Ford Maverick is MotorTrend 2026 Truck of the Year! 🏆

[jpdurr]

and if one were to compare the number of Recalls to the Maverick vs the Number of Recalls to the Santa Cruz, I think they would find a great disparity, in the Santa Cruz's Favor.......

Nawwww,
Ford paid them more than anybody else did.
Kidding !:’P

But think about it. The Maverick stands alone in the mini pickup category.
No competition except bloated mid size trucks with old tech engines and behind the curve mpg’s.
And don’t mention that abortion of a so called SUV with a bed called the Santa Cruz. It don’t count it’s a P.O.S.

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[jpdurr]

Hopefully they've finally fired all those vehicle designers who want to make any vehicle bigger with each model year. Its been a trend in every manufacturer for at least 60 years now, and nobody has ever explained why a couple of inches every year is supposed to make it better. The F100 and original F150 were the same size as the Maverick. The Ranger started out at almost exactly the same size as the Maverick, and is now only a foot shorter than the ridiculously oversized F150, GMC, Toyota, Nissan and Ram products. They've also all become taller each year for 20 years, and now you can't even get in without climbing in and can't see the vehicle in front of you over the stupidly high hoods. And they actually haul less than a 60s or early 70s truck.

while what you say about the continuous increase in size may be so, why is it that Full Size Pickup Trucks are the best selling vehicles in N. America? There is demand for them (and there is demand for smaller pickups like the Maverick too, just not as much demand.

 

[Codestar7]

https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-maverick-2026-truck-of-the-year

The Ford Maverick Is the 2026 MotorTrend Truck of the Year

America’s favorite compact pickup gets smarter, tougher, and even more fun, earning our highest honor at long last.

Best of the Year

Back in 2022, when Ford introduced the Maverick, it was an open question whether Americans would accept a truly compact, crossover-based pickup truck. All those sales later, the answer is, “Yes, they will, if truck experts design it and build it.” Now the Maverick lineup has been further refined, improved, and broadened to become even more appealing to even more people. And that’s why MotorTrend is seizing this opportunity to name Ford Maverick our 2026 Truck of the Year.

Read the full award article: https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-maverick-2026-truck-of-the-year

Just can't beat a red Maveric, of any year!

 

[Ryom]

and if one were to compare the number of Recalls to the Maverick vs the Number of Recalls to the Santa Cruz, I think they would find a great disparity, in the Santa Cruz's Favor

This has been addressed before... a company that avoids recalls will look great against a company that is willing to recall small defects. There have been head to head tests where the Santa Cruz failed to complete the match-up because of a major failure rendering it undriveable. The DCT transmission and turbo engine are known to fail at a much higher than expected rate.

 

[808Goose!]

Like going all in holding a 7 deuce unsuited

 

[Cherokee]

while what you say about the continuous increase in size may be so, why is it that Full Size Pickup Trucks are the best selling vehicles in N. America? There is demand for them (and there is demand for smaller pickups like the Maverick too, just not as much demand.

BUT !
Part of that demand for full size is simply because there are no affordable reliable options.
Then along comes the Mavericks.

 

[Master Blaster]

while what you say about the continuous increase in size may be so, why is it that Full Size Pickup Trucks are the best selling vehicles in N. America? There is demand for them (and there is demand for smaller pickups like the Maverick too, just not as much demand.

You should note that very few people get a longbed pickup anymore, and virtually nobody gets one with only a single-row cab. The average huge truck today only has a bed that is a foot longer than the Maverick. The demand for huge trucks is artificial, because the American public has been brainwashed for multiple generations now, into believing that they need the biggest possible vehicle with a poorly-designed bed to haul a sheet of plywood twice in their lives. The Maverick breaks that thinking, hauling that plywood sheet in a smarter way. Its going to take a generation or two to stop thinking that big trucks are required to get to work. Even the average contractor truck does not require a huge bed and steps to get in just to get to the job.

 

[jpdurr]

You should note that very few people get a longbed pickup anymore, and virtually nobody gets one with only a single-row cab. The average huge truck today only has a bed that is a foot longer than the Maverick. The demand for huge trucks is artificial, because the American public has been brainwashed for multiple generations now, into believing that they need the biggest possible vehicle with a poorly-designed bed to haul a sheet of plywood twice in their lives. The Maverick breaks that thinking, hauling that plywood sheet in a smarter way. Its going to take a generation or two to stop thinking that big trucks are required to get to work. Even the average contractor truck does not require a huge bed and steps to get in just to get to the job.

"because the American public has been brainwashed for multiple generations now"

You are implying that the American Public are Feeble Minded Idiots. I don't think it's that simple. People still want things for reasons that might not be justified to you, but it's their choice, and their money.

 

[jpdurr]

BUT !
Part of that demand for full size is simply because there are no affordable reliable options.
Then along comes the Mavericks.

More options / choice, better for the consumers. Yet consumers still choose Full Size Pickup Trucks by a wide margin (over 4 to 1 just within the Ford Nameplate).

 

[Alfetta159]

Not sure why people make a thing of this.

My other car has a rubber-band CVT and does the same thing. When accelerating it winds up to 4k (and this car has a tach) and the car catches up. When really accelerating (flooring it) it red lines. It makes complete sense for a sub-compact with 1,200 cc. What's funny is that the engine can be finicky w/ all the electronic controls (O2, anti-knock, etc.) that getting it to wind up can seem different on different days, if that makes sense. The gas pedal is electronic, so the car hears what you want, but only gives you what it can handle at the time.

I'd take it any day over the little four-cylinder cars that would have a 3-speed Hydramatic that I used to drive decades ago. In fact, this is the smallest displacement car I've ever had except for some Fiat 850 spiders that were more just a hobby car.

 

[Cherokee]

I never liked the feel of wimpy engines even when they are perfectly adequate for the task at hand.
My Turbo adequately hides my small 2.0L displacement.

 

[MaverickDragon]

BUT !
Part of that demand for full size is simply because there are were no affordable reliable options.
Then along comes the Mavericks.

I corrected your post...
There are a lot of us, which includes most (all?) on this forum that don't want or need a full size pickup. I've been looking for a Maverick sized option since my wife totaled my Subaru Baja.

Especially for a truck, the Maverick is a very comfortable machine to drive in, looks good, and doesn't drink gas like it flows out of the ground for free.

 

[Darryl]

Hey!! First time in my adult life I am driving a Motor Trend vehicle of the year....and I agree with their assessment.

I said the same thing. I always said the Car of the Year award didn't mean anything. Well. I take that back. And unlike some past car /truck of the year awards that didn't age well once the vehicle was put into the real world consumer operation, we can be sure this will not be one of them because this refreshed and improved Maverick is still largely the Maverick that's already proven itself.

 

[Darryl]

I never liked the feel of wimpy engines even when they are perfectly adequate for the task at hand.
My Turbo adequately hides my small 2.0L displacement.

Yes, the 2.0 has a lot of spunk in the Maverick. Even though the Hybrid powertrain performance is more than adequate, it's not thrilling. The 2,0 definitely the one to choose if you like to feel the "rush" when accelerating. The Hybrid gets the job done well. The Ecoboost makes you smile while doing it. But the hybrid gives me my smiles at the pump. Both a furnace and a fireplace will heat your house. And the furnace is usually more efficient. But when a person plans a romantic dinner, no one says "we'll have a romantic dinner sitting in front of the furnace. " . You drive the fireplace. Us Hybrid owners drive the furnace

 

[Darryl]

T

But Ranger has a little more legroom in front, which is what I care more about, but I wanted a Maverick for other reasons.

For those of us who are ana average 5'10" we are more than happy as long as the leg room is adequate for us. Excellent front seat legroom above and beyond that simply means that we have to slide the seat forward.

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