If you are in the market for a car or SUV, maybe it’s not a car or SUV that you need; maybe what you really need is a pickup truck. Have you sat down and made a list of the benefits of owning a pickup truck? You might discover that it is the perfect fit for you. There might be a couple of reasons why you don’t think a truck is a good fit. It could be because you don’t need a big vehicle, or you don’t like the idea of driving and parking a large truck. You might not think that you have any use for the truck bed, or you have nothing that needs to be hauled or towed. If those thoughts have been keeping you away from pickups, stop thinking about trucks in terms of their size and capacities, and start thinking about the future of trucks, the future of compact pickup trucks like the 2022 Ford Maverick.
The Beginning of a Revolution
It wasn’t all that long ago when it looked as though we saw the last of the compact pickup truck. In fact, compact trucks were never a huge seller. Toyota was one of the only brands that offered a small pickup truck on a consistent basis. The reasons why small trucks were never a staple on the streets of America is somewhat of a mystery. After all, compact trucks offer many of the same advantages and benefits as larger trucks. We think it has to do more with attitude and culture than anything else.
Let’s face it, and there has always been a stigma associated with small pickups. People won’t buy them because, well, because they are small and we tend to either go big or go home. But the birth of the Maverick should change all of that. Once people fully understand the benefits of a small pickup truck and quit worrying about what people think about them, you will see droves of them out in public.
As full-size and midsize trucks get bigger, there is an even greater need and desire for a smaller truck. Trucks should be more like people; they should come in all sorts of sizes and personalities. The truck is a versatile vehicle, but that scope is limited if all trucks are big and bulky. So it’s time to stop and take a good look at why you should consider owning a compact truck.
A Truck That Fits Your Needs
One thing you are sure to notice when shopping for a truck is that they are expensive. In fact, they are far more costly than most sedans and many SUVs. Even a stripped-down base model usually costs as much as a fully-loaded, high trim level sedan. Therefore, the best way to own a pickup at an affordable price is to buy a compact truck, like the Ford Maverick, which is actually less expensive than many sedans. Seriously, the Maverick starts out at under $20,000.
Taking a good look at the Maverick, there are a few things you will notice. First, it has a cab, and it has a bed, so yup, it’s a pickup truck. This means it can do the same things as its larger cousins, but probably not at their capacity. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is very practical when you stop and think about it.
Trucks are great for hauling stuff, and there will be plenty of times when you are glad you have a truck. Some people make a living hauling things, and other people have hobbies or enjoy adventures that require a big truck to haul stuff. But you, you will utilize your small truck in different and practical ways. You may use your truck to haul the branches from the tree you just pruned to the landfill. You may use your small truck to pick up the washing machine you just bought from the appliance store, and you’re happy because you didn’t have to fork out the $75 delivery fee. You may also use your small truck to haul your mountain bike to your favorite mountain trail.
The point we are trying to make here is that a small truck is the perfect size truck for many of the tasks you do on a regular basis. There are tasks that cannot be done in a sedan or even a small SUV, but a compact truck is a perfect choice. If you think about it, you can probably look back and remember several instances in which you wished you had a truck to perform a particular task.
Why Should You Care About the Maverick?
American automakers have thought for years that we just aren’t interested in a small truck; they even left the midsize truck segment to Toyota and Nissan for many years. What Ford has done with the inception of the Maverick is nothing short of brilliant. The Maverick is a small truck with a small price and impressive capabilities. No, the Maverick is not a powerful workhorse, and it isn’t going to tow a full-size yacht, but that isn’t why it exists. The Maverick will be revolutionary because it will be there when you need it for those instances when you are glad you own a truck.
Let’s talk for a moment about the moments when you are so glad you bought a compact truck. For example, when you stop at the gas station. If you have ever owned a full-size truck, sticking that nozzle into the tank meant your wallet was getting a whole lot lighter. It is not uncommon for a full-size truck owner to toss down over $100 when filling the tank. We don’t know about you or your financial situation, but we would much rather spend a fraction of that kind of money on gas. There are so many things we would rather spend our money on than a truck that gets 12 miles to the gallon.
If you have ever owned a full-size truck, you also know all about the pain you feel when you have to slap on a new set of tires. A big truck has big tires, and big tires are quite expensive. We did a quick search for tires and discovered that it would cost at least twice as much to replace tires on the Ram 1500 compared to the Ford Maverick, and that is being very generous and not looking at specialized off-road tires marketed for the larger truck.
When you think about it, owning a full-size truck is an easy way to drain your bank account. So unless you need all of that power and all of those capabilities, it makes perfect sense to invest in a truck that won’t require you to take out a second mortgage on your home.
The Maverick is the ideal choice for people who aren’t interested in a sedan, aren’t huge fans of the SUV, but want something that can haul and tow without the hefty ticket price of a full-size truck. The Maverick is a compelling choice for those who have never seriously considered owning a pickup truck. And until the other American brands get with the times and offer a compact truck, you will find people headed in droves to their nearest Ford dealership. But, of course, nobody at the Ford Motor Company will complain about this.
