Ford Maverick Mini-Truck

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "actual truck." I mean, if they are making HD runs, hauling a push mower, throwing camping gear in the back, getting a Christmas tree, picking up firewood, buying a loveseat, or whatever...all of that is "actual truck" stuff, but can be accommodated by a small bed.

 

My commuter car is a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. I bought brand new at the year end clearance. It is a true 37 miles per gallon. But we are rolling up on 200k now. It’s been paid for and I haven’t done anything except brakes and battery and keep it serviced.

 

Better get a small Christmas tree. I hauled a 12 ft tree in my 6ft bed with the tailgate down and bed extender down, tip of the tree angled up above the bed extender, minimal overhang compared to the 8ft extended length. Good luck doing that or hauling 2x4x10s or long dead tree branches though if you don’t mind more overhang than what’s in the 4 1/2 ft bed go for it.

 

With a 31" bed length, you're going to want tie-downs on the tailgate...

I kind of wonder why they're using the Maverick (which was sort of a second-tier 4-door muscle car in some ways, especially with the 302 "Boss" engine as an option) nameplate for this instead of the Ranchero, which was a more similar vehicle type.

 

Ok man, I definitely hear you, but most folks do not buy 12 foot trees. I get a 6 foot tree. That would fit just fine. I get that the Maverick doesn't meet YOUR needs, but that doesn't mean it's not a truck. Full size owners say crap like that all the time to mid size owners. "When are you gonna step up and get a real truck?" I'm not hauling horse trailers over here.

 

This is what a lot of the naysayers are missing.

One persons needs is not the same as others. Plenty of people don't need the capability of a full size truck. I, for one, have never needed, wanted, or even considered getting a 12 foot tree lol.

And the ones that do need a full size truck for its utility...those people are not the market they're aiming for

 

I kinda like it.

 

I agree. Not for me but I get the appeal for some. And 19k new… damn.

 

The short bed is one reason I think the truck won't be successful. For the occasional runs to Home Depot, most items are better carried in an SUV with seats folded down. Heck I've hauled rock sliders and 4 Tacoma tires in my Subaru Impreza...

Probably the simple answer was "Maverick" focus-grouped better in the target demographic, who are too young to know the old models. Hell, they may be too young to know extinct brands like Pontiac or Oldsmobile.

 

So, out of the loop pretty much describes me when it comes to new cars and trucks. What caught my eye with the Maverick is its smaller size and the hint it will be available with a BEV option. My Tacoma gets used as a "truck" on a regular basis and it is too big for my needs. But, I still need a truck. I've been waiting for some auto company to come out with a small electric truck. Never say never, but my plan is to never buy another ICE vehicle again.

Amen brother, amen

Funny thing is I sold my Subaru Outback because most Home Depot items are best hauled in a truck. Nothing like the smell of cow manure in an suv.

 

I've hauled ten 5-gallon buckets of compost in the Subaru. Just folded the rear seats down and laid a tarp over it. Don't see the need for cow manure in an urban or suburban setting, where the Maverick is targeting.

I actually keep the Tacoma bed as clean as possible because I sleep in it while camping.

 

Apparently in your suburbia folks don't use cheap fertilizer, or move furniture, or haul sheets of plywood, etc, etc. Here are some pictures of my Subaru being used like a truck:

Nothing like the lingering smell of oil and gasoline.


Or filling the cabin of the car with bugs and spiders from your freshly harvested pumpkin patch. (but, the tarp stops that right? Nope, not even a little bit.)


I've lived in "suburbia" for my whole life and if you have a yard, you have stinky stuff to haul. Can you do it in an SUV, yes. Is a small truck better, YES! The Maverick ticks every box for the truck I need. I bought the Tacoma because it was the smallest truck on the market, because as you can see I have no need for a bigger bed. I don't know what demographic the Maverick is aimed at, probably not mine, but I like what I've seen so far.

 

Yes got a typical back yard and front lawn. Stuffing the entire cargo area with loose pumpkins isn't typical suburban usage. But I've hauled lawn mowers, a snowblower, waste oil jugs, a kitchen table, 8' lumber pieces, 300lbs of scrap metal to the salvage yard, etc. with my Subaru, and they all fit the enclosed cargo area better than a 4.5' open bed.

 

I think a real truck at minimum would be a 4500/450 and up chassis with a truck body built by a commercial upfitter. Anything else is a pick up truck.

 

Yeah, I'm not joining you there. I could argue that 300 lbs of scrap metal isn't typical suburban usage either. For home owner DIY a Subaru isn't as good as a truck, it just isn't. Can you do it, yes. Is a 4.5' bed useless, no. The Tacoma short bed is 5', so at 4.5' the Maverick is only a few inches shorter. In my case I have a tool box that leaves me with 4' of useable space and that's plenty for 99% of what I do. This week I brought home a dozen 2 cubic foot bags of wood chips. I wouldn't have wanted to do that in my subaru, but they fit just fine in my 4' bed.

 

Between being a couple and having a regular cab Ranger, and being a family with one child whose forward facing car seat would fit in an access cab, I bought a Nissan Micra. The Micra is so small, it was deemed it would not sell in the USA, so never made it there. On a regular basis it towed my 12ft boat/motor on a trailer, or my dirtbike or 2 (on a trailer) sometimes with mountain bikes on top. We couldn't fit 3 16' full 2"x12" cedar planks on my buddies 3/4 ton Suburban roofrack, (too heavy) or inside so strapped them to the boat trailer behind the Micra. It also brought home a few massive Christmas trees on the roof racks. Point being, most of the stuff we do that we think can be accomplished only in a truck, the rest of the world does on a bicycle or with a 50cc scooter and maybe a trailer. So why buy a gas guzzling Tacoma, when most of the time this Maverick will do it? Unless you plan on sleeping a lot in your vehicle a lot, want the truck for a status symbol and want a real 4x4, you're paying a LOT for just a bit more capability. I love the innovation, Toyota could take notice. I still remember how interesting Toyota was in the late 70's early 80 with multiple different models of the Corolla ( fastback, station wagon, sedan, coupe, sport back...).

 

I see the appeal and like it for that. Would I get one, probably not.

 

Exactly this. Not for me but that price tag and that gas mileage is amazing.

 

Those 4th gen Hilux/pick ups look like a large Tercel body that Toyota threw onto a frame.

 

A lumber rack on a short bed is more useful than a long bed.

I used to haul about a thousand pounds of 20 or 24 foot pipe on my little T100. It doesn't really matter how long our bed is when they're all too small.