F150 or Maverick for a family and projects?

I’m trying to decide between getting an F150 or a Maverick next year. I sold my luxury sedan to save some cash since the used car market is high, and my wife’s CX5 doesn’t get used much because she’s at home with our baby. I used to have an F150 and miss it—it was great for hauling bikes, kayaks, and doing projects.

I’d love to get an F150 crew cab for the extra room, especially with two car seats, but truck prices and gas prices have me second-guessing. The Maverick’s $20k base price and hybrid MPG are really appealing. If its interior is at least as big as the CX5, it might work for us.

I don’t drive much for work, but if gas prices keep going up, I’d hate to be stuck with high costs. Planning to buy before baby #2 arrives in about nine months. Does anyone here have experience with the Maverick, especially with two car seats?

I’ve been looking into the hybrid Maverick too because of the mileage. The Ranger and Tacoma are basically the same price as an F150 but without much better MPG. The Maverick has its niche but it’s not on the level of the F150. Trucks are hard to find at good prices right now though, especially here in Texas.

@Linden
Yeah, I was hoping to find an F150 under 40k with low mileage. The Tacoma and Ranger don’t seem worth it compared to the F150’s size. The Maverick, though, makes me rethink since I don’t absolutely need the extra space and its gas mileage and price are way better.

I’ve got a new F150 and a Tacoma. The Tacoma’s back seats are about the same as the Maverick’s, and I can say the F150 is 100% worth it for car seat space.

Chen said:
I’ve got a new F150 and a Tacoma. The Tacoma’s back seats are about the same as the Maverick’s, and I can say the F150 is 100% worth it for car seat space.

Yeah, that’s one reason I leaned toward the F150 in the first place—more space. The Maverick is making me reconsider because of the price and MPG, but I’m still unsure if it’ll be big enough for my needs.

@Vic
You should try fitting a car seat in the Maverick and see if it works. My 2.7 Ecoboost F150 gets about 20 MPG, but I hear the Maverick hybrid is closer to 40 MPG. The Tacoma is about the same as my F150 at 20 MPG.

Have you thought about a Ridgeline? I know it’s not the most popular option, but it could be the middle ground you’re looking for. It’s great for dads who don’t tow heavy loads but need space and safety for their kids.

@Addison
I did consider it, but it doesn’t seem cheaper than an F150 or Tacoma. It’s also smaller than an F150 crew cab, which is why I’ve been leaning toward the F150. The Maverick seems to beat the Ridgeline on both gas mileage and price, so I’m not sure what the Ridgeline offers in comparison.

@Vic
That’s the main issue with the Ridgeline—it does everything okay but nothing exceptionally well. Let us know what you end up with. I’ve been eyeing a Maverick myself to replace my Honda.

Addison said:
@Vic
That’s the main issue with the Ridgeline—it does everything okay but nothing exceptionally well. Let us know what you end up with. I’ve been eyeing a Maverick myself to replace my Honda.

Will do! I wasn’t planning to buy until next year, but if the Maverick really starts at $20k, I might go for it. I’ll need to see if it has enough room for two car seats plus someone riding in the back, though.

Addison said:
@Vic
That’s the main issue with the Ridgeline—it does everything okay but nothing exceptionally well. Let us know what you end up with. I’ve been eyeing a Maverick myself to replace my Honda.

Ridgelines are great in theory but overpriced. They cost nearly as much as a real truck and don’t get significantly better MPG.

If you’re on Facebook, join a Maverick group. People post pictures with car seats all the time, and it’ll give you a better idea. Even with the 2.0 Ecoboost, you’re looking at 22 city/29 highway MPG, which is solid. The hybrid can get up to 40 MPG but has less towing capacity. I’m wary of CVTs too, but the Maverick hybrid uses an e-CVT, which is different.

@Stevie
Thanks for the tip! I’ve heard mixed things about hybrids and CVTs. My main concern is longevity—are the batteries expensive to replace?

Vic said:
@Stevie
Thanks for the tip! I’ve heard mixed things about hybrids and CVTs. My main concern is longevity—are the batteries expensive to replace?

It’s not a typical CVT. The e-CVT in hybrids works differently and is usually more reliable.

@Mackenzie
Good to know! I’ve been researching hybrids more, and I’m sold. Just have to wait until sales open back up.

The Maverick hybrid’s towing capacity is pretty low, but it’s perfect if you’re not towing much.

Martinez said:
The Maverick hybrid’s towing capacity is pretty low, but it’s perfect if you’re not towing much.

Yeah, I’ve never towed anything even when I had a V8. I use the bed a lot, though, so I’d rather have a truck than an SUV.

@Vic
Same here. I want one but might wait until 2023. My car’s still running fine for now.

Have you looked into the F150 Lightning? The base model is about $39k, and it’s fully electric with a range of around 230 miles.

Terry said:
Have you looked into the F150 Lightning? The base model is about $39k, and it’s fully electric with a range of around 230 miles.

That’s interesting, but 230 miles is a bit limiting. We do a 400-mile trip a couple of times a year, and I’m not sure if charging stations would make that practical.