Rival news: Ford Midsize EV Pickup's Bed / Bed Rails - first look peek

[Shrink36s]

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses

Standards. Now, it is much more well defined for cars (coupes, sedans, station wagons), and for trucks, the classification is really about GVWR. I'll concede that there really isn't a real definition of sub-compact, compact, regular, mid-sized, and full-size definitions for trucks. I read somewhere, I can't find it again, that the classification is generally associated with the sedans that are on the same/similar platform. For example, the Honda Ridgeline is based off of the same platform used by the Pilot and Passport, which is called called "global light truck platform" by Honda. That platform meets the definitions of a Mid-Size Station Wagon...

 

[Shrink36s]

Maverick has 133.6 sq ft of passenger and cargo space, so under the Station Wagon Rules it would be mid-size (which is clearly not compact).
The Tacoma is roughly the same... Doh!!
Okay, @KevinRS, you win. Car companies are lame.

Per the all knowing Wikipedia, Compact Pickup Truck, makes it seem like it is mainly based on unibody vs body-on-frame at that smaller size and lesser tow capacity.

Let the arguments commence.

 

[GaRailroader]

Maverick has 133.6 sq ft of passenger and cargo space, so under the Station Wagon Rules it would be mid-size (which is clearly not compact).
The Tacoma is roughly the same... Doh!!
Okay, @KevinRS, you win. Car companies are lame.

Per the all knowing Wikipedia, Compact Pickup Truck, makes it seem like it is mainly based on unibody vs body-on-frame at that smaller size and lesser tow capacity.

Let the arguments commence.

The Maverick is considered a compact because it is built on Ford’s C platform. This is what the Focus was originally built on and they built the Escape on this same platform. The Maverick is a variation of the Escape and so would be categorized as a compact. I think the opposition of the Maverick as a compact is due to the overall length. Keep in mind though some of these OG compacts had 8 foot beds and so were probably similar in length to a Maverick of today. One of my college buddies had a Chevy Luv that had an 8 foot bed and I remember some S10’s and GMC S15’s(I think that was the GMC version of the S10) had 8 foot bed’s as well. Never been a fan of a long bed even though they are useful in some situations.

 

[bartflossom]

I'm still of the opinion the Ford truck isn't being shown because it's butt ugly.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Here's what the US EPA has to say:

FuelEconomy.gov: Compare Side-by-Side

Year, Make & Model	2026 Ford Maverick AWD	2026 Ford Ranger 4WD
EPA Size Class	Small Pickup Trucks 4WD	Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD

According to the chart Class is related to Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Sharing this with the hope of resolving the petty bickering over size lol.

 

[cadblu]

Here's what the US EPA has to say:

FuelEconomy.gov: Compare Side-by-Side

Year, Make & Model	2026 Ford Maverick AWD	2026 Ford Ranger 4WD
EPA Size Class	Small Pickup Trucks 4WD	Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD

According to the chart Class is related to Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Sharing this with the hope of resolving the petty bickering over size lol.

Appears that the small vs. standard pickup truck EPA size class was "recalibrated" back in 2008. Meaning that if the Slate was introduced prior to 2008, it would have then been considered a 'Standard" pickup based on its GVWR of 5035 lbs. Beginning In 2008, the GVWR for a standard pickup was changed to 6000 lbs. - 8500 lbs. rendering the Slate as "small pickup truck."

 

[Administrator]

Ford Reaffirms Universal EV Platforum Launch on Track for 2027

 

[KevinRS]

It's not so much bickering over what is a certain class of truck, as many of us want a truck smaller than the Maverick, and absolutely smaller than the current F150 size class, more like the small trucks that used to be available, whatever you call the sizes. From what we've seen, Fords new EV will probably be larger than the Maverick.

 

[AeroWolf]

I know it is the wrong brand, but I just parked my 2012 Sierra 1500 next to the latest GMC Canyon Model. And the Canyon looks the same size if not bigger than my Sierra. There is not such thing as an American brand small truck anymore.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

A lot of the size creep was CAFE perverse incentives - which rewarded size creep with lower fuel standards. Let's all hope that BEVs end that nasty trend, and that we start seeing more appealing small vehicles in the decades to come.

 

[KevinRS]

A lot of the size creep was CAFE perverse incentives - which rewarded size creep with lower fuel standards. Let's all hope that BEVs end that nasty trend, and that we start seeing more appealing small vehicles in the decades to come.

I understand why they gave larger vehicles a break, because work vehicles, but I'm sure it was pushed hard by industry lobbies, and went too far.
The problem now is probably that the trend has gotten a life of it's own, with a bigger = better mentality, and the arms race of needing a bigger vehicle to survive a crash with a bigger vehicle.

 

[Rich]

The Ford midsize EV seems to have a very Japanese vibe. The Slate on the other hand has more of an 80's American vibe. I know which vibe I prefer....

I looked up photos and the EV appears to be the same form factor as their giant behemoth trucks -- large passenger area, tiny bed. The original Ranchero car had a longer bed, as did my 1965 Chevy El Camino. It's as if America has forgotten what trucks are used for.