(By Tom Lohnes) – Well, the wait is over. The Ford Maverick, the truck everyone thought the Ranger was going to return as, is debuting in the next few weeks.
With its only competition really being the Hyundai Santa Cruz, the Maverick is an early player in the compact truck market. The Maverick is supposed to be a lot different from the tech-focused Hyundai, however, because it has been stress-tested nonstop for the past 3 years. Judging from its Escape-based underpinnings, you will get a choice of a turbocharged 3-and 4-cylinder motor, with power numbers anywhere from 155 to 250. Those engines will be connected to the front or all 4 wheels through an 8-speed automatic.
Keep in mind that the Maverick will be the absolute smallest truck you can buy in the states right now, so don’t expect towing stats to be over 5,000 pounds. But, if you want a cheap, durable truck that gets the job done and nothing else, the Maverick is your best friend. Apparently, it is starting under $20,000, and will go up to about $40,000 with options. Sounds like a deal to me!
Sign me up! My Ranger is worn out.
Wish it was RWD biased, but it’ll work for a small commuter pickup truck that can also do some trash and Home Depot runs
If they can keep up with sales it will be the biggest selling truck of the year.
I can’t be the only guy who wonders why the manufacturers won’t build a rwd reg cab pickup, standard transmission, vinyl seats, no options.
This isn’t a pickup, it’s a Festiva with a box on the back for carrying beard wax and plaid shirts.
Because they’ve built them for years and no one bought them. The volume was so low they stopped producing them.