XLT vs. Lariat Debate

[Dechion]

When I started shopping for a truck to replace my aging car a was looking at Rangers and Frontiers in the 25k range (used with 50k or less miles). This was before the prices went nuts.

While looking I stumbled across the Maverick and loved what I saw.

I'm a few years from retirement, and this is planned to be the last vehicle I ever buy for myself. With that in mind my wife and I sat down, looked at features and pricing and decided on a hybrid first edition.

Unfortunately when the dealership tried to place the order for it the first edition had already closed out.

We had already decided to spend the 32k on one, so I built essentially the same truck without the decals and extra fancy rims.

I don't have it yet, but I already don't regret it.

I have compromised on literally every vehicle purchase for my entire life. This time I'm not.

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[NJBob]

While subaru does offer it. Eyesight is not as refined as Fords system imo. The ACC was good in in my outback but I find the Fords to be more smoother with transitions.

And minor complaint is that you can't put a windshield tint visor on a outback because the system is entirely camera dependent.

Cool looking fwd to my Mav then I thought the Subie eyesight worked well. If I ever get it.

 

[DeeZee]

Mine is a Lariat without Lux, which seems pretty rare. I started out ordering an XLT with Lux but decided I wanted the Active X power seats, pushbutton start, upgraded lighting, and power sliding rear window. I just didn't want to bump the price all the way to Lariat Lux territory, and I don't care about heated seats or ACC. With Copilot 360 and moonroof my Lariat was only $28.5k. Added a spray-in bedliner @after delivery and it was still well under $30k before ttl.

As I'm endlessly waiting for my maverick to come in. I'm debating on upgrading from the XLT to the Lariat. I keep going back and forth on it. I'm curious to what everyone's reason were for choosing their trim level. Also has anyone gotten the XLT or Lariat and wish they didn't.

Good topic!
Now that I am part of the lucky 2023 club I have decided to change not only the exterior color but the trim level. Currently a XLT hybrid.

Over the past 10 months of waiting for my truck some things are changing in my life. Strong chance that my commute will go from 50 miles a day to < 5 miles.

Do I want to get the Tremor config and ditch the hybrid? Is the Orange on the XLT going to start to get old after awhile and not age well?

First world problems

If I had to place my 2023 order today I still think I would keep the hybrid but move up or down a trim because the Orange in the XLT is falling out of favor.

 

[stoptothink]

The sound system is weak, but most of my listening is talk radio.

The sound system certainly isn't great, but it's actually better than the stock system in my last two cars (VW jetta and Hyundai accent). The B&O system kinda' sucks too, absolutely not worth the price for that upgrade. If the sound system is a concern, that's something that can be fairly cheaply improved aftermarket.

 

[pgstick02]

I'm going to go with what appears to be the unpopular opinion and say the optioned out XLT is still my choice, and my reasons are as follows.

1. I never have been a fan of non cloth seats not in the summer and not in the winter. That is my main reason
2. I don't have much need for adaptive cruise control, the lane keep assist and the automated braking and the blind spot is enough for me. If it works once Co-Pilot 360 was worth it even on the XLT
3. Push button start doesn't do anything for me. Besides you get the nifty keypad on the door and *Shazam* SWITCHBLADE KEY!

No hate on the Lariat it just is not my taste in trim. The only thing the Lariat has that I would have wanted was the signature lighting on the top of the headlights. "Because shiny things" I am sure at some point the aftermarket will have a solution and I have already seen some DIY stuff.

So a loaded XLT is the choice for me being unable to option cloth seats and I could not justify the extra cost for cool LED lighting on top of the headlight.

 

[AndrewinMD]

I was moving to the Maverick to gain a truck bed but wanted to keep the MPG of my Fusion Hybrid, which left the Maverick as the only option. Since my Fusion had push button start and intelligence access, those were essential to me, which pushed me to Lariat, and I also enjoy heated seats and heated mirrors in the winter, which meant the luxury package as well.

Since the price was STILL low in my eyes, I considered the purchase a very good deal overall. Now that I've been driving it for a couple months, nothing has changed, and I am happy with all of the features. I had a sizeable downpayment from Carvana's purchase price of my Fusion, so my loan is on par with the purchase of a base XL, which is even better.

 

[Jmav2152]

Cool looking fwd to my Mav then I thought the Subie eyesight worked well. If I ever get it.

Yea I don't even use lane keep on the mav but the lane centering is the cats meow. Combined with the ACC it's quite the Intuitive system.

 

[Jmav2152]

Good topic!
Now that I am part of the lucky 2023 club I have decided to change not only the exterior color but the trim level. Currently a XLT hybrid.

Over the past 10 months of waiting for my truck some things are changing in my life. Strong chance that my commute will go from 50 miles a day to < 5 miles.

Do I want to get the Tremor config and ditch the hybrid? Is the Orange on the XLT going to start to get old after awhile and not age well?

First world problems

If I had to place my 2023 order today I still think I would keep the hybrid but move up or down a trim because the Orange in the XLT is falling out of favor.

Honestly from someone who commutes less than 5 miles the hybrid is going to be the ticket if you want efficiency. My temporary(6 months or so) commute is about 3.1 miles with about 5-6 lights/stops signs and a chance of train. I average just under 20mpg in my AWD Fx4 on 245s. It not bad relatively but the hybrid would be upper 30s in that type of commute I'd imagine.

 

[dalola]

Like most large purchases, most people will get "as much" as they can for the budgeted amount.

IMO, the loaded Lariat Mav is a screaming bargain, just like all the other Mav trims. Will be interesting to see if any mfgr's can challenge this in the coming years....

 

[Larrythelunatic]

Another non-lux Lariat……….
Two things………..
Dual zone climate control. Wife and I seem to live at opposite ends of the thermometer, regardless of season.
This is the solution.
Remote opening rear window. Clears out a hot cabin as the AC does its thing. (Sometimes the AC is not even needed because of the rear window being open.) By the same token, in the winter, opening the rear window actually allows the cabin to heat up quicker, and helps clear a fogged up windshield, without needing the AC to do so. Can’t reach the window without stopping. But the switch is right there.

 

[MikeYork5]

You would recover that on insurance before you get the lariat paid off. You get deductions for the additional safety features that are only available on the Lariat.
Also Lariat seats are not Vinyl. They are a synthetic leather and Ford has been using this in place of leather for almost the last decade. They are nothing alike.

From Ford Website -
What Is Ford ActiveX™?
ActiveX is a high-end synthetic seating material designed to fit your active lifestyle. It is easier to clean, resistant to staining, and more durable than leather while maintaining a premium look and feel over time. ActiveX does not include any animal-based material.
"Enjoy the comfort and style of these Desert Brown ActiveX premium-VINYL seats, standard on the Maverick Lariat"

 

[Mach E CP]

Lariat because of the LANE CENTERING! This is different from lane ‘aids/warnings’ on XLT or XL CP360. On Ford systems, it’s only operable with ACC engaged. It gives the convenience of semi-autonomous driving…a great safety feature. It steers you in your lane (if you’re in a lane where there are lines in the road to read the lane borders).

Hyundai has lane centering as a basic safety feature on several lower trims of their entry level Elantra sedan.

 

[olderbudwiser]

XLT for me

No brown vinyl seats in Florida

The XLT wheels IMO look better than standard Lariat wheels

The all black optional wheels are nice. NA on hybrid though.

 

[Cward]

From Ford Website -
What Is Ford ActiveX™?
ActiveX is a high-end synthetic seating material designed to fit your active lifestyle. It is easier to clean, resistant to staining, and more durable than leather while maintaining a premium look and feel over time. ActiveX does not include any animal-based material.
"Enjoy the comfort and style of these Desert Brown ActiveX premium-VINYL seats, standard on the Maverick Lariat"

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/more-vehicle-topics/seats-and-seatbelts/what-is-activex/

That’s not what this link says.

 

[MikeYork5]

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/more-vehicle-topics/seats-and-seatbelts/what-is-activex/

That’s not what this link says.

Yes it does - look at Interior Features on the site - exactly what it says

https://www.ford.com/trucks/maveric...iat-image-6a84c559e81e7587da037ae0b331e133-ai

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