Today Ford released details and images, including videos, of their brand new truck – the Ford Maverick.
Full disclosure – I have NOT been paid for, nor compensated in anyway for writing this blog post. These are strictly the musings of a guy interested in this Maverick.
This new Ford Maverick truck is a return to the world of an actual small truck. Like the old school Ford Ranger – before the Ranger became a big “little” Ford truck.
And I think this is the truck that I’ve been waiting for! However, as soon as I showed my friends and colleagues the “Yeah-buts” came out in full force.
First off, “The bed is only four and a half feet long! You can’t fit anything in there!”
Actually you can fit loads of stuff in the bed of the truck. And, you can adjust the angle of the tailgate (as seen in the image above) so that you can actually fit 18 sheets of 4×8′ plywood in the Maverick’s box. That’s a payload.
For added perspective, for the last 15 years I’ve been driving a two-door Toyota Echo hatchback. And I’ve never had anything that I needed to move that wouldn’t fit in my Echo.
Therefore, I’m pretty positive there won’t be anything I need to move that won’t fit in the Ford Maverick.
Next, “You can only tow a 2000 pound trailer with the basic engine set up.”
Did I mention that I currently drive an Echo? In the last 15 years I haven’t had to tow ANYTHING. Why would that suddenly change?
And if it did change, goodness gracious this new Ford truck can tow a 2000 pound trailer! The bigger, not hybrid, turbo-charged engine/drivetrain thingy, can tow 4000 pounds!
“It’s so small! You won’t be safe in it!”
Ford has taken safety to the next level with Co-Pilot360™technology including standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Automatic High Beam Headlamps. Available options include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Centring and Evasive Steering Assist.
Also, the size of the new Ford Maverick makes it easy to drive and park in the city or the Burbs – and that’s where I spend 98% of my driving time. Winning.
The entry level Maverick comes with a 2.5 litre gas powered engine paired with a 94 kiloWatt electric motor. Power and fuel economy. Yes please.
As I said, the towing capacity is 2,000 pounds, a figure Ford says the vehicle can pull at highway speeds, even on steep grades.
Four-wheel drive, and a more powerful, but non-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged motor mated to an eight-speed transmission will be available at higher trim levels.
I do like the idea of four-wheel drive but I may be satisfied with the base model for its fuel economy and the fact that it is front wheel drive.
Next up for me – getting into a Ford Maverick and taking it for a real-world test drive !