Ford Maverick and the small overlanding pickup truck

[OverlandGamecock]

So the inevitable question: what are some thoughts on new small pickups coming back to the US/NA market? I feel like it would be a great weekend overlanding rig. Haven’t seen anything about departure, approach, or break over angles. I do know it’s being offered with Ford’s FX4 off road package. So what do y’all think?

 

[Sparksalot]

Why not call it the Courier.

Like the Bronco Sport, it’s based on the Escape platform, so it’s a unibody. that makes me leery for some uses.

 

[MidOH]

It's front wheel drive. Like a Honda.

Get a Ranger instead.

 

[Billiebob]

I hear they will have a base truck at $20K !!!
I say right on, about time. I just hope ticking the 4WD box ONLY adds 4WD.

But even as a FWD, there is a massive market for a small AFFORDABLE pickup
Hoping it comes as 2 door regular cab.

If their target is the old Courier market from the 1970s, well the Courier was only 2WD.

 

[Billiebob]

It's front wheel drive. Like a Honda.

Get a Ranger instead.

guys overland in Hondas
even Priuses have lift kits

 

[OverlandGamecock]

It's front wheel drive. Like a Honda.

Get a Ranger instead.

There will be a 4x4 option as well and they’re offering it with their basic FX4 off road package.

 

[socal66]

I don’t know if this would be one of my first choices for overlanding but if I just needed a smaller 4-passenger truck for on road use and was ok with the bed size this truck for $20K or so with a 40 MPG city rating would certainly get my attention.

 

[Boostpowered]

I'd stay away from it and get a real truck if you need a truck. I see no use for a chopped up mini van same as the honda Ridgeline.
Even if you can get it in 4wd it has ifs on the rear so you'll be doing alot of cv axle replacements front and rear and those axles are tiny so expect it to be normal to break if you take it on even a mild trail.

And good luck towing anything bigger than a jon boat.

 

[slightNine]

The axles may indeed be tiny, but the optional turbo engine bumps towing to 5k. Pretty big Jon boat.

The only potential problem I see is it having a single speed transfer case. No low range. (This probably comes right back to the CV axles)


Ford is going to sell these as fast as they can build them though. 40 mpg pickup starting at 20k, hard to argue with for the average weekend Home Depot hero.

 

[Sparksalot]

The axles may indeed be tiny, but the optional turbo engine bumps towing to 5k. Pretty big Jon boat.

The only potential problem I see is it having a single speed transfer case. No low range. (This probably comes right back to the CV axles)


Ford is going to sell these as fast as they can build them though. 40 mpg pickup starting at 20k, hard to argue with for the average weekend Home Depot hero.

As fast as they can make is a key point. Maybe 3 per month.

 

[roots66]

Why not call it the Courier.

I agree. Sorry, but I will always associate the name Maverick with a smaller, cheaper, less powerful version of the Mustang. Which honestly, wouldn't be a bad thing right now.

 

[MidOH]

There will be a 4x4 option as well and they’re offering it with their basic FX4 off road package.

Front wheel drive, with 4x4 including the rear drive when 4x4 is selected.

Like a Mitsu Evo 8. (if it was 4wd, not Awd. But you get the idea)

If you're into that, rock on. Don't expect it to be a Ranger or truck.

 

[egilbe]

This is targeted directly at the same people who are still driving old Rangers. They are everywhere! A small pickup that would be easy to drive around town, seats 5, has more backseat room than the 5g Ranger. For those who want or need a small pickup and think the 5g Ranger is too big. 40MPG? amazing!

 

[Boostpowered]

This is targeted directly at the same people who are still driving old Rangers. They are everywhere! A small pickup that would be easy to drive around town, seats 5, has more backseat room than the 5g Ranger. For those who want or need a small pickup and think the 5g Ranger is too big. 40MPG? amazing!

Actually by ford's own account they are directly targeting city people the same city people who think that a Honda Ridgeline is a real truck. A El Camino or Ranchero is more truck than this thing. Heck a Subaru brat has more clout than a maverick not much but it does.

 

[Shakes355]

Had some stuff I wanted to say about elitism. But I'll just say it's a cool little truck and I'd probably buy one.



Edit 3/18/23:
Ordered in Sept. Just got the VIN and build confirmation this week.

 

[Padams7]

Why not call it the Courier.

I agree. Sorry, but I will always associate the name Maverick with a smaller, cheaper, less powerful version of the Mustang. Which honestly, wouldn't be a bad thing right now.

View attachment 201328

My thought was whomever is in charge of naming messed up.

Bronco Sport should have just been Bronco 2.

The Mach-E Mustang should have come back as a Mav-E-Rick, or even the Mustang MavErick.

And the pick up should have been called the Ranchero.

 

[LostWoods]

Had some stuff I wanted to say about elitism. But I'll just say it's a cool little truck and id probably buy one.

I mean a lot of it is warranted. It won't be as off-road capable as the Ranger or other mid-size pickups by any stretch of the imagination but that really only applies to like 10% of the market at best.

So that's entirely fine because it makes up for those shortcomings by being a pickup that gets car-level MPG while still being able to do weekend Home Depot runs with its 1500# payload that beats most of that same mid-size market. It's FWD or AWD which handles great in snow while having large enough tires you have your choice of excellent AT options if you need them. It's a great small everyday truck for people who don't need the size or strength of a full-size.

This would never in a million years replace my Gladiator but in concept it would absolutely be a candidate for a supplementary daily driver. I just can't get over that front end and frankly I'd like it to be a PHEV or fully electric.

 

[CR-Venturer]

It's front wheel drive. Like a Honda.

Get a Ranger instead.

guys overland in Hondas
even Priuses have lift kits

Was gonna say, I resemble that remark lol

 

[ThundahBeagle]

It's front wheel drive. Like a Honda.

Get a Ranger instead.

By the way, i saw some schematic type drawings in an article somewhere, with some measurements. It's not much smaller than the Ranger. That's what surprised me. I expected it to be much smaller. So it's not really a smaller truck. That's a little disappointing. See the difference in size between the original Colorado and today's? Or original 90's Ranger and today's. I liked the idea of a smaller truck. This doesn't seem to be that. Just less capable but more economical and efficient, which is good in a different way.

Seems like the main differences are:
.unibody
.hybrid as standard engine type
.front wheel drive
.only made in Mexico

 

[Boostpowered]

By the way, i saw some schematic type drawings in an article somewhere, with some measurements. It's not much smaller than the Ranger. That's what surprised me. I expected it to be much smaller. So it's not really a smaller truck. That's a little disappointing. See the difference in size between the original Colorado and today's? Or original 90's Ranger and today's. I liked the idea of a smaller truck. This doesn't seem to be that. Just less capable but more economical and efficient, which is good in a different way.

Seems like the main differences are:
.unibody
.hybrid as standard engine type
.front wheel drive
.only made in Mexico

Yup chopped up mini van is what I've taken from it