Automotive

I have had the previous pleasure of getting the chance to give the behemoth that is the Ford F-150 Raptor a spin, and I was simply floored by the raw size, power, and presence that the vehicle dealt. However, it was immediately apparent that that vehicle was not designed for me. As someone who lives in New York City with no need for 75% of the F-150’s capabilities, I knew that while it would very well serve someone that sits in the niche it occupies, I would be doing it a disservice.

Enter the 2024 Ford Maverick. For every outrageous and ostentatious feature of the F-150, the Maverick had one economical and encompassing. Instead of the large road-commanding size of the F-150, the Maverick was sleek, slim, and much more manageable in the city. It also had a much better miles-per-gallon than the 5.0L V8 engine of the F-150, which allows for better savings in the long run, and a more feasible experience driving in traffic. I drove the heck out of the F-150, but the whole time, it felt like an exotic amusement park ride. With the Maverick, I felt like I was in a vehicle that I could actually see myself purchasing and using on the daily.

A wild Maverick, courtesy of Ford

As a result, my pursuits with the Maverick were much more tame than those with the F-150. I took it to the supermarket, and loaded bags upon bags of food into the pickup bed. Groceries that I was usually stuffing into the deep crevices of my daily driver’s trunk were now comfortably seated beside each other. I dropped my brother to work, and we jammed out listening to our favorite tracks through the vehicle’s excellent surround sound speaker system, and didn’t feel any of New Jersey’s notorious potholes due to the impressive suspension. The interior was comfortable and not too complicated with insane features and buttons and dials; it got the job done. Wired CarPlay and Android Auto was also a big plus.

When it came to being a car, the Maverick did a pretty decent job. I was able to park it in downtown Manhattan in a regular parking space, and did not have to accommodate for big wheels or protruding grilles. However, it really shone when it came to being a truck. I took for a late night drive to Long Beach in Suffolk County, and on roads that were unevenly paved or not paved at all, and that twisted and winded through a foggy forest, the Maverick kept its cool and its traction. The Tremor package that was included helped in the off-road bits, with better suspension and Trail Control.

Suburban bliss

The auto high beams automatically illuminated when I came to a difficult hill or sharp turn with limited visibility. Finally, on the beach, it remained an excellent place for everyone to huddle in and talk while cranking the heat up (since it was February and we had no business going to a beach in the winter).

In all, the 2024 Maverick is the people’s truck. With less flash and more bang for buck, it provides a safe economical option that doesn’t sacrifice functionality, and will no doubt save you the $100k+ that the F-150 can surmount to be. This is not even considering the fact that the Maverick offers a hybrid option, which will save you even more on gas with each trip. As the F-150’s smaller brother, it has fewer bells and whistles, but all of the charm, and all of the potential to make a great trip even greater.