- First Name
- Chris
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2021
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 386
- Reaction score
- 484
- Location
- Puyallup, Washington
- Vehicle(s)
- 21' EcoSport SES, 22' Lariat Lux FX4 Eco Mav
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
- Thread starter
- #1
So after many months of waiting (Ordered back in September of 2021) I finally took delivery of my Maverick. Until that day I had never even sat in one and had only seen a couple on the road.
I went a little crazy with my build. At the time I ordered it my 2012 Eco F150 Lariat had been stolen (was later recovered, fixed and sold). So I didn't want to take a step back from that vehicle. I absolutely LOVED my F150, was such a comfortable vehicle, what I didn't love was the gas mileage in the teens or that it didn't fit in my garage or that going into any city with it was so stressful. So I had a Colorado or a Ranger in mind when I went to do some price shopping, and that is when I discovered the Ford Maverick. Now, I owned two 1970's versions of this, one was even a grabber and even drove the overseas SUV version once. So the name really struck a cord with me, as I have a fond place in my heart for that badge. I built my 'dream' version of this vehicle and headed to Military Auto Sales as I was stationed in Italy at the time.
Because I had so many constrained items on my build, it took Ford a little time. I never dropped anything off, and in January it was built. I am assuming something failed a final inspection as everything showed it shipping before it got parked and put on a chip hold for about 3 months.
Here is what I configured, I'll go into my initial impressions on these things so that I have a benchmark to compare to down the road. This is hands down both the nicest vehicle I have ever owned and also the most expensive. My 2012 F150 while it would have been that benchmark, I bought pre-owned and it was still 36k. So I managed to exceed that on an entry level vehicle... I am at fault in that area as the circumstances kind of conspired with me to over order. My total build wound up at $38,130. Here then is where I did all of that damage.
Ecoboost in Hot Pepper Red
Lariat Trim Level
Luxury Package
FX4 Package
4K Tow package
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
Power Moon Roof
Full Size Spare
Co-Pilot 360
Protective Film Hood/Fenders
Overall Impression: This is a striking vehicle. It looks just outstanding. I am really glad I went with the Hot Pepper Red color. It is my wife's favorite color and does not disappoint. I had seen a Ford Ranger in a burnt Orange color in Italy that I thought looked outstanding and wanted to get as close to that as possible as well. Depending on the lighting, this looks pretty close to that orange, and varies to a deep red. Love it. I was worried about the interior color clashing. While It still would not be my first choice for a pairing, the blue trim is much more muted than I was expecting, which is a good thing. I love the Bronze accents that you get with the Lariat Trim. If anything, the Brown in the Active-X seats is what kind of jumps out/clashes. The seats are extremely comfortable though, I just hope they hold up over the years.
Cabin Noise: I have watched pretty much every review on youtube and soaked up what everyone else has reported, so I was expecting a somewhat noisy driving experience. I can't hear the engine basically at all. It is very quiet. Perhaps that is the acoustic glass at play, or I just got one with a good fit and finish. In any event it is much quieter than I was expecting.
B&O Sound system. A month prior I bought my wife an EcoSport with the SES trim level. That has a pretty good sounding system. This blows the doors off of it. Now, I don't listen to music with a lot of base, so perhaps that is where those into that sort of thing are finding fault, but to me, it is just outstanding. Yesterday my daughter and I were sitting in the Mav in the garage while I connected to the home wifi. I got an email for the Obi Wan trailer. So I played that trailer on my phone with the sound through the Mav's speakers and it sounded like we were in a theater! I was super impressed! She was blown away by the sound as well, so there you go!
Ecoboost engine: I wanted to be able to tow more than the 2k pounds you can do in the Hybrid. In retrospect I should have considered the Hybrid more closely as my commute is very stop and go and it would have excelled at that part of my use. I am not sure my original plans (getting a small travel trailer) will happen anytime soon, or if ever, so this might have been an unneeded upgrade. However the Mav has plenty of power and is super smooth to drive. Very quiet which again, surprised me. I do like the power that it has, comparing the two 2.0 Eco's in the garage are night and day. I feel very confident in it's capability.
Driving Experience: The pickup is both more comfortable than I was expecting and also shows it's an entry level vehicle. The dinky touchscreen is nearly comically small for this trim level. Again, since I have two new cars to compare, both entry level segment vehicles, both high trim levels for their build, I have to admit the screen in the wife's blows the Mav's away. Hers also comes with Navigation which the Maverick does not. Something that it should, at least at the Lariat level. I love the placement of the push button start. Some others had complained about it but I find it perfect. The cabin is very roomy. In fact, the entire Maverick seems to be using some sort of wizardry as it drives/feels much bigger than it is. I mentioned I have the FX4 package. I have found other vehicles with the FX4 package to have too harsh of a ride. I honestly don't know what compelled my to add this package! If I don't wind up using this for camping then the drive modes are largely going to go to waste. That said, my Mav just feels like a pickup, not an SUV. I am attributing that to the stiffer suspension. I like the ride actually, and I wouldn't be afraid of the FX4 if you had prior experience with it like I had. They do a great job with making the plastics tactile and interesting, certainly much more so than my Wife's Eco. That said, it comes short of feeling like it earns that Lariat Luxury Moniker. The heated seats (I have a bad back) don't get nearly as hot as the ones in our Eco. I have to have it on the full three bars to get a noticeable effect. The dual climate is however a nice feature. It's an absolute joy to drive. I just wouldn't necessarily recommend the top trim level as it doesn't quite punch at that weight.
FX4 Package: Honestly I was more excited about this package before I wound up with a pickup with the exact same rims as my wife's Ecosport. Kind of takes a little shine off it. Due to my other add-ons I also didn't get full value here. Time will tell if this has much if any value for me, but as an add on, I still think the price was fair. Will just have to see if I can use it how I originally planned. If so, then my configuration make a lot more sense.
4K tow Package: Honestly, as far as towing capability goes, this is still pretty light. But that little Ecosport has a segment leading 2k towing capability rating, so my Maverick would live in shame if it slept next to that vehicle with the same towing capability. I think this is just enough to make it versatile as a pickup.
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover: This one...Yeah, probably should have left this off my build. I keep seeing ones I like better. It's not 100% water tight, and I live in the rain, but it seems to do pretty well. I just think I'd have preferred something after market. Looks sharp though and I like how secure everything is. It's an expensive add on though and probably contributed to my delay. I wouldn't have included it if doing a build today.
Power Moon roof: I love having a moon roof. Some people don't. I am over 6ft tall and have plenty of headroom and get to enjoy the sun when we get that infrequent guest. I would have added this to any build.
Full size spare: I hate that my wifes Eco comes with goo and not a tire. Wish it was a MATCHING spare but what can you do. Also would have added this to any build.
Co-Pilot 360/ACC: I have yet to try either of these features. In other vehicles I have driven with this tech you have to turn it off. In the Maverick you have to turn it on. My daily commute depending on my route will either take advantage of this...or not. Was hoping to try it today but that had to wait. As a feature, yeah, I could have lived without this I think. I find I rarely use normal cruise control, maybe that will change with the ACC. I do like the BLIS system in both cars and it already saved me once when I didn't see a car in my blind spot. I can't grade this yet but was probably a good value proposition if I do end up using it.
Protective Film: Does not cover enough. Was a minimal add on and a minimal product. I would leave this off and don't think I would recommend it. Better products out there, don't waste your time.
Lariat/Lariat Luxury package: Already covered most of this. Look, I love the heated seats and steering wheel. But the seats should also be vented at this trim level. This was an expensive add-on and I don't think it brings quite enough value to justify it. However unlike some of the other things I added, it is full of things I will use. I do take advantage of the Sirius radio, do use the heated seats, and do enjoy the dual climate control. I also love the keyless entry/push button start. I take full advantage of this trim level...but would have probably gone XLT with Lux package. I am glad I have the spray in bed liner though. My Mav also managed to get built after the gas tank fiasco and before they had trouble with the trailer brake software. So, all that to say, I am happy to have it, happy I still paid less for all these features than I could have gotten on a Ranger or F150, have exactly the vehicle I wanted, but also recognize not the best value. Also, again, wife's Eco SES trim gets Navigation, bigger screen, auto dimming mirror.
Favorite Feature: Brake Hold. Wow, this is a game changer for my daily drive. Absolutely love this.
Least favorite: That cubby. The screen and cubby are smaller than I expected. That makes what I thought I was doing with that cubby no longer going to work. It's too small to be of much use.
Things that were pointed out that are true: Those windows are SLOW to go up and down. I have no idea why Ford built it that way. Also, the Pirelli tires that come with the FX4 package are not aggressive enough to take off-road. I think they are a fine road tire though, and since I frequently drive in the rain think they will do great. They are probably just fine if I do tow a small camper down some dirt roads too. But, yes, you can tell just by looking at them that they are not up to the task of doing much off-road.
Things that were not true: Cabin noise is really low in mine. Again, this might be the acoustic windshield. But mine is very quiet. The B&O system is very rich and certainly a quality upgrade.
Overall, my initially impressions are that I love the Maverick. It mostly lived up to expectations. The areas that let me down are more to do with the Luxury aspect not reaching what I think it should have, especially with another entry level top trim product from Ford to compare it to.
Do I think I overpaid? Heck no! This is worth every penny of my non-marked up price! I also got $750 cash back for waiting (I was going to cancel my order due to the delay). That said, anyone getting a Mav in the 20's is getting an absolute steal! It is an absolute joy to drive, and I can't wait to jump back in it. Looks just fantastic, love the styling que's and find it to be just exactly what I wanted in a pickup. Hopefully the build quality will justify the price over time as I plan to drive this for several years. I could have been a little smarter with my build though and not got quite so exuberant with the add on's.
Now, without further ado, let me introduce you to Erik 'The Red'
I went a little crazy with my build. At the time I ordered it my 2012 Eco F150 Lariat had been stolen (was later recovered, fixed and sold). So I didn't want to take a step back from that vehicle. I absolutely LOVED my F150, was such a comfortable vehicle, what I didn't love was the gas mileage in the teens or that it didn't fit in my garage or that going into any city with it was so stressful. So I had a Colorado or a Ranger in mind when I went to do some price shopping, and that is when I discovered the Ford Maverick. Now, I owned two 1970's versions of this, one was even a grabber and even drove the overseas SUV version once. So the name really struck a cord with me, as I have a fond place in my heart for that badge. I built my 'dream' version of this vehicle and headed to Military Auto Sales as I was stationed in Italy at the time.
Because I had so many constrained items on my build, it took Ford a little time. I never dropped anything off, and in January it was built. I am assuming something failed a final inspection as everything showed it shipping before it got parked and put on a chip hold for about 3 months.
Here is what I configured, I'll go into my initial impressions on these things so that I have a benchmark to compare to down the road. This is hands down both the nicest vehicle I have ever owned and also the most expensive. My 2012 F150 while it would have been that benchmark, I bought pre-owned and it was still 36k. So I managed to exceed that on an entry level vehicle... I am at fault in that area as the circumstances kind of conspired with me to over order. My total build wound up at $38,130. Here then is where I did all of that damage.
Ecoboost in Hot Pepper Red
Lariat Trim Level
Luxury Package
FX4 Package
4K Tow package
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover
Power Moon Roof
Full Size Spare
Co-Pilot 360
Protective Film Hood/Fenders
Overall Impression: This is a striking vehicle. It looks just outstanding. I am really glad I went with the Hot Pepper Red color. It is my wife's favorite color and does not disappoint. I had seen a Ford Ranger in a burnt Orange color in Italy that I thought looked outstanding and wanted to get as close to that as possible as well. Depending on the lighting, this looks pretty close to that orange, and varies to a deep red. Love it. I was worried about the interior color clashing. While It still would not be my first choice for a pairing, the blue trim is much more muted than I was expecting, which is a good thing. I love the Bronze accents that you get with the Lariat Trim. If anything, the Brown in the Active-X seats is what kind of jumps out/clashes. The seats are extremely comfortable though, I just hope they hold up over the years.
Cabin Noise: I have watched pretty much every review on youtube and soaked up what everyone else has reported, so I was expecting a somewhat noisy driving experience. I can't hear the engine basically at all. It is very quiet. Perhaps that is the acoustic glass at play, or I just got one with a good fit and finish. In any event it is much quieter than I was expecting.
B&O Sound system. A month prior I bought my wife an EcoSport with the SES trim level. That has a pretty good sounding system. This blows the doors off of it. Now, I don't listen to music with a lot of base, so perhaps that is where those into that sort of thing are finding fault, but to me, it is just outstanding. Yesterday my daughter and I were sitting in the Mav in the garage while I connected to the home wifi. I got an email for the Obi Wan trailer. So I played that trailer on my phone with the sound through the Mav's speakers and it sounded like we were in a theater! I was super impressed! She was blown away by the sound as well, so there you go!
Ecoboost engine: I wanted to be able to tow more than the 2k pounds you can do in the Hybrid. In retrospect I should have considered the Hybrid more closely as my commute is very stop and go and it would have excelled at that part of my use. I am not sure my original plans (getting a small travel trailer) will happen anytime soon, or if ever, so this might have been an unneeded upgrade. However the Mav has plenty of power and is super smooth to drive. Very quiet which again, surprised me. I do like the power that it has, comparing the two 2.0 Eco's in the garage are night and day. I feel very confident in it's capability.
Driving Experience: The pickup is both more comfortable than I was expecting and also shows it's an entry level vehicle. The dinky touchscreen is nearly comically small for this trim level. Again, since I have two new cars to compare, both entry level segment vehicles, both high trim levels for their build, I have to admit the screen in the wife's blows the Mav's away. Hers also comes with Navigation which the Maverick does not. Something that it should, at least at the Lariat level. I love the placement of the push button start. Some others had complained about it but I find it perfect. The cabin is very roomy. In fact, the entire Maverick seems to be using some sort of wizardry as it drives/feels much bigger than it is. I mentioned I have the FX4 package. I have found other vehicles with the FX4 package to have too harsh of a ride. I honestly don't know what compelled my to add this package! If I don't wind up using this for camping then the drive modes are largely going to go to waste. That said, my Mav just feels like a pickup, not an SUV. I am attributing that to the stiffer suspension. I like the ride actually, and I wouldn't be afraid of the FX4 if you had prior experience with it like I had. They do a great job with making the plastics tactile and interesting, certainly much more so than my Wife's Eco. That said, it comes short of feeling like it earns that Lariat Luxury Moniker. The heated seats (I have a bad back) don't get nearly as hot as the ones in our Eco. I have to have it on the full three bars to get a noticeable effect. The dual climate is however a nice feature. It's an absolute joy to drive. I just wouldn't necessarily recommend the top trim level as it doesn't quite punch at that weight.
FX4 Package: Honestly I was more excited about this package before I wound up with a pickup with the exact same rims as my wife's Ecosport. Kind of takes a little shine off it. Due to my other add-ons I also didn't get full value here. Time will tell if this has much if any value for me, but as an add on, I still think the price was fair. Will just have to see if I can use it how I originally planned. If so, then my configuration make a lot more sense.
4K tow Package: Honestly, as far as towing capability goes, this is still pretty light. But that little Ecosport has a segment leading 2k towing capability rating, so my Maverick would live in shame if it slept next to that vehicle with the same towing capability. I think this is just enough to make it versatile as a pickup.
Tri-Fold Tonneau Cover: This one...Yeah, probably should have left this off my build. I keep seeing ones I like better. It's not 100% water tight, and I live in the rain, but it seems to do pretty well. I just think I'd have preferred something after market. Looks sharp though and I like how secure everything is. It's an expensive add on though and probably contributed to my delay. I wouldn't have included it if doing a build today.
Power Moon roof: I love having a moon roof. Some people don't. I am over 6ft tall and have plenty of headroom and get to enjoy the sun when we get that infrequent guest. I would have added this to any build.
Full size spare: I hate that my wifes Eco comes with goo and not a tire. Wish it was a MATCHING spare but what can you do. Also would have added this to any build.
Co-Pilot 360/ACC: I have yet to try either of these features. In other vehicles I have driven with this tech you have to turn it off. In the Maverick you have to turn it on. My daily commute depending on my route will either take advantage of this...or not. Was hoping to try it today but that had to wait. As a feature, yeah, I could have lived without this I think. I find I rarely use normal cruise control, maybe that will change with the ACC. I do like the BLIS system in both cars and it already saved me once when I didn't see a car in my blind spot. I can't grade this yet but was probably a good value proposition if I do end up using it.
Protective Film: Does not cover enough. Was a minimal add on and a minimal product. I would leave this off and don't think I would recommend it. Better products out there, don't waste your time.
Lariat/Lariat Luxury package: Already covered most of this. Look, I love the heated seats and steering wheel. But the seats should also be vented at this trim level. This was an expensive add-on and I don't think it brings quite enough value to justify it. However unlike some of the other things I added, it is full of things I will use. I do take advantage of the Sirius radio, do use the heated seats, and do enjoy the dual climate control. I also love the keyless entry/push button start. I take full advantage of this trim level...but would have probably gone XLT with Lux package. I am glad I have the spray in bed liner though. My Mav also managed to get built after the gas tank fiasco and before they had trouble with the trailer brake software. So, all that to say, I am happy to have it, happy I still paid less for all these features than I could have gotten on a Ranger or F150, have exactly the vehicle I wanted, but also recognize not the best value. Also, again, wife's Eco SES trim gets Navigation, bigger screen, auto dimming mirror.
Favorite Feature: Brake Hold. Wow, this is a game changer for my daily drive. Absolutely love this.
Least favorite: That cubby. The screen and cubby are smaller than I expected. That makes what I thought I was doing with that cubby no longer going to work. It's too small to be of much use.
Things that were pointed out that are true: Those windows are SLOW to go up and down. I have no idea why Ford built it that way. Also, the Pirelli tires that come with the FX4 package are not aggressive enough to take off-road. I think they are a fine road tire though, and since I frequently drive in the rain think they will do great. They are probably just fine if I do tow a small camper down some dirt roads too. But, yes, you can tell just by looking at them that they are not up to the task of doing much off-road.
Things that were not true: Cabin noise is really low in mine. Again, this might be the acoustic windshield. But mine is very quiet. The B&O system is very rich and certainly a quality upgrade.
Overall, my initially impressions are that I love the Maverick. It mostly lived up to expectations. The areas that let me down are more to do with the Luxury aspect not reaching what I think it should have, especially with another entry level top trim product from Ford to compare it to.
Do I think I overpaid? Heck no! This is worth every penny of my non-marked up price! I also got $750 cash back for waiting (I was going to cancel my order due to the delay). That said, anyone getting a Mav in the 20's is getting an absolute steal! It is an absolute joy to drive, and I can't wait to jump back in it. Looks just fantastic, love the styling que's and find it to be just exactly what I wanted in a pickup. Hopefully the build quality will justify the price over time as I plan to drive this for several years. I could have been a little smarter with my build though and not got quite so exuberant with the add on's.
Now, without further ado, let me introduce you to Erik 'The Red'
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looking truck, and thanks for your service time.
