[JASmith]

So we know the Maverick is based on the Escape chassis, and both its powertrains are available on the Escape already for us to review. Its copilot360 technology package, warranty, infotainment, and so forth likewise can be observed on the Escape already available as a 2020 model.

So I've been doing more Escape research accordingly, and while some of it is good like handling and fuel economy meeting or beating EPA ratings (something many vehicles do not), there's also a lot of, uhm, not so good things.

Car and Driver marks it dead last in class, lagging way behind Mazda: 2021 Ford Escape Review, Pricing, and Specs

One complaint was the low grade interior plastics, something I saw even in videos of the Maverick where there was a lot of hard, and oddly blue, interior plastic:

The Escape's cabin, while handsomely styled and spacious for both front- and rear-seat occupants, suffers from several low-rent plastic panels, including those on the doors and lower center console.

Checking Consumer Reports 2021 Survey Feedback, also not a great verdict, with lowest possible reliability score and only so-so consumer satisfaction responses, finishing only above the flop Fiat 500X, Renegade, Compass, and Ecosport with top honors going to Mazda and Subaru again:

Thoughts?

 

[Nojovo]

This is exactly why I'm not yet sold on the Mav, and am a bit incredulous at the many people placing an order sight unseen. (I worry that the pandemic has further worsened a scarcity mentality.) I need to see how the vehicle feels and drives, plus compare it to the Hyundai Santa Cruz, before deciding. Unfortunately I have no experience with the Escape Hybrid, but I'm not loyal to any one brand. We have a 2012 Kia Optima that has blown us away, so that may contribute to me being more open to a Hyundai.

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[balucipher]

I mean it's a cheap Ford truck. You can test drive an escape hybrid and feel the fit and finish if you want and expect a lot of the same.

My Maverick will basically just be something to hold me over until the Lightning replaces our Model Y.

 

[Wire4money]

This is exactly why I'm not yet sold on the Mav, and am a bit incredulous at the many people placing an order sight unseen. (I worry that the pandemic has further worsened a scarcity mentality.) I need to see how the vehicle feels and drives, plus compare it to the Hyundai Santa Cruz, before deciding. Unfortunately I have no experience with the Escape Hybrid, but I'm not loyal to any one brand. We have a 2012 Kia Optima that has blown us away, so that may contribute to me being more open to a Hyundai.

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I ordered mine and was assured if I don’t like it when it shows up, they would be more than happy to put it on their front line.

 

[MaverickMax]

This is exactly why I'm not yet sold on the Mav, and am a bit incredulous at the many people placing an order sight unseen. (I worry that the pandemic has further worsened a scarcity mentality.) I need to see how the vehicle feels and drives, plus compare it to the Hyundai Santa Cruz, before deciding. Unfortunately I have no experience with the Escape Hybrid, but I'm not loyal to any one brand. We have a 2012 Kia Optima that has blown us away, so that may contribute to me being more open to a Hyundai.

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I just saw the Santa Cruz starts @ 35,000 base!

 

[MaverickMax]

I ordered mine and was assured if I don’t like it when it shows up, they would be more than happy to put it on their front line.

I will do the same.

 

[Nojovo]

I just saw the Santa Cruz starts @ 35,000 base!

I don't think that's officially been announced yet, but lots of speculation. Also, the SC comes with a lot more standard equipment than the base Maverick.

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[MaverickMax]

If Hyundai prices the Santa Crus that high......they will be in trouble. No matter how KWEL the Santa Crus is. That's Honda Ridgeline territory. Heck almost Chevrolet Colorado ZR1 territory! The cutesy NESS only lasts so long. From what I have seen....youtube vids. the CRUZ is cramped inside, and the outside is smaller than the Maverick. I give it to the Cruz, it is a nice styled car.....but....

 

[JASmith]

If Hyundai prices the Santa Crus that high......they will be in trouble. No matter how KWEL the Santa Crus is. That's Honda Ridgeline territory. Heck almost Chevrolet Colorado ZR1 territory! The cutesy NESS only lasts so long. From what I have seen....youtube vids. the CRUZ is cramped inside, and the outside is smaller than the Maverick. I give it to the Cruz, it is a nice styled car.....but....

Ridgeline is outdated IMO, really needed an overhaul and not just a mild refresh. Ditto with the Colorado, which was never that well reviewed.

Smaller also isn't necessarily cheaper, after all look at the pricing of a Miata or Veloster N, its not like fruit rollups where you pay by the foot. Santa Cruz is getting the same engine and transmission that people are fawning over in the Veloster N, and that little hatchback starts at $32,250. It has a fully independent self-leveling suspension, pretty fancy stuff that even my loaded up Ram 1500 doesn't have. Things like 12" infotainment, full matching 12" digital display that when you turn the blinkers on changes the speedometer or tachometer into a camera for blind spot viewing without turning your head, one of the best 360o birdseye view camera systems for parking with high resolution cameras, the ability to move the vehicle back and forth with it steering itself to be centered just using the keyfob while you're out of the vehicle (like pull up to the garage, unload your groceries, and then just pull the vehicle into the garage with the fob), real leather heated and ventilated seats, fancy DRLs hidden into the grill, black chrome accent package, Ridgeline style "brunk", integrated rollup tonneau cover, keyfob controlled and damped tailgate, diffused LED sparkle taillamps that go into the tailgate as well, all these things add up on cost.

People are estimating pricing based on the Tucson (on which chassis its based and shares an interior with) and the Santa Fe that has the 2.5T AWD powertrain, neither of which are cheap. However, we don't know for sure because the Escape Hybrid starts at $28K while the Maverick that is based on it and shares a powertrain with starts $8K less.

If a limited SC were $35K, I would buy one without hesitation, but I fear it might be over $40K, in which case I'd go with the Maverick hands down which I can get the way I want it for under $30K. But I do know the Maverick is likely going to have much cheaper interior materials, dated infotainment, no damped tailgate, nothing fancy bed wise, no fancy seats, etc. so it is going to be less expensive for a reason.

 

[Eric G]

In regards to the interior plastics, my EcoSport has the same. It's not really an issue. It is pretty durable, and though I haven't spilled anything in mine, it does look like it would come clean easier than a fabric, leather, or soft vinyl.

 

[kmartinkc]

In my opinion it’s hard to compare a truck to an SUV, even if some people consider the maverick a bit of a crossover and not a true truck. From what I have seen from researching a wide variety of vehicles I expect an SUV to have a relatively luxurious interior. Before I put in an order for the Maverick I was considering the Mazda CX-5. The Mazda has the superior interior for a similar price point, but in my opinion that’s comparing apples to oranges. As far as trucks go the interior on the Maverick looks to be pretty decent unless you’re comparing it to a $50-60k F150.

My point is, an interior on the Escape that might seem cheap is more acceptable on a truck. The new 2022 Honda Civic has superior interior functionality and design, but it doesn’t have the overall function and useful attributes of a truck.

 

[JASmith]

On the plus side, I'm watching more Bronco Sport reviews in the background while working, and its getting a lot more praise. Technically, I guess you could say the Maverick is as much based on the Bronco Sport as the Escape anyway.

 

[MaverickMax]

I made the mistake of buying a new 2018 Dodge Challenger. I had a Jeep. I love the Challenger, has all the lux goodies, nav, big screen, super trak pac, power everything, etc, It's so nice I haven't had my girls(pups) in it. It's was the wrong vehicle for me. I always wanted one though, since 1970. Now being more practical, lol, I need a Suv or Truck - ett. I ordered a Big Bronco months and months ago. 41,000 dollars worth. :-0 That is alot of money to me. I didn't know that Ford was bringing out this Maverick. It fits my list perfectly. One.... is it will FIT in my garage!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE that! I don't plan to haul heavy or big stuff. That is what the better half's 2017 F150 is for. Great truck btw. 5.0 Coyote gets 21 mpg over all. But it is reg cab. That is why this Truckett has to have four doors. The prices of big 4 door truck's are out of my price range now. My first home cost me 41,000 dollars new in 1980! Just numbers scare me....I telling everybody my age. But anyway I haven't got to see a Bronco, Bronco Sport. I have seen Sports on the road. They look good! I have modders on Youtube already trickin them out! So the Maverick will be next. I can't wait

 

[OTACORB]

I just saw the Santa Cruz starts @ 35,000 base!

The Santa Cruz is more about style than true functionality and in my opinion butt ugly. 600 pound bed payload. LOL

 

[balucipher]

is there a bed payload capacity rating for the Maverick?

 

[JASmith]

is there a bed payload capacity rating for the Maverick?

It can handle whatever the max payload of the vehicle is, it has no separate capacity limit. So its 1500lbs minus 400lbs for the driver if you're one of those hackers sitting on their bed in New Jersey that Trump was talking about.

 

[Mav-trunklet]

So we know the Maverick is based on the Escape chassis, and both its powertrains are available on the Escape already for us to review. Its copilot360 technology package, warranty, infotainment, and so forth likewise can be observed on the Escape already available as a 2020 model.

So I've been doing more Escape research accordingly, and while some of it is good like handling and fuel economy meeting or beating EPA ratings (something many vehicles do not), there's also a lot of, uhm, not so good things.

Car and Driver marks it dead last in class, lagging way behind Mazda: 2021 Ford Escape Review, Pricing, and Specs

One complaint was the low grade interior plastics, something I saw even in videos of the Maverick where there was a lot of hard, and oddly blue, interior plastic:


Checking Consumer Reports 2021 Survey Feedback, also not a great verdict, with lowest possible reliability score and only so-so consumer satisfaction responses, finishing only above the flop Fiat 500X, Renegade, Compass, and Ecosport with top honors going to Mazda and Subaru again:
View attachment 513

Thoughts?

wow….you have given me much to reconsider now! I have never owned a Ford but have always heard so many complaints over the years…and lack of reliability in general. It’s taking a giant leap of faith for me to buy any Ford vehicle but i love this Maverick. So now have to take a chance or wait a couple years to see some history on the is truck. Still deciding even tho i have reserved the Maverick.

 

[Mav-trunklet]

wow….you have given me much to reconsider now! I have never owned a Ford but have always heard so many complaints over the years…and lack of reliability in general. It’s taking a giant leap of faith for me to buy any Ford vehicle but i love this Maverick. So now have to take a chance or wait a couple years to see some history on the is truck. Still deciding even tho i have reserved the Maverick.

wow….you have given me much to reconsider now! I have never owned a Ford but have always heard so many complaints over the years…and lack of reliability in general. It’s taking a giant leap of faith for me to buy any Ford vehicle but i love this Maverick. So now have to take a chance or wait a couple years to see some history on the is truck. Still deciding even tho i have reserved the Maverick.

Also, I read a couple of sources that Maverick is built on Ford Fiesta chassis…..which is frightening! I need to make certain its the Escape chassis.

 

[Truck2]

Even if the base XT is ‘Ford’ plastic it seems it will work for this truck. To me, seeing just a few videos it seems the blue plastic ‘might’ show scratch marks a bit (sort of highlight them) more then the base XT black plastic might show. My guess anyway.

If this hybrid is the same, for the most part. Of the Escape then am assuming it is reliable. Not a clue what that means for how the truck rides over bumps nor how it feels to drive. Maybe the hybrid and eCTV are known to be good…the rest one will have to wait and see.

 

[Wire4money]

Even if the base XT is ‘Ford’ plastic it seems it will work for this truck. To me, seeing just a few videos it seems the blue plastic ‘might’ show scratch marks a bit (sort of highlight them) more then the base XT black plastic might show. My guess anyway.

If you look in the 360 interior view on the Ford website, the majority of the interior plastic on the XL is the same blue. I highly doubt they are going to manufacture different door panels for their base model.