{"id":28431,"date":"2021-12-16T09:51:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T13:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=28431"},"modified":"2021-12-16T09:51:14","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T13:51:14","slug":"2021-detroit-news-vehicle-of-the-year-fresh-feisty-ffordable-ford-maverick-pickup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/2021-detroit-news-vehicle-of-the-year-fresh-feisty-ffordable-ford-maverick-pickup","title":{"rendered":"2021 Detroit News Vehicle of the Year: Fresh, feisty, ‘ffordable Ford Maverick pickup"},"content":{"rendered":"

News that Dodge is burying its\u00a0iconic Hellcat models sent a shiver through the auto market this fall as enthusiasts fear a wave of cookie-cutter electric vehicles in the decade ahead. Government scolds are in the driver\u2019s seat \u2014 are we doomed for a repeat of \u201cThat ’70s Show\u201d?<\/p>\n

Happily in 2021, the auto menu is a feast of flavors.<\/p>\n

Consider the\u00a0year saw the introduction of everything from the V-8-powered, 668-horsepower Cadillac CT-5 Blackwing to the battery-powered, 1,020-horsepower Tesla Model S Plaid. Automotive purists got manual toys from the $28K Subaru BRZ to the $138K Porsche 911 GTS. Even the pickup market saw an explosion in diversity with rookies like the entry-level Ford Maverick and electric Rivian R1T.<\/p>\n

The sudden growth of pickups beyond the usual light-duty workhorses dovetailed with the SUV revolution that has washed over the U.S. market in the past 10 years. Volume SUV segments saw upgrades from familiar names like Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder\u00a0and Jeep Wrangler, as well as new kids like Volkswagen ID.4 and Genesis G70. Americans escaped to the great, socially distanced outdoors in the adventurous Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler 4xe \u2014 as well as new trim lines like Subaru Wilderness.<\/p>\n

We got a Mach-E, e-Tron, MX30, TLX, Ioniq 5, RS6, Carnival\u00a0and Karma. Off-road, on-track, gas, electric, three-motor, four-wheel-drive.<\/p>\n

My 2021 Detroit News Vehicle of the Year winners:<\/p>\n

Third place: Tesla Model S<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, I know, it starts at $91,190 and is out of reach for most of us. But the Model S has been the most influential car of the past decade and the 2022 model is its first major reboot since the OG wowed in 2011.<\/p>\n

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After Tesla\u2019s success, other companies remade their business models (see Cadillac and Jaguar) to go all-electric. But Tesla\u2019s secret sauce is more than battery power. The Model S remade the luxe space with fresh design, big screens\u00a0and performance. The ’22 model continues Tesla\u2019s relentless effort to re-imagine the automobile.<\/p>\n

The new Model S interior echoes its Model 3\/Y siblings with a landscape-oriented, 17-inch infotainment display that includes everything from Autopilot self-driving controls to streaming channels to watch while you\u2019re recharging at the brand\u2019s cross-country network of Superchargers (the only way to travel EV).<\/p>\n

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The already minimalist interior gets more so by deleting steering wheel turn signal and shift stalks. Shifting (PARK, FORWARD, REVERSE) is done via swipe on the big screen while the turn signal is integrated into the vehicle\u2019s signature feature, a steering wheel yoke. No joke. Toyota is already following Tesla by adapting a yoke of its own for the forthcoming bZ4X EV.<\/p>\n

I tested the $134K Model Plaid, which takes the car\u2019s already superhuman performance to another level: 2-second zero-60 mph launches, cornering grip greater than a Corvette C8. Its 1,020-horsepower, tri-motor drivetrain propels the car to acceleration speeds greater than even the legendary, $3 million Bugatti Chiron supercar \u2014 for 20% of the price and 50% more seats.<\/p>\n

Runner-up: Volkswagen Golf GTI<\/strong><\/p>\n

The original hot hatch, the Golf GTI has been my baseline for best all-around vehicle. Fun to drive, fuel-efficient, seating for five, hatchback utility \u2014 all for an affordable price. Like the Tesla, Golf GTI has reset the bar again with its 2022 model update.<\/p>\n

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The exterior is updated with sharp stampings and thin headlights \u2014 an\u00a0industry trend as designers love to play with their new LED tools. For my money, the V-dub outclasses its Audi S3 cousin. The car\u2019s performance is more engaging than the Audi’s (with which it shares a platform) thanks to its manual transmission option and hatchback.<\/p>\n

The manual bonds driver to machine and there are few experiences more engaging than rowing the Golf over a twisty road. Drivers who prefer automatics will enjoy the GTI\u00a0too, with its optional \u201cchiclet\u201d shifter right out of a Porsche.<\/p>\n

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The interior is the real game-changer as VW has brought in twin digital screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda also introduced an all-new Civic Si this year that is an even more affordable pocket rocket than GTI \u2014 but the Golf\u2019s hatchback utility trumps the Civic sedan\u2019s standard trunk.<\/p>\n

Winner: Ford Maverick pickup<\/strong><\/p>\n

With average prices hovering around $40,000, affordable new vehicles are an endangered species. Say hello to the terrific $21k Maverick.<\/p>\n

Not only is the compact pickup a tasty appetizer for Ford\u2019s sprawling truck menu, it\u2019s the entry-level vehicle in Ford\u2019s lineup. And the $21,490 model is no stripped starter. It comes standard with hybrid drivetrain, 500-mile range, 191 horsepower, cool steel wheels, smartphone connectivity\u00a0and clever interior.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s a Swiss (Dearborn?) Army knife for the urban do-it-yourselfer with a roomy interior and capable of carrying 1,500 pounds of mulch in its 4.5-foot bed (the same size as, ahem, an electric, $70K Rivian R1T pickup). Need more oomph? Upgrade to the 250-horse, 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine that can tow 4,500 pounds. If it\u2019s an Olympic weightlifter you\u00a0want, buy a ladder-frame F-150 truck, but you can\u2019t park big brother easily in a downtown parking spot.<\/p>\n

Built south of the border on the same unibody platform as the Bronco Sport (The News’ 2020 Vehicle of the Year) and Escape SUVs, Maverick is fun to drive around town and on the open road. The rear seat can be flipped up, revealing all kinds of sub-storage thanks to its flexible frame. Get the sub-seat organizer \u2014 part of a $50 five-pack of gadgets for the rear seat console including cord wrap, cupholder, grocery bag holder\u00a0and trash bin.<\/p>\n

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The Maverick is now the third\u00a0SUV-based pickup in the U.S., and automakers will be watching the wee Ford closely to see if the king of ladder-frame trucks can also sell the unibody variety. Early signs are that customers are biting.<\/p>\n

Alas, the affordable Maverick is not immune from chip shortages. Model year 2022 Mavericks are sold out and new orders will not be filled until next summer.<\/p>\n