- First Name
- Hugh
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2022
- Threads
- 5
- Messages
- 163
- Reaction score
- 202
- Location
- Cherokee, NC
- Vehicle(s)
- Chevy Volt, Ford Maverick
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
Greetings!
After waiting 18 months (and having my 2022 order converted to a 2023) I took delivery of my 2023 Maverick XLT Hybrid April 29, 2023. I thought I would share my impressions of the first year. I am 68 and had never purchased a new vehicle before. I was especially nervous about ordering a vehicle in it's first year of production. My impression was that the first year is when the manufacturer fixes most of the engineering issues that come with a new product line. I also was too thrifty (I squeak when I walk) to pay good money for something that would immediately worth 33% less when you drove it "off the lot". I was also frustrated that to get cruise control, which I need, I had to pay an extra $5K for an XLT. Mr. Thrifty would have been happy with an XL. However, my '07 Tacoma has 250K miles on it and Mavericks were worth $10K more than the sticker so I made the deal. In 2017 I bought a 2014 Volt PHEV which I love, but it is a pain to haul gravel, mulch or many of the other bulk products I need on my little farm. I wanted a "forever" vehicle. I was disappointed when Ford cancelled my order and converted it to a 2023. Ford (and/or the dealer) neglected to tell me that Cruise was now an option on the XLs. Anyway, when I took delivery a year ago I was pretty delighted and cautiously optimistic. Now it's been a year and I am still both of those things.
Since I took delivery, I have driven 21,012 miles. I commute 39 miles each way in the western NC mountains which takes about 52 minutes each way (except longer in the summer tourist season. One of them is a 2,000-foot climb and decent. I have averaged 42mpg since new, but since the weather warmed up this last month my mpg has gone up to 45mpg, even running the AC in the afternoons. I filled up this morning with 608.1 miles on the trip log and used 14.3 gallons to fill up and got 42.5. I towed a trailer for 30 of those miles. It's the first time I got more than 600 miles from a tank, I am very pleased.
My complaints still remain, but most are minor. I don't like the "middle finger" key. My backup camera screen gets dim, even when I manually increase the brightness. It is frustrating to have to set drive mode to "Efficient" each and every time. Also, the thick rubber bed mat I ordered is a magnet for dirt and leaves around the front tie-downs. I also think my mpg would be better if the hybrid battery was bigger and I could recover more juice going down my many long downhills. I keep hoping Ford will make a PHEV version or a hybrid AWD version..
My 2022 Ram Quadcab 4x4 (which I loved) got 14mpg. I got the Tacoma to save gas but was disappointed when the 21mpg "estimate" turned out to be a real gas consumption rate of 17mpg. My Maverick is getting better than 42mpg. The Volt (used) paid for itself in three years just from the gas savings. The Mav's bed is just about 6" shorter than the Tacoma but still adequate. I have hauled 1,400 pounds of lumber, 1,500 pounds of gravel and towed a 10' trailer with a 5' bushhog on it with no problem at all and got 31mpg while doing it. Every time I take the Mav in for service the sales manager tries to buy it back for what I paid for it.
Unless they come out with a PHEV version, I think I have found my forever vehicle.
After waiting 18 months (and having my 2022 order converted to a 2023) I took delivery of my 2023 Maverick XLT Hybrid April 29, 2023. I thought I would share my impressions of the first year. I am 68 and had never purchased a new vehicle before. I was especially nervous about ordering a vehicle in it's first year of production. My impression was that the first year is when the manufacturer fixes most of the engineering issues that come with a new product line. I also was too thrifty (I squeak when I walk) to pay good money for something that would immediately worth 33% less when you drove it "off the lot". I was also frustrated that to get cruise control, which I need, I had to pay an extra $5K for an XLT. Mr. Thrifty would have been happy with an XL. However, my '07 Tacoma has 250K miles on it and Mavericks were worth $10K more than the sticker so I made the deal. In 2017 I bought a 2014 Volt PHEV which I love, but it is a pain to haul gravel, mulch or many of the other bulk products I need on my little farm. I wanted a "forever" vehicle. I was disappointed when Ford cancelled my order and converted it to a 2023. Ford (and/or the dealer) neglected to tell me that Cruise was now an option on the XLs. Anyway, when I took delivery a year ago I was pretty delighted and cautiously optimistic. Now it's been a year and I am still both of those things.
Since I took delivery, I have driven 21,012 miles. I commute 39 miles each way in the western NC mountains which takes about 52 minutes each way (except longer in the summer tourist season. One of them is a 2,000-foot climb and decent. I have averaged 42mpg since new, but since the weather warmed up this last month my mpg has gone up to 45mpg, even running the AC in the afternoons. I filled up this morning with 608.1 miles on the trip log and used 14.3 gallons to fill up and got 42.5. I towed a trailer for 30 of those miles. It's the first time I got more than 600 miles from a tank, I am very pleased.
My complaints still remain, but most are minor. I don't like the "middle finger" key. My backup camera screen gets dim, even when I manually increase the brightness. It is frustrating to have to set drive mode to "Efficient" each and every time. Also, the thick rubber bed mat I ordered is a magnet for dirt and leaves around the front tie-downs. I also think my mpg would be better if the hybrid battery was bigger and I could recover more juice going down my many long downhills. I keep hoping Ford will make a PHEV version or a hybrid AWD version..
My 2022 Ram Quadcab 4x4 (which I loved) got 14mpg. I got the Tacoma to save gas but was disappointed when the 21mpg "estimate" turned out to be a real gas consumption rate of 17mpg. My Maverick is getting better than 42mpg. The Volt (used) paid for itself in three years just from the gas savings. The Mav's bed is just about 6" shorter than the Tacoma but still adequate. I have hauled 1,400 pounds of lumber, 1,500 pounds of gravel and towed a 10' trailer with a 5' bushhog on it with no problem at all and got 31mpg while doing it. Every time I take the Mav in for service the sales manager tries to buy it back for what I paid for it.
Unless they come out with a PHEV version, I think I have found my forever vehicle.
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