Here we go further diluting our F-150 sales. Ranger was such a success (urgh) that we want to go even smaller (and cheaper) in the segment. If Bronco is a GOAT, Maverick is a DOG.
More cost, save vehicle build, less profit.
Priceless strategy.
After a lot of secrecy, Ford’s finally ready to confirm that it’s coming out with a small pickup truck that will be called the Maverick. We’ve seen various spy shots of the truck and heard rumors about its specifications, but Ford has given us an official name for the truck and told us the truck will be revealed on June 8.
Cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks get bigger and more capable year after year. Take a look at the current crop of midsize pickup trucks, and they’re nearly as big as full-size options from not too long ago. Automakers are now just starting to explore a smaller segment of trucks that would sit below midsize options, and Ford wants to enter the party by resurrecting an old nameplate.
Ford fans may recall the old Maverick that was sold from 1970 to 1977. It wasn’t a pickup truck or an SUV, but a compact car that was all about fuel economy. Seeing Ford name its upcoming small pickup truck the “Maverick” is interesting, given the name’s history, but Ford has been on a tear recently, bringing back the Bronco and Mach 1 names.
We don’t know a lot about the upcoming Maverick, besides the fact that it will make its debut on June 8. Interestingly, in one of Ford’s teaser videos for the vehicle, we spotted a “HYBRID” badge on the left side of the liftgate. We were expecting the Maverick to share the same platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport, so there’s a good chance the pickup truck will come with the same powertrains as the Escape. That means turbocharged three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines could be in the cards, while a powertrain that includes a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an 88-kW electric motor is also a possibility.
In Ford’s lineup, the upcoming Maverick will sit below the midsize Ranger and full-size F-150. Ford previously said that the Maverick would cost less than $20,000, though that price seems unlikely. When it comes to pricing, we do expect the Maverick to cost less than the Ranger, which starts at $26,265 with destination.
The only other small truck on the market will be the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The small pickup will be available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged version of the motor for up to 275 horsepower. Max towing capacity is rated at 5,000 pounds, while cargo capacity is rated at 660 pounds. We expect the upcoming Maverick to be a direct competitor to the Santa Cruz when it goes on sale later this year.