‘So expensive’: Truck drivers are shunning large pickups for smaller, compact models

(ABC NEWS) — Can pickup trucks get any larger? They’ve ballooned in size the last few years, becoming conspicuous behemoths on the road. They’re expensive too, with some pickups priced in the six-figure realm.

Bigger may not mean more desirable, though. A “white space” has emerged in the traditional truck market, and more automakers are taking notice.

“What we used to call a compact or small truck is now a midsize that absolutely dwarfs the new crop of compact trucks,” Ed Loh, head of editorial at MotorTrend, told ABC News. “People want smaller trucks.”

Loh pointed to the bestselling Ford Maverick, a compact truck that launched in 2021 and quickly gained a loyal following. The Maverick, which is available in five trims, costs less than $29,000 for the XL model, hauls 1,500 lbs and tows up to 4,000 lbs. It also delivers 42 mpg, an anomaly for a truck.

“The Maverick has been a phenomenon since we launched,” James Gilpin, a product marketing manager at Ford, told ABC News. “We saw overwhelming interest since Day 1 … the demand has shocked the whole industry.”

Gilpin attributes the Maverick’s popularity to its 2.5-liter hybrid engine and its “pleasant road manners,” which Ford engineers paid special attention to when Maverick was in development.

“The chassis was tuned over the last few years and it corners great. People drive it now and go, ‘Wow, this drives so nice. You forget you’re in a truck,'” he said. “You’re not giving up interior size and it has a similar payload to a midsize pickup. The Maverick balances affordability and value — it hits the sweet spot.”