The New Ford Maverick: A Workhorse for City Slickers
Trucks are ingrained in American culture. From decades-old box office blockbusters to Pixar films, trucks are an iconic national symbol. Trucks are seen as “the working man’s vehicle” often the choice of farmers, construction workers, and rural citizens. Pickups rarely crop up in urban areas though, because of their poor fuel efficiency and bulky frames. However, this year Ford decided to challenge this idea with their latest release: the Maverick.
The Maverick is Ford’s smallest pickup available in hybrid FrontWD or EcoBoosted AWD.
Seriously? A truck in the city? Surely there are better options for urban busybodies.
If you’re looking to buy a car, there have never been more choices available. With vehicles ranging from hybrid crossovers to fully electric sedans to diesel-powered wagons, there is a car for practically every taste and lifestyle. But trucks are rarely an option in the city. They’re expensive, large, and usually inefficient. Until now.
Ford is reviving their classic “Maverick” name to adorn its smallest truck in decades.
Ford is not known for being an eco-friendly vehicle manufacturer. In fact, recently, they’ve almost seemed proud of this fact. But this year, Ford finally threw their hat in the ring by releasing a fully electric F-150 and a new hybrid compact truck. While there’s much hype circulating about the Ford F150 Lightning, today, the spotlight is on his little brother, the Ford Maverick.
The Ford Maverick is the first truck that reflects the modern design of 2021. No more bland plastic interiors or generic, featureless crew cabs in this truck. This vehicle combines both form and function in an incredibly affordable package. With three different options, (XL, XLT, and Lariat trims) the XLT will probably be the most popular. Not only does it look pretty sharp, get great gas mileage, and have towing capabilities, but it clocks in just shy of 20k. A novelty for Ford trucks.
Truck owners are already scoffing. Minimal towing capacity, no four-wheel drive, and no diesel option, why would anyone buy the base hybrid (XL) truck? The ecoboosted AWD is clearly the only choice, right?
I don’t think so. In my mind, the WHOLE point of this truck is to be a fuel-efficient workhorse for people who live in the city. People tired of shoving their thrift store furniture into the tight trunk of their Subaru Outback. Young adults fed up with strapping lumber to their roof so they can finish their Pinterest D.I.Y. project before the weekend is over. This truck is the spontaneous trip-taker’s dream car.
My lifestyle never requires towing. It does have a lot of red lights though. And while I often take on D.I.Y. projects in my spare time, my car’s limited capacity often makes things tricky.
Ford has finally listened to consumers.
Efficiency and pricing are the two key selling points of this new truck-lette. (It also has a pretty smart interior.) The Ford Maverick is appealing to those who need a small truck for around-town jobs or inner-city projects. The closest Ford has come to making something like this was the Ford Ranger, a small truck used internationally for light towing jobs, moving, and deliveries.
Here’s why the Ford Maverick is genius for appealing to millennial consumers.
Number one: it’s small. This truck will probably be the easiest to drive the Ford has ever made. Not only is it simple to park, but it also offers incredible visibility for size. This means city dwellers who need the carrying capacity of a light truck will have no problem navigating the tight roads and small spot parking spaces often found in American metro areas.
It’s also fuel-efficient. This isn’t another “EcoBoost” badged gas-guzzler. The Ford Maverick also has a hybrid engine, meaning that when you apply the brakes, you’re generating electrical power. While, this engine is not electric, it uses the hybrid energy model to yield a whopping 40 miles to the gallon in the city.
Number two is the price the Ford Maverick starts at just under $20,000, an incredibly affordable truck and maybe the most affordable vehicle Ford has made in a while. The 40 miles per gallon in the city makes a very tempting option against standard sedan models like the Accord, Sonata, and Corolla. (It even beats the Civic).
Third is the practicality. This truck has TONS of QOL features. Three-pronged electrical outlets, wireless phone charging, and under-seat storage are just a few of the Maverick’s hidden gems. Plus, some optional bed attachments allow for optimal storage. Incredibly, despite the Mavericks Swiss Army knife-like capability, it still manages to look good. The only real competitor the Maverick will face is Hyundai’s Santa Cruz. But these trucks have some serious differences when it comes to styling, towing capacity, and fuel economy.
Finally, the last reason that this truck is genius is its customizability. Ford offers tons of different ways you can customize your truck; from roof racks to bed liners to rims. Not only will the aesthetically pleasing palette of colors appeal to the younger generations, but it will also occupy a niche as one of the most utilitarian vehicles still adequate for city life.
While it’s not the greatest-looking truck on the market, it is by no means the ugliest. Outdoorsman bikers and off-roaders can enjoy this incredibly fuel-efficient and well-designed truck without having to worry about paying through the nose for gas or navigating through the city’s narrow gridlock.
What problems do we foresee for the Maverick? Depending on which engine is chosen, Ford skeptics will always question the Maverick’s reliability. Many truckbros will claim the non-AWD Mavericks “aren’t real trucks.” But let’s be honest, this truck combines 3 incredible features almost ALL car buyers (and certainly truck buyers) care about. A major concern that stood out was also the bed door’s carry capacity: a measly 300 lbs. America is a big fan of tailgates, and a 300 lb limit appears to be a serious potential problem area.
The Ford Maverick hits the market in Fall 2021, with preordering just a few weeks away. To see a full breakdown of the specs, interior, and exterior quirks, check out Doug DeMuro’s fantastic overview.
