Ford Ranger’s Little Brother Maverick On The Way 

The Ranger pickup truck is an iconic part of Ford’s vehicle lineup. This midsize pickup truck first hit the mainstream auto market in the United States and Canada more than three decades ago back in 1983. At that time, the Ranger made waves as Ford’s first-ever compact pickup truck on the market. After its initial debut on the auto market, the Ford Ranger quickly became one of the best-selling trucks in Ford’s lineup. By 2006, all compact trucks that Ford designed and produced were branded under the Ranger name. 

In 2011, however, Ford removed the Ranger from its U.S. lineup for the 2012 model year. Ford’s decision to slash the Ranger from their pickup truck lineup came as the result of the American automaker’s decision to focus more heavily on the production of the full-size pickup trucks in their lineup that were ruling the mainstream auto market at that time. However, consumer demands shift all the time and modern consumers are now setting their sights on vehicles that offer better fuel efficiency and more compact designs—even when shopping for durable pickup trucks. As a response to these shifting consumer demands, rumor has it that Ford is gearing up to mass-produce a brand-new compact pickup truck branded as the Ford Maverick. 

The upcoming Ford Maverick is eagerly awaited by Ranger fans and Ford fans as a whole. In fact, the Ford Maverick has become known as the Ranger’s “little brother” because it is only the second compact truck—after the Ranger, of course—to be added to Ford’s vehicle lineup. Here are 5 things you should know about the brand-new Ford Maverick compact pickup truck that is expected to hit the mainstream auto market in the near future. 

1. It’s Not a Compact Car 

Somewhat confusingly, the expected Ford Maverick will not be the first Ford Maverick model to hit the mainstream auto market in the United States. 

Ford already released a model under the Maverick name half a century ago for the 1970 model year. The original Ford Maverick was a classic compact car that survived as a part of Ford’s vehicle lineup from 1970 to 1977 before it was promptly discontinued. 

While the original Ford Maverick didn’t make much of a splash on the mainstream auto market and very few people even remember it ever existed in the first place, it is important to note that the new Ford Maverick is expected to hit the mainstream auto market as a compact pickup truck that is smaller than the Ranger—and not as a compact sedan. 

2. It Won’t Share a Body with the Ranger 

Although there are many natural similarities that can be drawn between the original Ford Ranger compact pickup truck and the projected Ford Maverick model, there are definitely some key differences between the Ranger and the Maverick that are important to note.

One key difference between the Ranger and the Maverick lies in the body design of these two truck models. While the Ranger is built with a body-on-frame construction, the Maverick is expected to feature a unibody chassis that is more similar to that of the Ford Courier or the Honda Ridgeline than the Ford Ranger. 

3. It Will Be Sturdy 

One of the most notable design features of the Ford Maverick is its small size. This compact pickup truck will fill a gap in Ford’s pickup truck lineup and is eagerly awaited primarily because of its compact design and uniquely small size. 

However, don’t let the compact nature of the Ford Maverick fool you into questioning the durability of this pickup truck. It will be small, but the Ford Maverick is expected to offer plenty of power with rugged underpinnings and a sturdy, ultra-durable design that makes off-roading over rough terrains a breeze in this compact pickup truck. 

4. Ford Maverick Won’t Be Made in the USA 

The Ford Maverick is not likely to be produced in the United States. In fact, rumor has it that the Maverick is set for production at one of Ford’s international facilities in Hermosillo, Mexico. 

Ford has many factories around the world where they design and produce the vehicles in their lineup, so the fact that the Maverick will not be manufactured inside the United States is not surprising nor unusual. The new Maverick will still be made by Ford, an 

American company, so it can still be constituted as an “American-made” vehicle by most standards. 

5. It’s Coming Soon 

It is important to note that nothing is certain yet. Ford has not released any official statements regarding the Maverick or when it will be mass-produced and ready for its debut on the auto market. 

Even so, the Ford Maverick is expected to hit the mainstream auto market for the 2022 model year. That means that it should make its official debut and be available for purchase from the local dealership in your area as early as 2021. 

If you’re in the market for a rugged pickup truck that is easy to drive and offers cargo room without being too bulky, keep your eye on the Ford Maverick as new updates are released with more details about this compact pickup truck and its upcoming debut on the mainstream auto market. 

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