Subaru Releases 23K Ford Maverick Challenger. YouTube Video VO
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Ford has recently blazed a trail and showed everyone that the market needs more light and affordable pickups. Other carmakers seem to follow this example, considering that many of them already start developing their pickups including Subaru, the Japanese manufacturer is expected to spice up things a bit and offer something different. So stay with us to learn everything about Subaru releasing a 23 K Ford Maverick Challenger. Buyers are desperate for small and affordable pickups. If there's one thing about pickups that has changed in the last couple of decades, that would be size, just compare the first and the current generation ranger. And you'll see that the new version is about 25 inches longer than the original. Things are the same with other models and their old ancestors simply pickups have become much larger. Not only that pick ups have become way more luxurious and way more technologically complex so much so that most buyers don't see them as utility vehicles anymore. This particularly refers to mid size pickups which are rather seen as Swiss army knives as vehicles that are extremely versatile. The only problem with such a design approach is the price, modern midsize often cost way over 30 K even. And their most basic variants that made many potential truck buyers desperate. And Ford's management was the first one to realize the situation. They came to the idea to reinvent the light pickup segment with the new Maverick, which would offer a versatile design with a decent level of utility yet with an affordable price. Considering the current demand for Ford's compact pickup, we can all agree that the blue oval company did an excellent job. Subaru will offer something different. Other manufacturers didn't have much trouble figuring out Ford's magic formula for this segment. So it's not a surprise that a couple of serious challenges will hit the market pretty soon. As a relatively small company, Subaru can't really keep pace with the world's largest car makers such as Toyota and Statis. This company has to play smart and that's why reportedly it will go for something a little bit different. Reportedly, Subaru is already working on its idea of a light pick up and compared to Maverick, it is imagined to be smaller and more affordable simply although a compact pickup Ford's model still features pretty impressive dimensions, especially from the perspective of non traditional pickup drivers. And believe us, there are many of them interested in Maverick's impressive level of versatility. This pickup features a 121 inch wheel base which is on par with most full size suvs on the market. So it can hardly be considered compact by someone who has never bought a pickup truck. That's where Subaru sees its chance. It will offer a notably smaller and more affordable pickup, which would attract even more nontraditional truck buyers with its combination of flexibility and maneuverability. Brat might be the right moniker. This wouldn't be the first time to see Subaru offering a light pick up back in the seventies and eighties. The Japanese manufacturer had a tiny pickup called brat, which remained famous for its jump seats in the cargo bed, that pickup was light and pretty capable. Thanks to the great A W D system, the new model could easily use the old moniker which stands for by drive recreated all terrain transport. Still, the overall design approach would still be slightly different, maybe a little bit closer to another light pickup. Subaru was offering in the US Subaru Baja. The body style would be the same though the new Ford Maverick Challenger would be notably smaller and based on something cheaper than the outback, a cross track based design considering the size and expected design characteristics. It's not all that hard to realize which Subaru model would serve as the basis for the new pickup that would most likely be the cross track, a subcompact crossover that has just been redesigned and that has everything it needs to be converted into a pickup. So the new brat would use the same mechanics as the cross track starting from the same iteration of the company's modular platform. Of course, we are thinking of the same powertrain options and of course the legendary all wheel drive system. Moreover, we are pretty sure that the new pickup would also share design language and come with the same or very similar front end design dimensions and body styles. As we've just mentioned, most of the parts would be shared with the cross track and that also includes some of the measurements. We are thinking of the wheel base, which could also go around 105.1 inches. This would make the new pickup very maneuverable and therefore very approachable to non-traditional pickup buyers. Moreover, the width and height could also be the same. On the the other hand, the pickup would have to be a little bit longer than cross treks 176.4 inches in order to accommodate a relatively decent cargo bed, we presume it will have to add up to five or more inches, especially in the case of double cab style. Speaking of the cab styles, versions with two rows of seats are a certain thing, but there is also a rumor that suggests a single cab version, such a model would be able to offer a notably longer cargo bed and therefore a much higher level of utility still. We are not sure if there would be a respectable number of buyers interested in this body type, but it would still be great to have something like that on offer considering that it's impossible to get even a midsize pickup with a single row of seats and long bed power train. If we take that Subaru's new pickup is going to share most of the parts with cross track. We could say we know what to expect in terms of the power train base models would likely use the same 2.0 liter flat four, which is rated at 152 horsepower and £145 feet of torque, which may not be much in numbers but seems ok enough for such a small pickup still, we are pretty sure that the optional 2.5 liter flat four would be a much better choice with 182 horsepower. The company could also offer the new 1.8 liter turbo four instead of the bigger flat four with slightly less power but notably more torque. A hybrid version would also be expected as that will soon become a must in the small pickup segment. Luckily, for Subaru, the cross track already has such a set up on offer. So the new brat would probably use the same system. It is based on a 2.0 liter engine and delivers a combined output of 148 horsepower. These aren't impressive numbers, but on the other hand, the 8.8 kilowatt hour battery should ensure decent all electric autonomy while estimated 35 MPG in a combined ride seems good enough to attract a solid number of interested buyers. The things we wouldn't like about the new Subaru pickup is the transmission, namely, the new cross track is no longer available with a manual but comes only with CV T. The new pickup unfortunately wouldn't be any different strong off road performance and towing capacity. Subaru's pickup certainly wouldn't be the peppiest model in the class, but we are pretty sure it would be the best off Roader. Of course, the main reason would be Subaru's legendary symmetric all wheel drive, which is still one of the best all wheel drive systems in the business besides excellent grip, it would also provide decent rock crawling capabilities thanks to the familiar X mode and respect ground clearance. The latter particularly refers to the wilderness trim which in the case of cross track brings notable suspension lift and offers respectable 9.3 inches of ground clearance along with all train tires, skid plates and more, the new pickup would also be offered in this trim level with the same or very similar upgrades. Despite the powertrain limitations, the new pickup wouldn't lag behind Maverick in terms of towing capacity, namely even the most basic cross trick can tow £2000 while the wilderness trim is good for £3500 the brat would offer at least the same ratings if not even some improvements for reference the most capable Maverick can tow £4000 but most versions are good for no more than £2000 interior. As for the interior design, Subaru models aren't what they used to be. Instead of bland and dull interior designs with low rent materials. Newer models look pretty luxurious. They utilize nice materials and also come with an impressive offer of advanced tech and safety features. The new pickup would follow that example, but we still think it wouldn't look as nice as a new cross track. Simply one of the goals is to make this pickup affordable. And for that reason, savings in terms of materials, standard tech features and similar things are certain. As we already mentioned, a double cab layout with four doors would certainly happen with a couple of rows with the same or similar amount of passenger space as the cross track. The two door single cab model is also a possibility with the estimated dimensions and a double cab layout, it would be impossible to offer competitive bed dimensions. And that's why we think Subaru might come up with some smart solutions. You probably remember the old Baha which featured a mid gate design with a rear hatch that folds down along with the rear seats and provides extra bed lengths. Well, something similar could come with the new Subaru brat. We believe the only way such a small pickup could be competitive is to come up with a very attractive sticker price. The Maverick already costs 25 K and that's without dealer markups. Subaru's competitor would be smaller and therefore it should be cheaper considering that the new cross track starts at around $26,000. We presume that the Japanese car maker could form a price for the new pickup that doesn't go over 23 K. In case Subaru decides to offer a single cab version, the starting price should even be lower. Thanks for watching and see you next time.