You might be hard-pressed to find someone casually throwing out a Don Quixote reference in a conversation today short of sitting in a classroom or being a member of certain creative circles. This is not a dig on modern society’s lack of common knowledge about classic literature unless it was written in comic sans – not entirely.
The story of Don Quixote is from 1605, written by Miguel de Cervantes, and is essentially a tale about the wildest middle-life crisis ever. A nobleman named Alonso Quixano loses his mind after reading one too many romance novels and becomes convinced that he is a knight named Don Quixote, sent on a mission to make chivalry great again. Famously confusing windmills for giant monsters and attacking them.
At its core, the lesson Don Quixote tries to convey is the importance of having a strong identity, chasing goals, and embracing oneself despite what others think.
A happy-go-lucky farmer named Sancho Panza joins Don Quixote on this Fear and Loathing style trip. Many renderings of Panza depict him as a short, round fella riding an equally stout donkey or mule.
A Needed Contrast
At its core, the lesson Don Quixote tries to convey is the importance of having a strong identity, chasing goals, and embracing oneself despite what others think. Sancho Panza is the voice of reason with down-to-earth wisdom, while Quixote dives headfirst into his manifested delusions. Practicality. Which couldn’t describe the Ford Maverick XLT Tremor any better. Because full-size, and to a certain extent mid-size, pickup trucks are growing larger and heavier, with price tags high enough to reach the top of windmills, the compact versatility of the Maverick serves as a valuable contrast. A reminder that a big truck isn’t the only option.
The Tremor Off-Road Package
Last year I had a chance to test drive a 2022 Ford Maverick. However, this one is different as it bears the TREMOR name on its bodywork. This little pickup is the all-wheel drive off-road variant flexing a gas-powered engine and available towing package to increase its max capacity up to 4,000 lbs.
Because full-size, and to a certain extent mid-size, pickup trucks are growing larger and heavier, with price tags high enough to reach the top of windmills, the compact versatility of the Maverick serves as a valuable contrast.
Available only on higher spec trim levels, like the XLT and Lariat, the Tremor package includes off-road suspension, skid plates, front tow hooks, 4WD with an electronic rear differential, trail control, and a heavy-duty transmission cooler. Buyers who opt for the additional appearance package will enjoy exclusive side skirts and hood graphics. The model shown wears a shade exterior paint Ford calls Avalanche, accented with carbonized gray graphics, bronze-colored XLT emblems, and Tremor lettering.
As part of the off-road package, the truck stands on 17-inch aluminum wheels painted in Tarnished Dark with bronze accents wrapped in 30-inch Falken Wildpeak tires. Powering the little horseless carriage is the turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost making 250 hp and 277 lb.-ft of torque with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The Tremor appearance package also includes exclusive seats with TREMOR embroidered. The model shown has cloth seats that looked great and didn’t set my backside on fire after being parked under the Texas sun all day. The available Towing Package increases the compact truck’s max towing capacity from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds.
News on the 2024 Ford Maverick
To say that the Ford Maverick is in demand is an understatement. Kelley Blue Book reported that orders for the 2023 model year Maverick sold out in six days and expected the 2024s to sell just as fast. Moreover, there’s been a change to the powertrain lineup on the 2024 Maverick. Currently, the standard engine is the 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain. For 2024, the new standard engine will be the 2.0-liter EcoBoost. The 191 hp hybrid drivetrain becomes an option for buyers interested more in fuel economy than towing capacity.
A front-wheel drive (FWD) hybrid Maverick is the way to go if you want the most MPGs. The official EPA rating for hybrid variants is 42 city, and 30 highway, followed by the FWD EcoBoost powered models achieving 23 city, 30 highway. Opting for all-wheel drive drops the MPGs slightly to 22 city, 29 highway. With the added suspension lift, larger wheels, and extra weight, the XLT Tremor ranks at the least fuel efficiency rating. During the 600-mile road test, consisting of highway travel, city commuting, and off-road shenanigans, the Maverick XLT Tremor averaged 22 mpg.
Off-Roading with the Maverick Tremor
The Maverick XLT has five standard drive modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Eco, and Sport. Tremor adds the Sand and Mud/Runts modes, all selected by a button labeled “TREMOR” in bright orange letters located on the center console underneath the transmission select dial.
The engine’s exhaust note may sound like a small breed dog growling at you to back away with a bone in its mouth, but the car-like steering and pedals make for a stress-free driving experience.
The EcoBoost provides plenty of brawn to make the compact truck’s all-wheel-drive system feel gutsy when your foot hits the gas. The engine’s exhaust note may sound like a small breed dog growling at you to back away with a bone in its mouth, but the car-like steering and pedals make for a stress-free driving experience.
Off-road, the modest size of the truck makes navigating rugged trails and obstacles about as challenging as finding a parking space in your town’s local dying shopping mall. The truck’s off-road performance provides a decent amount of capability so long as you stay within the realms of reality. You’re not going to be King of the Hammers in this, but you will be surprised at how well the Maverick XLT Tremor handles the road less traveled.
A Sancho Panza of Practicality
The Maverick pickup truck looks tame and meek compared to its larger, brutish F-Series and supercharged Raptor R siblings. But, like Sancho Panza, the little truck is not designed to attack windmills like many lifted truck owners with spotless cargo beds running on testosterone supplements and brandishing Andrew Tale quote tattoos. Instead, the Maverick embodies the voice of reason and practicality.
It has no fantasies about what it would do in a bear attack situation. Or daydreams about being put in a Die Hard action movie scenario. All it wants is to provide you with a utility box to load up a family or a day’s worth of work. There’s something endearing about jumping into a vehicle that gives you almost no stress in its operation. No large blind spots. No compromising on stiff suspension and performance-based steering or dealing with complicated screen menus to find a simple on or off setting.
That’s why I love the Ford Maverick. It’s one of the most down-to-earth vehicles today. And adding the Tremor off-road package increases its range for practicality.