Ford's new hybrid Maverick: A 40 MPG pickup for $20,000.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by JSH

No, they won't make a single cab long bed. Regular cabs are down to 3% market share.

Yeah, I know it'll never happen. But since Ford actually managed to release a smaller pickup, I figured I'd wish for the moon.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by jakobnev

They just need an open bed for their bull****, otherwise a station wagon or van would suit their needs better.

You know the needs of every regular cab pickup owner?

I have a van and it works well for what I use it for - camping. I also have a station wagon. If I was buying a vehicle today I would most definitely pick the Maverick over my current sportwagen TDI. I want a cargo area I can hose out and the Maverick's 8 inches of ground clearance is just about perfect.

[Ecky]

On paper this vehicle is great. Small engine? Check. Good fuel economy? Check. Lots of utility? Check. Oh and other things people care about, such as ground clearance, back seats, and a big touchscreen they can play with while driving.

If I had to recommend a new vehicle, this would be on my radar, along with some Korean offerings. My only hesitation is it being a Ford product - which doesn't necessarily make it bad (re: Fusion) - but my father-in-law just retired from Ford from a senior engineering position and, after turning in his Ford vehicles, promptly bought something non-Ford. According to him, the "150,000 mile end of life design" is alive and well at Ford, at least for their non-trucks.

What would I effectively gain by switching from my Insight to this truck?
-$20,000 less in my pocket
-Reduced fuel economy
-Reduced handling/acceleration/fun to drive (presumably)

+I could tow some things I don't
+If I had someone to put in the backseats, I'd have that
+3 inches more ground clearance (hasn't been an issue)

~

As cynical as I am, I'm glad to see this.

[Xist]

When I washed my girlfriend's Rav4 it was dirty, but when I washed my Accord tons of dirt washed out of the wheels.

So, she has increased clearance and AWD. I drove off-road.

[jakobnev]

You know the needs of every regular cab pickup owner?

I was talking about "family cab" buyers.

[Xist]

What are these "Needs" you speak of?

[MetroMPG]

Ford's marketing people must be laughing at the sheer number of media/blog reports touting their new "40 MPG pickup".

Of course we all saw & understand that's the city rating, where most hybrids excel.

Joe & Jane Consumer won't make that distinction. I think they're going to sell like hotcakes. And then we can shake our heads at all the owners complaining that they can "never get anywhere near 40 MPG".

Any guesses on the highway number?

[redpoint5]

Probably observation bias, but it seems it's always pickups that are doing 85 MPH on the freeway with the econoboxes doing the speed limit in the right lane.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Ford's marketing people must be laughing at the sheer number of media/blog reports touting their new "40 MPG pickup".

Of course we all saw & understand that's the city rating, where most hybrids excel.

Joe & Jane Consumer won't make that distinction. I think they're going to sell like hotcakes. And then we can shake our heads at all the owners complaining that they can "never get anywhere near 40 MPG".

Any guesses on the highway number?

I'd wager the highway rating isn't much lower. 37 perhaps?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I'd wager the highway rating isn't much lower. 37 perhaps?

33

40/33/37

Pretty dang good considering 30 MPG is about the best a 90's Camry does.