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GM Authority

Maverick Small Ford Pickup Is Coming, Chevy Has No Answer For Now

General Motors’ crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, is working on a new truck dubbed the Ford Maverick. Previously believed to be called Courier, the new small Ford pickup will be sold globally for the 2022 model year, and Chevrolet currently has no direct answer.

The Ford Maverick nameplate was first used in the ‘70s as a compact car sold in North America and Brazil. The Blue Oval brand later reused the name for three other vehicles which were mechanically unrelated to the original Maverick, but eventually put it to rest in 2005. Now, this new small Ford pickup will dust it off as a fresh unibody compact.

2022 Ford Maverick prototype

As exclusively reported by our sister publication, Ford Authority, development for the Ford Maverick kicked off in 2018. The new small Ford pickup will be based on the automaker’s C2 architecture, which is also shared with the new Ford Bronco Sport. When it arrives for the 2022 model year, the Maverick will slot in below the midsize Ford Ranger in the brand’s model cadence.

The body will sport styling similar to that of the Bronco Sport, as well as a four-door cab style. Motivation will come from two small-displacement Ford EcoBoost engines, including a turbocharged 2.0L I-4, and a turbocharged 1.5L EcoBoost I-3. Ford’s new eight-speed automatic is tipped to be the only transmission option.

Front-wheel drive will be standard, while all-wheel drive will be offered. The rear will sport an independent suspension setup.

The new small Ford pickup is expected to arrive in the second half of the 2021 calendar year, fleshing out the Ford model lineup with a new compact offering.

Meanwhile, Chevrolet has no direct answer for the new small Ford pickup, at least not yet. Although Chevy is planning a compact unibody pickup based on the GEM (Global Emerging Markets) platform, it doesn’t look like it will be offered here in the U.S.

We’ll watch this story to see how it develops, so stay tuned. In the meantime, make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Let’s be honest, Chevrolet has not had answers for a long time now. It’s hard to be a Chevy Guy these days.

    Reply
    1. I guess we’ll have to see what the market is for a vehicle like this. Given gas prices and people wanting ever larger trucks this will be an interesting addition. Just not sure about the market given it will have limited utility capabilities and families would prefer an CUV/SUV because the space available behind the rear seats can be better utilized than in an open bed in most use cases in a vehicle this size.

      Reply
      1. True Facts. One of my first cars was a 2001 single cab Ranger. It was dependable and decent on gas, but the thing was useless. Couldn’t hold any weight in the bed without sagging to the ground. In my experience, sedans, hatchbacks, and CUVs offer way more functionality. You could even get a 4×7 trailer if you needed to do chores. Ford might sell some of these in america just because it will be the only offering, but I have absolutely no interest in it. I think that Chevy’s answer to this should be offering something the Ford doesn’t have, maybe something like a hot hatch or rwd sedan.

        Reply
  2. Pricing is going to be key for this vehicle. Under $20k to start or I don’t see there being demand.

    The hatch area in the Escape and Bronco Sport will be larger and more useful then the bed in this Maverick. Ultimately there will be multiple compromises with this and the price needs to reflect that. Price it from $15k to $25k and there may be some demand but not sure it’s sufficient to require GM jump into this segment.

    Reply
  3. This is going to be a huge hit for Ford… well done. GM has every egg in China’s EV basket, thats it… with gas being cheap all other markets will be slow to move to EV except where the Communist Chinese Dictatorship will mandate them… GM is in trouble IMO…

    Reply
    1. Hmm, ignoring the sales success they’re experiencing with Vette, Silverado/Sierra and likely continued success with the Full sized SUVs? Not to mention the success with the vast array of cuv’s under the current GM portfolio. Are you that narrow minded that you can’t see the success of GM outside of China?

      While EV’s are the long term future, you refuse to acknowledge that GM is working to be the leader in EV technology. Honda seems to think GM is on the right path. But of course you know better. After all, you think GM should jump into this low profit segment just because Ford is.

      Reply
    2. @XJUG:

      You don’t know ANY of that.

      Reply
      1. And you do?

        Reply
    3. This thing is going to be a retail failure. Judging by the latest interiors Ford has put out, this thing is going to be a sea of cheap plastic and even cheaper cloth seats. It’s a fleet market special.

      Reply
  4. It seems like most things Ford releases these days GM has no answer for. Why doesn’t GM have a REAL trailblazer? Why does GM lack sports models? Why doesn’t GM build a real luxury brand and not a knockoff German Car with Buick parts. Honestly the Vette and Buick is all that GM has going for them

    Reply
    1. I was with you until you said Buick. Buick should be called something else as they are a joke compared to their former self last century. Buick is just an overpriced FWD car company that has no soul. I wish GM killed them off in 2008.

      Reply
      1. As the owner of a Buick Encore, I’m pretty satisfied with the Buick nameplate. Buick has always been the step before Cadillac. I think they have sometimes exceeded Caddy’s. Just my two cents.

        Reply
      2. Because somehow being FWD based means a car can’t be good? I don’t see many complaints for Audi, they seem to make it work just fine.

        Whats crazy is how many people on a GM based sited don’t understand that the different name plates cater to different groups. If you don’t like Buick’s because your 25 and want a sports car then buy a friggen Chevy. As an owner of two Buick’s (2013 & 2017) I’m very happy with Buick.

        Reply
        1. Audi does not offer a FWD truck do they?

          VW did….how’d that turn out? Not well.

          Rabbit truck?

          Most truck sales increased as FWD came on the scene. Trucks became the escaped from cars people that did not want FWD. they still are.

          Reply
          1. My comment was not about a FWD truck, just in reply to Dblezy bashing Buick.

            Reply
    2. And just what has Ford released recently that calls for an “answer” from ANY automaker?

      Reply
      1. Exactly. They are easily the worst run automaker right now. The F-150 is literally the only vehicle keeping them afloat.

        Reply
    3. Ford doesn’t have much going for it aside from the Expedition and F-150. They ruined the Bronco, ruined the Ranger, ruined the Mustang with terrible engines and cheap Chinese manual transmissions, and the new clown-faced Explorer has such a cheap interior that it’s a deal breaker.

      Reply
  5. Ford reports nearly $2 Billion loss for quarter. Chevy has no answer for now. 🙂

    Reply
    1. The Chevy vs Ford thing is such an immature high school argument. That being said, Ford is much closer to bankruptcy than GM is, this time around. I don’t know who is making decisions at Ford, but getting rid of the focus and fiesta was probably not a great idea, those ST models are seemingly everywhere.

      Reply
      1. Jim Hackett was hired to fix Ford a few years ago. He cut $10 billion in costs out of the vehicles, cut the R&D budget for engines in half, and pushed to slap the Mach 1 brand on an electric SUV. It’s like the Ford family hired him to destroy the company from the inside.

        Reply
    2. GM answered with better than predicted income.

      Reply
  6. Yeh, Ford does something before GM AGAIN! Ford likes to build front wheel drive, cause front wheel can use straight cut gears. It’s a lot cheaper than bevel cut gears for rear wheel drive. GM has along way to go to catch up with both Ford and FCA. GM has been building to the whim of Mary. When was the last time we saw GM really lead from the front? Maybe the new ‘Vette. But that’s it. It seems GM just wants E cars. But does the US market what them? The answer is a big NO. GM has to start listening to the consumer. Start building real cars and real trucks again. And make them less than $80,000! Hey, we are in a recession. Just keep it simple stupid! Just saying’

    Reply
    1. Have you checked Fords stock prices over the last 5 years?

      Ford is broke. It may get worse if the economy slides. Ford is looking to find anything for income they desperately need.

      Reply
      1. Stick has lost nearly 75% of its value in the last 6 or 7 years even with nearly a million fullsize truck sales each year. They’re so focused on fullsize trucks that most of their other vehicles have become mediocre. Even the new Explorer is a flop. The CEO cut too much money out of interiors and vehicle design. The COO said recently that the mood around the office reminds him of the 2009 financial crisis. They’ve been trying to get congress to do a Cash For Clunkers program again so that they don’t have to beg for more “it’s a loan not a bailout”-style bailouts.

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    2. GM was the only one of the big 3 to have profit. So seems GM might be doing something right. The automobile market has changed. You don’t have to have answer to what a (A), (B)and (C) manufacture is doing just make vehicles that make profits and keep people buying them. Until people start loving cars again like the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s your not going to get super exciting automobiles. People are more about recreation than how fast i can do in a quarter mile. Do these people still exist yes they do. But the number is very small now and or very rich.

      Reply
    3. We’re not in a recession, look it up…

      Reply
      1. You’re right, were in a Greater Depression, at least Ford was making manual,rwd,V8 sedans during the last Great Depression…😏.

        Reply
        1. At least back then people knew how to drive one and we’re willing to buy them.

          Reply
    4. If the quality is good I’d get the all wheel drive I like the styling. If I got this truck, I’d upgrade the suspension for sure. It probably wouldn’t have enough room in it for a VooDoo engine, though.

      Reply
    5. Real trucks? Compared to the tin foil F-150 with its terrible body panel fitment, weak aluminum beds, poorly designed throwaway engines, and weakest 4×4 system I’ve ever seen, GM has been schooling Ford on how to build a proper half-ton. Even the IFS on the F-150 is cheap ultra thin stamped sheet metal. I would take GM’s current HD IFS over the lightweighted death wobbling Superduty setup. I had hoped that Ford would get the death wobble addressed when they finally fixed the flimsy frame in 2017, but it seems like there are even more death wobble problems than before. Maybe they should have Ram show them how to do a solid front axle setup.

      Reply
  7. no big deal sounds like another junk truck from ford the pinto of trucks? was in the market for a mid size truck 2020 looked at ranger had 5 recalls on it! wound up with 2020 gmc canyon crew cab denali v6 love it ! best mid size truck ever.

    Reply
  8. Well before some get too worked up let’s look at some things.

    #1 Who said GM ha no answer. The same was said on EV cars and trucks then we find they are well advanced in this already.

    #2 who said this is goi g to be a big segment? The Ridgeline is not near the top in sales with the real trucks. With Ford and Hyundai moving i. On a small market it may just a smalle share for each unless it grows.

    TIme to get real. The Ridgeline sells 30k to 34 k per year. Sales have leveled off going up and down.

    The Colorado sells 108k to 135k units and has been rising each year. The Canyon adds another 30k to 37k high profit sales.

    Now add into this the virus and slow sales on everything this truck may be a problem.

    As for GM they have a number of platforms to base a truck like these off of. I would gather they already have designs as they have played with this idea for a while. But the fact is this is a slim segment and unless it is sold overseas there will be little money in it.

    I like the idea but when you factor in development cost for 1/4 of what you sell in your other truck the odds of a return on the investment will be slim.

    Reply
  9. I don’t think Chevy will be missing out of much. The volumes they’re projecting for that compact truck are ridiculous.

    Reply
  10. If this is what its going to look like then its just like the rest of the Ford trucks……………ugly.

    Reply
  11. Front wheel drive👎

    Reply
  12. Well, the rendition I’m seeing looks hideous, no way I’m spending any $$ for that. With all pickups getting bigger each generation, the concept might work, but can Ford execute the task of making it, and making it reliable? We shall see, but I have my doubts.
    At this point I must add that although Mary isn’t fondly referred to here, she’s a way better CEO than Jim Hackett ever thought about being. He’s a boat anchor to Ford.

    Reply
  13. Does Chevy really need an answer for a Ridgeline competitor right now?
    Let Ford see if they can expand the market in that segment.
    Honda sells approx 35k Ridgelines per year. How many is Ford going to sell?
    If the market suddenly grows, GM has a global truck that can be brought to market.

    Reply
  14. I think a small uni-body pickup truck/activity vehicle is genius. If I were GM, I would make an EV one for Chevrolet.
    It will be efficient and you can charge a little extra for it than say Ford. But I think Mini Pickup Trucks might take off with the younger crowd.

    Reply
  15. GM has floated proposals for a possible return of of the S-10 or even the Global architecture that would derive from the Chevy Montana, if they out put an actual concept at a Future Auto Show event, we’ll know where the level of enthusiasm is based on reaction.

    Reply
  16. Here is the dilemma. There is no history of small unibody trucks based on FWD selling well.

    The Ridgeline is the best and 1/5th what GM sells in the mid size class.

    Then the price is a problem as the Ridgeline is not cheap. The Hyundai May a little cheaper but it’s not going to be cheap. If Ford gets too cheap you will be missing many options or size to do much.

    The VW truck failed. The Ramcharger FWD failed. The Ridgeline is not setting the world on fire.

    There is little room to make this a Electric and cheap at this point even with a gas engine.

    Sadly today people seldom buy vehicles based on emotion. Today it is payment, safety, utility and durability. While a RWD Blazer would have been great for enthusiasts the majority of the buyers will make the FWD based one higher volume and more profitable.

    Sadly while we will still have some fun vehicles they will become fewer and fewer as the market has much less demand and they make much less Money.

    The auto industry is all about making money. Many have tried to keep cool Cars but most are failing. Kia did the Stinger to rave reviews but it is dying.

    I know Mary gets hit often for things that are unpopular but in the end GM will be standing while others fight for partners and sales to others to survive,

    This electric deal is a gamble. But if it pays off it could be really big. GM could sell much of this tech as a license technology and it may prove more profitable than the building of vehicles.

    Reply
    1. Thank you C8.R. Very well written.

      Reply
  17. I like the idea. I think if the base model starts at $20k, can tow between 2000 and 3000 lbs and the bed can carry a decent amount of weight I think it could be an attractive package for someone that hauls jet skis, atv, sxs etc. I get that you could put just as much stuff (probably more with fold down seats) in a similar size CUV but sometimes a guy hauls stuff he just doesn’t want in the cab like gas cans, deer, antelope, mulch, rock, etc… Maybe a good compromise vehicle.

    The problem with the honda ridgeline is that for the same money you can buy a ranger or colorado/canyon that gives you alot more hauling and towing capability. It also hurts that the ridgeline looks like a pansy compared to the ranger/canyon/colorado

    Reply
    1. Base level Escape with the 1.5 turbo 3 cylinder starts at $25k. I’m not finding any tow ratings for this motor on Ford’s website. If you option the 2.0 turbo on the Escape it does offer 3,500 lbs towing. Likely will only be able to get the 2.0 engine on high trim levels and expect that to be $30k +. At that pricing, seems more reasonable to get the mid-sized.

      Reply
      1. It carries 1500 lbs in the bed and tows 2000 lbs in its base/hybrid trim.

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  18. Glad to see focus on small truck market picking up. Been ignored for too long. Stock prices mean nothing. Car companies all have had financial problems last decade. It matters how they turn it around. Not a fan of fwd , though. Sonoma extended cab with ZQ8 I had was a great riding/handling truck and I would take another if available again.

    Reply
  19. These unibody FWD trucks are for people Who need a truck that don’t like trucks. You will get few buyers from the truck segment. The question is just how many will migrate from thenCUV market. Will they give up that third row of seats for a bed?

    They really need 100k units to really make a difference. This is why if GM goes here needs a global market vehicle.

    Also this is not an S10. This is more a 4 door Ute.

    Reply
  20. If I’m not mistaken, GM had the Colorado/ Canyon and the Trax/ Encore on sale in the North American market several years before Ford had an answer to any of them and no one is putting the aging EcoSport on the top of any lists. With the Ranger, while it’s showing an increase of sales, it’s still far behind GM in total mid-size truck sales. GM has off-road oriented models for both pick-ups and Ford execs have said there are no plans for a Ranger Raptor model in the North American market.
    I feel like a lot of these posts have a “grass is always greener” mentality to them and don’t quite get why they have become the norm on the site.

    Reply
    1. I’ve always been a Chevy lover but I did have one Ford in 2011. It was an F 150. It was too tall. It was way too hard to access the bed. The power steering lacked any road feel. I hate3d that truck. Had it less than a year, but the new Ford maverick truck will be just what many people want. The low price and just the ability to hall a little. This has been needed for so long. It should be a hit.

      Reply
  21. Chevy do have and answer for this, a truck that starts and drive..

    Funny Operation, Runs Dysfunctional…

    Reply
  22. Chevrolet’s obvious response is to make a small pickup, and call it a Vega.

    Reply
  23. That truck looks ugly ngl. I see what they wanted, but it looks too Jeep Renegade.

    Reply
  24. If you’re gonna make a sub compact pickup, why not simply bring back the El Camino? At this point, 1/2 ton pickups get crazy fuel mileage. Colorado is as small as you want and still being useful. Anything smaller should be unibody and based off a car or crossover platform.

    Reply
    1. Camaro based El Camino, nuff said..

      Reply
    2. They should just use the Holden Maloo, give it the El Camino look, and offer it with the 5.3 and 10-speed. That would be slick and fuel efficient.

      Reply
  25. Glad to see this one has everybody talking. Some of you are correct about GM driving the E side of things. There will be a place for them in some markets. But an E truck, will not do for those who use a truck as a truck. I agree, front wheel drive is not the answer. RWD or 4×4 is the best for our driving needs. The history of it just makes sense. GM is still the leader. We can only hope they continue to make good and better decisions. We still live in the greatest country in the world. Here we can bitch about almost anything. some will agree and some will disagree. That’s what makes us different than the rest of the world. Keep on truckin’

    Reply
  26. Chevrolet’s won’t have an answer unless someone from South Korea or China designs and builds something because General Motors CEO Mary barra is only interested in developing new EV; unless someone at Chevy converts the Bolt into an EV El Camino.

    Reply
  27. I would go for an S10 size pickup. The Colorado is the size of an 80 Silverado.

    Reply
  28. Man this this is butt ugly. Go figure Ford’s terrible CEO thought it should match the wanna-be Bronco’s new front end. This thing is aimed straight at the fleet market.

    Reply
    1. It’s a rendering. That means it’s an artists idea of what it “might” or could “maybe” look like. It’s not the actual truck. Unlike that abomination….the “Montana” Yikes!

      Reply
  29. I like it…a throwback to the affordable little pickups like what Datsun in started in the 70’s. Unibody is fine too, though make it available with AWD. Us suburbanites don’t need trailer-hauling bigass trucks that don’t fit in the garage to bring home a few things from Home Depot or as a little workman’s run about. Price I under $20K and it’ll sell like hotcakes. Better hurry though. The Hyundai Santa Cruz will be coming soon too.

    Reply
  30. It’ll be junk just like everything else ford makes they can’t think have another name Maverick another piece of Ford junk

    Reply
  31. At least Ford is willing to give it a try. All GM can muster is Zero Zero Zero and dwindling product with so called profit.

    Reply
  32. there are people that use a truck as a truck not as a car to haul the family around, If you want to do that then buy a car!

    Reply
  33. There are people who do both. It you need a big truck, get one. The Maverick looks to be a good fit for how I use a vehicle and would replace the very similar Ford Sport Track I drive now.

    Reply
  34. Time for a new S10.

    Reply
  35. Great story but your wrong and two years too early on this one

    Where can I buy the image for a story

    Reply

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