{"id":28948,"date":"2022-03-24T11:05:46","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T15:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=28948"},"modified":"2022-03-24T11:05:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T15:05:46","slug":"payne-ridin-round-town-in-fords-frisky-new-maverick-foal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2022\/03\/payne-ridin-round-town-in-fords-frisky-new-maverick-foal","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Ridin’ ’round town in Ford’s frisky new Maverick foal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Son of F-150 is a popular kid.<\/p>\n

A housing contractor visited my house and immediately noted the 2022 Ford Maverick tester in the driveway. Area 51 Blue paint. Base model. Steely wheels.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow. Is that the new little Ford pickup?!!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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My friend Scott loves Ford pickups. He\u2019ll probably be buried in his F-150. He hopped in the Maverick and a smile grew across his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could use this around town. Save my F-150 for trips to the farm.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He\u2019ll have time to think about it \u2014 the Maverick is sold out until summer. Our 2021 Detroit News Vehicle of the Year, the compact pickup has been red-hot. When it was announced this summer, it attracted 100,000 reservations. It sold 4,140 units out of the gate in October. Fully 25% of buyers were millennials \u2014 twice the industry average for car models \u2014 the coveted entry-level demographic.<\/p>\n

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Which is encouraging since the Maverick is now Ford\u2019s entry-level vehicle, taking over the spot the ubiquitous Focus and Fiesta used to fill \u2014 even as its current\u00a0average monthly sales are below the Ecosport, Ford\u2019s outgoing\u00a0entry-level SUV. I spent a week with the Maverick this winter to dig deeper into what makes this compact so appealing, and to circle its shortcomings.<\/p>\n

At $21K, the Maverick is still pricey for an entry-level car compared to the $17K\u00a0Fiestas of yore, but it appears Ford has concluded that sub-$20,000 vehicles are money-losers in today\u2019s highly regulated environment. Better to make margin on small SUVs (and pickups)\u00a0and leave first-time buyers to the used\u00a0 market where they can find affordable pre-owned vehicles \u2014 then buy into factory warranties.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n
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Maverick was easy on the eyes with each new day. The Area 51 Blue is attractive, as is the car\u2019s trim (even the steel wheels, which have a retro charm). My pickup pals Scott and Jim were less impressed \u2014 they just saw cheap steelies.<\/p>\n

They would likely jump to the XLT package for another $2,300 \u2014 gaining attractive\u00a017-inch aluminum\u00a0black wheels as well as cruise control, then adding blind-spot assist for another $540.<\/p>\n

After which there is a $10,000 price gulf to, ahem, a Bronco Sport-like $34K\u00a0to achieve the features Mrs. Payne finds essential in Michigan\u2019s four seasons: all-wheel-drive, adaptive cruise control, heated seats. Such features only come with an upgrade to the more powerful\u00a0250-horse turbo-4 engine.<\/p>\n

But if the base hybrid\u2019s 42 mpg (50 mpg city!) and 580-mile range is what flips your switch, then the front-wheel-drive version it must be.<\/p>\n

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After an inch of snow, my base truck craaaaaaawled out of the driveway \u2014 automatic traction control is obsessive about controlling slip in front-wheel-drive configuration. Enough of that. I switched the nannies off and charged ahead, the FWD system doing its work with the engine weight over top of it (a base\u00a0rear-wheel drive F-150, on the other hand, can be a little hairy with the unladen wheels in back).<\/p>\n