No more hate for the 2025 facelift's new front end design?

[Scott Asheville]

Well, over on the Santa Cruz forum, they've been calling all Mavericks ugly for the last 4 years, so beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. According to those guys, we're all feeble fuddy-duddies driving around in our boring Ford grandpa golf carts.

We should ask the Santa Cruz crowd if they like 2024 or 2025 better. They're a disinterested party.

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[Master Blaster]

There's not a lot of point in bitching about the poor 25 front-end redesign, as it is highly unlikely that Ford will do anything to fix it. Certain colours can minimize the jarring mis-design cues, but its still a poor frontend that should have had the creators fired.

 

[ClemsonU88]

I didn't think anything of the 2025's front end until someone pointed it out. Then I noticed it. It looked a little odd for a short period, but when I started looking at it and seeing the "horns" image, I began to like it more. That's all I see now.

So far, I'm loving my '25 Maverick! The heated steering wheel (though it's a very small and decadent thing) is a game changer. So is the bigger screen. Are they worth the extra money? Combined with resetting the odometer back 42k miles, getting 3 more years of warranty, and trading yellow/orange for white, yes.

 

[arizdare]

Before the 2025 models arrived at dealers and people starting buying them, I noticed a LOT of hate for the front end re-design. Myself included. I was not a fan. In fact I was eager to get the previous design since that was the original Maverick that I fell in love with. This new front-end, at least on Ford’s website, looked AWFUL and my heart sunk.

…until I saw it in person. Then my opinion completely changed. I cannot exactly express why it looks so much better in person. But I think it’s partly due to the fact that all the camera angles were taken as if you were looking at it from 2 feet off the ground. The new bottom lip looked huge. And you focused on that more than you did the horn-shape of the lights. But when you see it in person, generally you’re looking at it from a higher vantage point, and you can see the 3D shape of it, rather than just a “slab” that is covering up the old lights.

I’m at the point now where I actually PREFER it over the original design. I love the horn-shaped lights. Anyone feel the same? Have you noticed a decrease in the hate for the front-end?

Ironic...i didnt like the Maverick and only ordered it/2025 because of the FRONT END LOOK! lol different strokes...ordered the LOBO

 

[piwtrnr]

The pre-25's look more like a "little brother" Ford truck. Now they look sorta like a toothless cousin from Tennessee.

I loved it from the moment I saw it, a picture was sent to me by Ford and that picture is exactly what I bought. An Oxford White Lariat with Ford trifold and mud flaps. To note I would have never bought an earlier model because I did not like the front end and I still don't. Love my Lariat!

 

[TORQUERULES]

Still hate it. Looks tacked on and half-a**ed. Now the upgrades to the infotainment, etc. are nice, but not enough for me to want to trade a deal with the styling.

 

[bartflossom]

Looks better than all the toyotas with their weird headlights squirting black tears.

 

[MavMeister25]

Looks better than all the toyotas with their weird headlights squirting black tears.

“squirting black tears”

 

[Tbone289]

I don't like the front end as much as the original, but I don't see the point in hating on it.

 

[colinl]

Beauty is relative, and I do agree that the '25 Maverick looks better than most trucks on the market including the Santa Cruz and the Tacoma. The '24 Ranger is definitely an upgrade over the '19-'23 so Ford gets it right sometimes.

I do still think that the 22-24 Maverick looks better, but the headlight bar and pocket that it creates on the headlamps is extremely annoying to clean of dead bugs and other debris.

But WAY MORE important than the front end is function.

The 2025 Maverick is more expensive, but it's also better than ever in almost any trim. (I'm looking at you, 22-24 Lariat FX4.) There is still absolutely nothing that competes with a Maverick hybrid if you want/need a bed, and the ecoboost out-competes every midsize unless you need to tow more than 4k, or you're really going off-road (watch that rear departure angle! they make Broncos for a reason).

I don't need a new truck right now, but I want a Lobo. If my truck gets totaled today, I'm ordering a Lobo tomorrow. And since the damn Lobo only comes in 4 colors, I'm going with black, despite swearing off black vehicles here in Kansas.

 

[dalola]

I think, for me anyway, that was part of the appeal of the original Maverick design....clean & simple, in a time where trucks mostly look like an overgrown SidexSide ATV. To me, the new front design ticks up that direction, but still well under the "trying too hard" banner (Toyota/Hyundai/GM, are you listening?) It's still a minor gripe, and if I didn't already have a Maverick, it wouldn't stop me from getting a new one.

 

[MikeS1942]

I like the new front end, I have one on order. I also like the old front end. Both have their appeal.

It is one of those things, if they don't update, people complain and if they do update, people complain.

Exactly! It seems all we heard over the last two years was how the Mav needed an update because it was this or that. OK, you got an update, and now we're still not happy.
I just look at the new F150, and mistake it for the 2024 and earlier Maverick. It has the bar going from headlight to headlight. They look great, and I'm loving mine.

 

[Canis]

It looks so damn good in-person. Changed my mind for sure.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Still hate the 25 front end but agree its better than that new Toyota front end.

 

[Jb'sknotworkz]

Idk. I'm still not totally sold on it despite seeing them in person. At the end of the day, I still prefer the pre-facelift. I like the traditional shape of the headlights and the slot that cuts through them along with the grille. It gives it that tougher look rather than the cleaner, chiseled look of the new one.

Also, I like the new screen but don't at the same time. I love going by muscle memory on my 24. I've gotten so accustomed to it that I can virtually hit anything I want without even looking (i.e., auto hold, start/stop, temperature, fan speed, next track, etc.) It's how modern vehicles should still be. That's all thrown out the window in the new one with its integrated buttons and countless menus to access things through the screen.

That's a big turn-off for me. My 24 has that familiarity the 25 lacks. If anything, this one is more of a distraction and less safe to operate with the majority of controls integrated through the screen. It requires you to take your eyes off the road to make sure you're hitting the right stuff. And that's a huge problem in traffic.

As much as I wanted the Hybrid AWD despite its shortcomings, it makes even more sense to keep what I have. Something that's affordable for me, has a more ergonomic layout, better-looking and should be relatively trouble-free for the next few years.

I agree with you on some of it but after driving one for a few weeks now, I honestly don't really feel a difference. It honestly could be that I'm just not that busy when I'm behind the wheel, but most of the songs is use while driving are set the way I want before I even start driving. All audio controls are on the steering wheel, along with a screen for what track is playing. Heat/cool and fan settings i usually set it and leave it be unless I really need to change something, and in that case it feels kinda like doing something on a touchscreen phone. I guess it all comes down to getting used to it because I feel most of us would choose physical buttons of full touch.

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