New Ford Maverick’s Infotainment Is Surprisingly Old-School

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford Maverick is the first Ford truck with a standard full hybrid powertrain. The Maverick is novel in many ways. The affordable, compact truck is part of Ford’s future as the company is electrifying its lineup. Though many of the Maverick’s qualities are new, its infotainment system is actually pretty antiquated.

The Ford Maverick infotainment system is too basic

The Ford Maverick interior | Ford

With a starting price of $19,995, no one is expecting a Mercedes-Benz MBUX infotainment system. On the other hand, for a truck that’s meant to ring in a new era, its system is basic, to say the least. To make matters worse, even the $3,000+ Lariat Luxury package only includes an 8-inch LCD touchscreen. According to Motor1, the package includes heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated mirrors, yet the infotainment system resembles base model systems.

The Ford Maverick’s infotainment system frankly looks like an outdated tablet. This wouldn’t matter if the Maverick were just another Ford work truck, but there is a lot riding on the success of Ford’s hybrid and electric vehicles as the automotive industry transitions to clean energy sources. This compact truck has a lot of potential, but today infotainment systems are a huge part of a vehicle’s cabin because of how far they have advanced. A simpler, blander-looking system could scare many potential owners away.

The Ford Maverick is an affordable, compact hybrid truck that deviates from Ford’s typical winning formula for trucks. It is much smaller than most Ford trucks, and its powertrain is downright bizarre for many truck enthusiasts. If the Ford F-150 Lighting is at the far end of the electric vehicle spectrum, the Maverick sits dead-center as a perfect middle-ground for truck lovers looking to reduce emissions.

Is the Ford Maverick replacing the Ranger?

The red Ford Maverick.
The Ford Maverick | Scott Olson via Getty Images

The 2022 Ford Maverick is enticing to potential first-time truck owners for many reasons. It has amazing fuel efficiency, getting up to 40 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on highways. Its compact enough not to be cumbersome yet has a quality truck bed. The base model makes 191 horsepower, but other trims are capable of 250 horsepower.

The Ford Ranger has been around since the early 80s. It resurfaced after a hiatus in 2019. The Ford Ranger is the bigger, stronger truck. It makes at least 270 horsepower. The 2021 Ford Ranger starts at $24,820, making it another extremely affordable Ford truck.

The Ford Maverick is not replacing the Ford Ranger by any means. It is more of a little brother to the Ranger than a replacement. The Maverick appeals to a niche market of its own.

How small is the Maverick?

A blue Ford Maverick.
The Ford Maverick | Ford

The 2022 Ford Maverick’s dimensions are 200 inches L x 73 inches W x 69 inches H. The Ford Ranger is longer, wider, and taller. The Maverick is up against industry titans like the Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Colorado.

The Ford Maverick will get trambled by many mid-size trucks in terms of power, but its appeal lies in its novelty. The Maverick is a unique compact, standard hybrid truck that is very different from any other truck in Ford’s lineup. The Maverick can include all the luxury a truck enthusiast could hope for at under $32,000 minus a modern infotainment system.

RELATED: The 2022 Ford Maverick Is Stronger Than Expected

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The Best $11,000 Car for a Teenager

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A lot goes on in the mind of a teenager, but some focus on only one thing with four wheels and an engine. Some teenagers want to drive fast (or slow), carry their friends to parties, and store a lot of camping gear. Some parents want their teenagers to drive safe vehicles safely. Today’s car technology is all about safety, so the speed and cargo are all that’s left. Reliability may not be worth considering, since the teenager may crash the car. For $11,000, there are some happy mediums between what the teen wants, and what the parents want. 

Best $11,000 luxury car

If money is no option and the parent wants a safe, comfortable sedan for their teenager, look no further than Cars.com. Right now a private seller has a 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK 350 listed for $11,000. It has low miles at 71,900, brake assist and stability control, and several amenities including programmable seats and aluminum wheels. This car is built like a tank but isn’t so slow the teenager won’t have any fun. 

Best $11,000 car with a manual transmission

2017 Mazda 3 Hatchback | Getty Images

Considering safety, cargo and seating, the Mazda 3 is a great choice for a car with a manual transmission. It can be a hatchback so there’s plenty of room for camping gear. The back seat is a little cramped, but better than a Mustang. Shifting is easy and precise, though not as forgiving as a Honda. Mazda suspension earns its reputation also, as the Mazda 3 handles like a front-wheel-drive sports car, second only to the Mini Cooper. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of car for $11,000. 

Best $11,000 truck or SUV

If safety is still at the forefront, then the best SUV for $11,000 is the 2013 Volvo XC90 3.2 AWD. The Volvo 3.2 comes with a 240-hp 3.2-liter V6, and FWD standard, but an AWD model would be the best option. The 3.2 gets leather seating and wood interior trim, but its style at this point in its life desperately needs an overhaul. The 2014 model years offer a makeover, but for a teenager who wants to romp around in the woods, its looks do just fine. Nothing is safer than a Volvo, so for a teenager who wants to go camping, this may be the best option.

Best $11,000 sports car

2007 bmw 335i convertible
2007 BMW 335i Convertible | Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images

It’s sacrilege to volunteer a sports car for a teenager, but if they must have one consider a BMW 3-series from the mid-2000s. The BMW is rear-wheel-drive, cheaper than $11,000, and can have a manual transmission. It’s big enough to fit a couple of passengers, fast enough to gasp and cry, but safe enough to have an open-slip differential and traction control. Several insignificant things may break along the way, but the engine and drivetrain are rock solid. Anything that’s expensive that breaks routinely is covered by a recall as well.

There are lots of options for a teenager with $11,000. While a teenager and a parent may want different things, there are some options that satisfy both sides. New cars have certain guarantees, but buying used can yield some interesting and fulfilling possibilities and guarantees of their own.

RELATED: 3 of the Safest New Cars for Teenage Drivers

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A Look Back at the Original Ford Maverick

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The new Ford Maverick is a light hybrid pickup truck, good on gas and surprisingly strong. But the original Ford Maverick that rolled off the production line in 1970 was completely different. Rather than a four-door truck, it was a two-door coupe (that would eventually evolve into a four-door sedan in 1971). Falling somewhere between Mustang, another name recently revived, and the Pinto, a name that’s likely gone for good, the Maverick was Ford’s attempt at a budget car with flare.

1972 Maverick | Ford

The original Ford Maverick was a simple, stylish compact

By the late 60s, Ford’s best-selling Falcon was starting to drag, with sales lowering each year. It was time for a refresh, one that would fill the budget hole the Falcon would leave while updating the styling. Thus, in 1970, the Ford Maverick was born, and initially, people loved it.

It wasn’t expensive, and Ford argued that it was easier to maintain than the foreign cars flooding the states. In fact, the Volkswagen Beetle was often used as a comparison when highlighting the Maverick. The Maverick had about 50 more horsepower than the Beetle, and bragged about being able to “cover 417 feet in ten seconds from a standing start.”

That odd statistic was courtesy of the 120 hp straight-six engine, though the base model straight-six only produced 105 hp. But that engine wasn’t even new, nor was the frame. In fact, other than the body shape, the Maverick was just a Ford Falcon with a new coat of paint. The reason for this is because Ford expedited production of their budget car as even cheaper foreign options washed ashore. But even with the strong competition, the Maverick managed to hold its own throughout the 70s.

The Ford Maverick’s success and extended life

Ford Maverick Brochure
Ford Maverick Print Brochure | Ford

According to Hemmings, from 1971 to 1977, Ford sold over 2 million Mavericks. 1974 alone accounted for over 300,000 of those sales. And as the Maverick was hitting its peak, the classic Beetle it loved to compete with was starting to die down. Only 226,000 Beetles were sold according to The Samba, and that trend would continue downwards until the last classic Beetle rolled off the line in 1979.

By 1975, however, Maverick sales were starting to dip as well. The original plan was to get rid of the Maverick and replace it with the luxurious Granada, but due to the gas crisis, the Maverick’s economical philosophy made sense to keep a little longer. That mentality got the car to 1977 before the name was retired. That is, until now, with the all-new Maverick truck. And while the two are very different in the looks department, there are a few similarities one could pull

How the Maverick of yesteryear compares to the Maverick of today

A light-blue 2022 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid drives down a city street
2022 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid | Ford

One’s a truck, the other’s a coupe. One is a hybrid, the other didn’t even know what a hybrid was. On the surface, there’s nothing to compare. However, if you really stretch the logic, there are a few similarities between the Maverick and the Maverick.

For starters, both are aimed at an economical market. In the 70s, 22.5 mpg wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t great, but you could do a whole lot worse. Likewise, the new Maverick’s 40 mpg in the city and 500+ mile range on the highway is incredibly useful. Both were also meant to have some flare to them, appealing to what people wanted but couldn’t afford/needed to be practical. Back then it was muscle cars, and today it’s trucks.

Funnily enough, the Ford Maverick truck is still being compared to foreign budget cars today. So while the original Maverick may have given the hybrid truck its name, the two have more in common than one might think. And even if this logic is a reach, it’s always good to look back and see how things change.

RELATED: Is the 2022 Ford Maverick Weakened by Its Hybrid Powertrain?

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Choose Your Supercar Fighter: Lamborghini Huracán, Formula 1 Car, or Nissan GT-R NISMO

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you were in a desperate situation and had to flee in the fastest supercar you could find, would you choose a Formula 1 car, a Lamborghini, or Nissan GT-R NISMO? Chances are you will make a swift getaway no matter what you choose, but which one will get you there quickest?

Specs for the Formula 1 car, Lamborghini, or Nissan GT-R NISMO

Choose Your Supercar Fighter: Formula 1 Car, Lamborghini Huracán, or GT-R NISMO | Carwow

To get a little more specific, the vehicles involved in this Carwow race are a Lamborghini Huracán, a Nissan GT-R NISMO, and a Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car. It should be noted that this isn’t a very modern Formula 1 car, but a retired one from a few years back.

The Lamborghini Huracán has a 5.2L V10 with 1,200 hp. It has launch control, four-wheel drive, two giant turbos, and only costs about $210,000. It is also the color of a frog, which is worth mentioning. The Lamborghini weighs about 3,423 pounds.

The Nissan GT-R NISMO has a 4.1L fully-built engine putting down 1,300 hp. The GT-R is heavier than the Lamborghini at 4,056 pounds, but will it pull ahead with the extra 100 hp? It also has four-wheel drive and launch control.

The Formula 1 car is the 2011 Red Bull Racing RB7 F1 car that both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber drove. It competed in 19 races and won 12 of the races. Vettel won the 2011 Constructors’ Championship in it, too. So, you could say this one is ready for a race. The F1 car has a 2.4L V8 engine putting down 750 hp. It is rear-wheel drive and weighs in at around 1,433 pounds. Surprisingly, the F1 only cost about $86,881,250.00 to make, though, so no big deal. No pressure.

Race results betwen the Formula 1 car, Lamborghini, or Nissan GT-R NISMO

Depending on your knowledge of these three vehicles, the Lamborghini Huracán pulled out ahead of the other cars off the line. The Nissan GT-R NISMO was right behind it, but the Formula 1 car quickly caught up. F1 cars aren’t exactly known for racing off the line like this. For race one, the Huracán took the lead.

But during the second race, the Huracán took the lead again. The F1 car was right behind it, and the GT-R was right behind that. It seems the heavy weight of the GT-R did have quite an impact on its performance.

By the third race, not much changed. The F1 car was right on the tail of the Lamborghini but was still slower off the line. The Lambo has insane traction and power, while the F1 car is quick once it gets going.

Supercar quarter mile times

The Lamborghini quarter-mile time was 8.9 seconds. The Formula 1 car was second with 9.2 seconds for the quarter-mile time. Coming in last, the Nissan GT-R NISMO came in with a time of 9.3 seconds.

When it came time to do a roll race, the Lamborghini still flew past the other vehicles. Both the Lamborghini and the GT-R left the F1 car in its dust. On the brake test from 100 mph, the F1 car stopped much faster than the other two. The Lamborghini was second, and the GT-R was slowest to come to a stop.

Who knew the Formula 1 car would be the fastest to come to a stop? It might not come as a surprise that the Lamborghini Huracán smoked the rest of the vehicles in the race, though. It would be interesting to see how a more modern F1 car compared to the other vehicles. But for now, the Lamborghini Huracán is reigning champ.

RELATED: The Aston Martin Valkyrie Roadster Supercar Will Be at the Super Bowl of Car Shows

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