MotorTrend has lost it !!!

[WFM]

Being raised a Ford man im always delighted to see Ford get some award or praise or be named Truck of the year by MotorTrend. But the 2026 MotorTrend truck of the year is the Ford Maverick???? Really. I have nothing against the Maverick but I just dont view it as a truck I guess. If they had chosen the honda Rigeline or the Subaru Brat id be just as impressed.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Whenever I hear "Ford Maverick" my mind goes back to 1974 ...

 

[WFM]

The maverick was in competition with the chev Vega if I remember right.

 

[John T]

the 2026 MotorTrend truck of the year is the Ford Maverick????

The definition of "truck" apparently has changed over the years...
I'm not a fan of any of them.

If it don't have an 8' bed it's not of any use to me.

Ford Maverick doesn't even come close to being a truck.
But I'm sure some soft handed geekster in skinny jeans would argue that opinion.

 

[WFM]

Again. I love Ford.
But a Mexican made uni-body sheet metal frame.
It might be a truck. But not a real truck anyway.

 

[jimh406]

The maverick was in competition with the chev Vega if I remember right.

Pinto vs Vega

 

[jimh406]

But the 2026 MotorTrend truck of the year is the Ford Maverick????

Last I heard, they went way up in price. Which version did they like?

 

[John T]

The maverick was in competition with the chev Vega if I remember right.

I always preferred the Mercury Comet.....

Same thing, Only different....

 

[WFM]

There is a street 'kinda' race trim called the LOBO. That's one that impressed them.
But extensively tested for two weeks hauling, off road ect...I assume in other trims not the lower LOBO one.
Im sure Millions of folks love them just like i love my 400 hp F150. Lol.

 

[jyoutz]

The maverick was in competition with the chev Vega if I remember right.

Both were some of the worst cars of the day.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Motor Trash named the 1973 Corvette (the worst slug ever to bear that name) as the "Sports Car of the Year".

I stopped paying any attention to them at that point. They were obviously for sale.

Whenever I hear "Ford Maverick" my mind goes back to 1974 ...

The Maverick with the 302 in stock form was actually a pretty capable vehicle for its day. Certainly not a sports car, but for a passenger sedan, not too shabby.

I was driving a friend's one evening in Colorado Springs and some nutcase decided to pick a fight with me on Colorado Ave. I have NO idea why. He came off a side street behind me, so I know it wasn't that I had inadvertently cut him off a ways back. He made the turn after I passed his side street and rushed up behind me and started the whole road rage thing.

I left him in the dust, pulled a sliding turn through an intersection down to Hwy 24 and never saw him again. The car handled pretty well for a solid axle 70s machine. It was well balanced and had a decent center of gravity.

 

[airbiscuit]

So has Motor Trend TV. They cancelled their best shows.

Key Canceled Shows

• Roadkill: (and spin-offs like Roadkill Garage)
• Hot Rod Garage
• Engine Masters
• Faster With Newbern & Cotten
  Roadworthy Rescues
  Bitchin Rides: (after 11 seasons)
  

 

[Heehaw]

I always preferred the Mercury Comet.....

Same thing, Only different....

My first car was a ‘66 Comet with a factory 390 in it. That car embarrassed a couple of my buddies that had one of the “cool” muscle cars.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

'truck' def: a vehicle with two doors and a box,used for carrying cargo. Typically box is 8 feet, though some are 6.5ft.

best trucks I owned... '57 Willys 4wd PU, 12 speed+dual PTO,6.5' box . '86 F150, 5L 5 speed,8' box

 

[Shawn T. W]

So ... I guess this isn't a "truck" then ... What is it?

Yes, it's gotta V8!

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

To me the 2026 Maverick looks like a budget Ranger.



Looking at the pictures the Maverick seems marketed as the powder-blue street-only skinny jeans "truck" like @John T said, whereas the Ranger is a truck for little people.

And I'm sure someone will hate me for the following comparison:


but the 1974 Maverick with the 1974 bumper laws somehow always looked like a buck-tooth kid shoving his way through a crowd.

Come to think of it, that first image of a Ford Maverick would look the same with a front plate.

 

[GBJeffOH]

The definition of "truck" apparently has changed over the years...
I'm not a fan of any of them.

If it don't have an 8' bed it's not of any use to me.

Ford Maverick doesn't even come close to being a truck.
But I'm sure some soft handed geekster in skinny jeans would argue that opinion.

View attachment 166976

I have 1 2014 Tundra regular cab 8' bed. I still looks like new.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Seperate from that, remember the Nash?

Nash 'Businessman Special': Sleep in Your Car! #shorts

This classic car's seats folded down into a bed. Fitted sheets, bug screens, and pillows were even available. Advertised as a way to save money instead of us...

www.youtube.com

 

[John T]

Both were some of the worst cars of the day.

I owned (and wrecked) both back in the day. Vega I barely fit into... I think it was a 4 banger/4 speed.. beat the ballz off that thing.

I thought they were both decent vehicles... The 6cyl. powertrain in the Maverick was ok... not great
I think it had tall gears in the rear end. (mid 70's "gas shortage" economy measure)
and of course the "5 MPH" rear bumper...

I'd take either one rather than the junk they sell today.
Maverick was about $2k out the door.

 

[McMXi]

'truck' def: a vehicle with two doors and a box,used for carrying cargo. Typically box is 8 feet, though some are 6.5ft.

That's your idea of a truck, and a very limited one at that. I would say that we all know what a truck is when we see one, and we don't need another "everything was better in my day" lecture or definition.

My only objection re trucks is when I see a truck that was once functional and useful turned into a rolling small dick, low IQ fashion statement.