee spilling due to potholes.
Was it any different with mini-skirted models wearing go-go boots advertising for the Dodge Rebellion, or Pontiac ‘excitement’, or Farrah Fawcett etc advertising the Mercury Cougar?
Excited for this and the Santa Cruz. I’ve been waiting to buy a new vehicle until these two models come out. Perfect vehicle for my family. We have two large dogs, camp, tailgate, I work in construction type of field, and live in an apartment. Will come down to price and and MPG. Love that there seems to be a hybrid version.
Pick 3 of the folks who think the current ranger is the size of a super duty and a super duty is the size of the Titanic. One of them might buy the maverick. One will say it’s too expensive. The third will complain it’s still bigger than a matchbox car. I imagine it’ll be like the gladiator, just enough of a niche to sell a few right at first, then demand will slow.
I’d rather have a bit longer bed & two less doors, for either Maverick or Santa Cruz. Don’t really need big tow or haul capacity, just a bit more volume…
I lost interest in Ford when they abandoned sedans except for the Mustang (which I don’t need since I already own an Infiniti G37S coupe). Our daily driver is a 5-speed Focus SE. I’m maintaining it well, so that it lasts, because I have yet to find anything else as good. An upmarket version with the engine out of the ST, the AWD drivetrain out of the RS and an upgraded interior would have been great but I can’t buy what Ford won’t build.
Even though I’m not in the market for one I like the concept of the Maverick and Santa Cruz since they are the right size for most needs and not a mastodon. I wonder if Subaru will be pushed into bringing back the Baja?
I too wonder how quickly Subaru will react. They basically created the outdoor lifestyle vehicle brand that Hyundai and Ford are advertising with these new entries. They could just be waiting to see if a UTE will actually sell. CUVs are super popular, trucks even more so, thus an merger of two should (in theory) be a hit.
I see old Baja’s going for serious money in the $6-9k range. I can see current or previous owners on line for a replacement version.
I haven’t towed anything in over 35 years.
Have seen way too many one vehicle incidents involving younger drivers and pick-up trucks to trust most young drivers in an unloaded RWD pick-up.
Would actually prefer a FWD (biased) vehicle as none of my children have driven a RWD vehicle and would therefore not know how to respond correctly to it on ice, etc.
So as previously posted a ‘cheap’, FWD biased, ‘small’ pick-up with room for 4 passengers in comfort and with reasonable road clearance, is something that I would be very interested in acquiring. Even new.
Just am wary of Ford ‘quality’.
Nope, I don’t care. I need a ‘real’ truck – something that can tow at least 5000lbs, haul 1000lbs easily, and be able to seat 5, 3 in car seats. Which narrows it down considerably – I’ve tried the Canyon and Frontier, and they both have too small of back seats, and I’d suspect the Tacoma and Ranger suffer from the same problem.
I want one!
@Arthur Dailey–Agree a front wheel drive truck would better fit my needs living in an area that gets snow during the Winter. I don’t really need 4 wheel drive or AWD and I don’t need to tow or haul heavy things. My only issue is the timing chain enclosed in the engine with the water pumpt. I don’t even care about the 0 to 60 as long as it has enough acceleration to get safely on the interstate. I would actually prefer the base model since I have 2 vehicles that are fully equipped both with heated seats. The Maverick has auto, air, and I am sure some kind of AM FM radio which is all I need. Would like a plain plastic floor instead of carpet since most carpet is paper thin. The plastic floor liner would make it easier to keep clean. My 2008 Ranger has a vinyl bench seat with a plastic floor liner with air, automatic, power steering, power brakes, and AM FM radio.
Just saw 2 of these (still in camo) this morning on US23 between Ann Arbor and Toledo. Passed them in my Elantra. It didn’t seem that much bigger. Seemed like it was around the size of the original Ranger. I’m not in the market for a truck, so it didn’t appeal to me. But with the premium pricing Ford seems to want these days, I really doubt you’ll see one on dealer lots under $28k. The teaser price is going to be a vehicle nobody wants.
At least these new smaller trucks aren’t the deathtraps the old LUV and Courier were. I just don’t get the nostalgia a couple of friends of mine have for those POS horrors. One is a Ford fanatic who wants his old Courier back in new truck form. At the expected $25K, I bet he passes on it. Another friend has had about every compact truck out there over the last 20 years and he’s hated all of them. He seems to expect much higher fuel economy then he ever gets.
A guy I used to work with who recently passed away spent an amazing amount of money and time restoring an old LUV truck. That thing was so far gone, I couldn’t believe he actually did get it looking like a new one. He could have spent the same amount on something at least decent and his kids could have sold it for a nice chunk of change. The LUV is gone now, I wonder what happened to it? Buried with him?
The old compact pickups were less complex and with their longer beds were more utilitarian than a smaller truck with a 4 foot bed. I understand why many new smaller trucks come in just crew cabs but if you want a smaller truck for hauling things a 4 foot bed has little use. I might take a look at the Maverick and Santa Cruz but I might just hold onto my 2008 Ranger which has a useable bed and is more compact than the current Ranger. I want something smaller but I would like to have at least a 5 foot bed. I will have to see these compact trucks in person and drive them and even then I would wait a couple of years especially with the chip shortage. I do not want to spend 30k on a compact truck so if I could not find one on a dealer lot I would most likely order one. A fleet spec even if it was just in white would work for me and I would not care if it had a cheap interior since I would be using it as a truck. I don’t need another luxury truck just a base truck for carrying light loads. Otherwise if this truck is priced at 25k and above for a base model I would pick a Tacoma. Tacoma will most likely outlast the Maverick and would retain more of its value.
If it were an actual car, maybe. But another truck? Meh.
Forget the hype, I want to know EVERYTHING about the truck. I want photos, paint chips, specs, the whole thing. Then, MAYBE, I will consider trading in my much-too-large Chevy Colorado for one.
I expect the full specs and possibly the build and price will go live shortly after the reveal, so you shouldn’t have to wait much longer.
@Vulpine–Agree I want to know more about the Maverick and I want to be able to see it and drive it. I am not as concerned about the color.
No hype here and the commercial will do nothing either. Seeing it in person, sitting in it and driving it may have an effect though.