- First Name
- Barry
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2025
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 38
- Location
- South Carolina
- Vehicle(s)
- 2025 Ford Maverick XLT
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
Longtime lurker here, ordered a new 2025 XLT, Azure Gray, Hybrid, AWD, 4k tow, CP360, DI Bed Liner, LUX package in August, and received it mid-January. I'm a Toyota/Honda guy and this is my first new vehicle since 2003 (had a 2003 Toyota Tacoma that this vehicle replaced--I tend to keep them and take care of them). I'm retired, so I don't drive every day, but I've put about 650 miles on it so far, and overall I love it! Here's my pro's and con's, and keep in mind, this is my first new vehicle in over 20 years, so some of the pro's are just new technology items that are probably on every vehicle nowadays.
Pro's:
1) Love the hybrid technology. To me it's a little like a game, trying to get better and better MPG. I'm frugal, so I see it as money I used to spend in my Tacoma. So far, I've been averaging in the high 30's, and have gotten over 50 mpg twice. I don't think I'll ever buy a gas only vehicle again.
2) Heated steering wheel!!! Whoever came up with this idea should win the Nobel prize.
3) Auto-high beams! I didn't even know this was thing, or that it came with my vehicle, just noticed one night driving that the high beams kept turning off and on based on traffic. Simple concept, but another great feature. (I live in the country outside of town, so high beams at night at necessary to avoid deer/see them sooner).
4) Smooth ride. Most of my vehicles in the past have been compacts or mid-sized foreign cars, but this has to be the smoothest I've owned.
5) No gas cap! this is probably one of those "every vehicle now has it" features, but it's so simple I'm surprised it wasn't invented 40 years ago.
6) Quiet. I cannot tell from listening if the engine is running or not.
7) Love the practicality and functionality of the 4 door cab (with storage under rear seats), and the adjustable tailgate. So far I've hauled 10' sticks of PVC without issue in the back.
Cons:
1) No default display. The trip features are great, I like my "This Trip" so I can see exactly what MPG I'm getting on that trip. But I have to select it every time I get in. It should simply default to the last used screen. Makes me think this is a feature designed by someone driving a different vehicle.
2) Inaccurate gas gauge. How can it possibly calculate miles to empty, but display the gas tank as gallons off?
3) Stereo sound just so/so. This is where I wish I could have opted for the B&O system on the XLT. Two things kept me from going to the Lariat--the Leatherette interior (I've always preferred fabric--SC is hot in summer) and the 19" wheels. I wanted the 17" primarily for ride quality and tire price.
4) For a vehicle that is supposed to have all kinds of safety features, all the touch screen controls are distracting. Knobs can be controlled almost from memory, but the push buttons have to be located and then adjusted when the screen pops up. First time I drove to the store, I received 4 notifications that I "needed to pull over and rest a while" because I was swerving so much.
5) Continental tires look cheap. Can't say they've not performed (I've not really put them to the test), they just look like cheap rubber that has aged a dull black.
6) Not a fan of the pointers on the temp and gas gauges.
7) Seat belt notification screen. Really, if my seat belt is fastened, is this necessary? Even in every other car I've owned, the seat belt light would go out when it was fastened.
The truth is my con's are all minor in my opinion, because I really do like the vehicle overall. I'm used to Japanese reliability, so hoping over time this vehicle is as reliable as the Toyota's and Honda's I've owned. Oh, and a note on the drop in Bed liner. I've owned several trucks over the years--some with spray in liners, some with drop in's, and I love the look of a the spray in for the first few years. But they tend to dull around years 5-7, and then they look worse. But to me the biggest disadvantage of the spray in liner is that it only protects the bed from slight scratches. The bed can still dent. Trust me, my Tacoma with spray in liner was dented in several places from hauling fire wood or other heavy equipment. And it will scratch and come off. You put something heavy with sharp or hard edges on the bottom and it will remove some of the liner and scratch. You have other issues with the drop in, but I think it looks better longer, and protects the integrity of the metal bed better. Just my 2 cents.
Pro's:
1) Love the hybrid technology. To me it's a little like a game, trying to get better and better MPG. I'm frugal, so I see it as money I used to spend in my Tacoma. So far, I've been averaging in the high 30's, and have gotten over 50 mpg twice. I don't think I'll ever buy a gas only vehicle again.
2) Heated steering wheel!!! Whoever came up with this idea should win the Nobel prize.
3) Auto-high beams! I didn't even know this was thing, or that it came with my vehicle, just noticed one night driving that the high beams kept turning off and on based on traffic. Simple concept, but another great feature. (I live in the country outside of town, so high beams at night at necessary to avoid deer/see them sooner).
4) Smooth ride. Most of my vehicles in the past have been compacts or mid-sized foreign cars, but this has to be the smoothest I've owned.
5) No gas cap! this is probably one of those "every vehicle now has it" features, but it's so simple I'm surprised it wasn't invented 40 years ago.
6) Quiet. I cannot tell from listening if the engine is running or not.
7) Love the practicality and functionality of the 4 door cab (with storage under rear seats), and the adjustable tailgate. So far I've hauled 10' sticks of PVC without issue in the back.
Cons:
1) No default display. The trip features are great, I like my "This Trip" so I can see exactly what MPG I'm getting on that trip. But I have to select it every time I get in. It should simply default to the last used screen. Makes me think this is a feature designed by someone driving a different vehicle.
2) Inaccurate gas gauge. How can it possibly calculate miles to empty, but display the gas tank as gallons off?
3) Stereo sound just so/so. This is where I wish I could have opted for the B&O system on the XLT. Two things kept me from going to the Lariat--the Leatherette interior (I've always preferred fabric--SC is hot in summer) and the 19" wheels. I wanted the 17" primarily for ride quality and tire price.
4) For a vehicle that is supposed to have all kinds of safety features, all the touch screen controls are distracting. Knobs can be controlled almost from memory, but the push buttons have to be located and then adjusted when the screen pops up. First time I drove to the store, I received 4 notifications that I "needed to pull over and rest a while" because I was swerving so much.
5) Continental tires look cheap. Can't say they've not performed (I've not really put them to the test), they just look like cheap rubber that has aged a dull black.
6) Not a fan of the pointers on the temp and gas gauges.
7) Seat belt notification screen. Really, if my seat belt is fastened, is this necessary? Even in every other car I've owned, the seat belt light would go out when it was fastened.
The truth is my con's are all minor in my opinion, because I really do like the vehicle overall. I'm used to Japanese reliability, so hoping over time this vehicle is as reliable as the Toyota's and Honda's I've owned. Oh, and a note on the drop in Bed liner. I've owned several trucks over the years--some with spray in liners, some with drop in's, and I love the look of a the spray in for the first few years. But they tend to dull around years 5-7, and then they look worse. But to me the biggest disadvantage of the spray in liner is that it only protects the bed from slight scratches. The bed can still dent. Trust me, my Tacoma with spray in liner was dented in several places from hauling fire wood or other heavy equipment. And it will scratch and come off. You put something heavy with sharp or hard edges on the bottom and it will remove some of the liner and scratch. You have other issues with the drop in, but I think it looks better longer, and protects the integrity of the metal bed better. Just my 2 cents.
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