I hear you but I was envisioning more of this:



instead of this



And from what I've seen they're trying to make it look like a mini F150, even using the same trim names, XLT etc. They should have just went all the way

Can't say I really understand this. Isn't the new Ranger small enough? Couldn't they make a stripped down version of that truck to fill any market gap? Also don't understand marketing it as the Maverick but then maybe it's just us car guys who have a negative connotation with that name. I do. It's almost like Pinto. Almost!

Basic economics...
Full-size trucks start @ $45K, mid-size trucks @ $30K, mini-size trucks @ $20K...
As inflation increases, the market demand for economy mini-trucks will expand...

Just my $0.02...

put an 8 ft bed option on it and they'll sell IMO.
BTW I had several of the Mazda trucks back in the 80's and they were great IMO

Around here 8ft beds don't sell. I have one, but it's a company truck so I really didn't get an option. Had I an option I would have gotten a Colorado rather than a Silverado 2500 four door with an 8 ft bed, parking that thing in town is fun.

At 8 foot bed, you’re at a regular sized truck. Or mid sized.

I’d just like to see a 6 foot bed with extended cab to haul 3rd person or some gear. Rarely haul 4 people.

That keeps the overall length under 200”

1st gen Ford Ranger (which I think mirrors that Mazda B2000):

Supercab length:
1983–1988:192.7 in
1989–1992:193.6 in

Width
1983–1988: 66.9 in
1989–1992: 66.8 in

Reg cab: 6 or 7 foot bed
Extended cab: 6 foot bed

Pretty sure Ford is looking at those that are buying Escapes, but would jump into a "truck" at the right size . . . . not to mention, that as a "truck", it is not covered by the same emissions/crash test, etc, that cars are. Even the SUV's are on different regulations than cars. Also, will bring up the Ford fleet mpg . . . allowing them to continue selling the full size F150.

Amazing how trucks have grown so much in 20 years !!! I bought my 2002 Ram2500 Cummins (quad cab, short box, HO, 6spd, SLT, 2wd) new. Today, it looks "small" next to a new 4dr Ram 1500 !!! . . . not everyone needs a monster truck (todays 1/2tons) . . . heck, I thought driving the Cummins around town and finding parking was tough . . . . HA !! I had a 2013 Ram 1500 . . . that truck seemed HUGE !! . . .

My company vehicle is now a GMC Canyon . . . reminds me of the size of trucks in the 80s. Fits great around town, and so far, comfy and does what I need it to . . . keep the Cummins for towing though !!

New Ford Maverick truck specs:

4.5 foot bed

Wow. A 8x4 sheet of plywood only stick 3.5 feet out the bed. Yea, that works great in the middle metro traffic

What I'm saying is can't Ford produce an "economy" truck on the Ranger platform. The truck we are seeing does not look at all like a mini truck to me. It looks like a stripped down plain jane but not mini sized. It's small but is market demand large enough to go slightly smaller than the Ranger other than a dinky bed?

It's a Ford! Who cares?

https://www.ford.com/trucks/maverick/2022/


Specs seems to be a $19,995 starting price, 40mpg, and 2,000 - 4,000lb towing depending on options. The wheelbase is a foot+ shorter than rangers, Colorados, nissans etc. It has a 40ft turning radius, its about the size of a midsize SUV

Maybe dodge is next?

Single cab has 5.5 ft bed

Extended cab has4 ft bed

Don't get excited, I saw one of those in El Paso, Mexican plates and all. It is tiny. Smaller than a Subaru Brat was.

Isn't that basically what the explorer sport track was?

Yes. But heftier and worse mileage.

They had a 50” (~4ft) bed.

Up to 7,100 lbs towing capacity.

Dimensions
Wheelbase
130.5 in (3,315 mm)
Length
210.2 in (5,339 mm)[2]
Width
73.7 in (1,872 mm)
Height
2009–10: 71.6 in (1,819 mm)
2007–08: 72.5 in

the maverick seems pretty good for ~20k, the FWD hybird version does 40mpg in the city.
if you don't like FWD you can get an AWD version but then you lose the hybrid option.

like was said an extended cab with 6ft bed would be more appealing to me, but i think there are lots of people this thing will work great for. it's basically a sport utility vehicle with a small open bed in the rear instead of an enclosed cabin. better for some, worse for others, it's nice for buyers to have options. at the price I'm sure they are going to sell.

My bad as I now remember the Mazda trucks had about a 6 foot bed with either cab

Also the 40 MPG being quoted is for the "hybrid" gas / electric version. The optional 2.0 eco boost that was in my wife's Escape was fun to drive but only got about 16 MPG in town with her driving it ( less with me) and not a whole lot better on the highway. Did have some "cajones" though.

The eco boost was designed to fool the MPG rating test, they don't actually get near what they are advertised driving anything like normal people drive.

Also these tiny trucks are in no way comparable to old mini trucks, there is no frame, you can't easily swap the bed when you have dented it all up from actually working, the sheet-metal is way flimsier you can't put on a flatbed if that's what you need, not even a 6 foot bed option, the manufactures want to push those kind of people into giant earthmovers so they make more money, the profit alone on a half ton is more than a real work worthy mini truck would sell for... They are not aimed at people who use there small truck for actual work, these are for girls and other city slickers to move a recliner every other year or throw an igloo in there for a trip to the beach and a way to get around CAFE standards.

Only real player in that market and the setup is pretty interesting. Compact, fwd, good economy, decent utility, four doors, unibody...checks a lot of boxes. They'll sell just fine to those younger than members of this board and those in the more congested, northeast, part of the country.

Ford isn't selling this truck to Moparts members, just like Harley can't make a sale to a young guy. It's going to do pretty well in a younger age group, you can't expect every truck out there to be $40k-$50k-$60k and hit the full gambit of buyers. Folks that think people are buying this truck to "make a living with" are missing it.

They'll also probably design protect for some MachE commonality and get to a viable EV version rather quickly. Ford's goal is to hit 40% EV by 2030, they better get going.