One Of The Best Cars For Retirees Is An Affordable Ford Truck Under $25,000

When conjuring the thought of pickup trucks, it's easy to picture a 5,000-pound behemoth that's difficult to park and guzzles fuel like the Queen Mary 2. That's not to mention that new trucks are nosebleed expensive. The average price of a new truck in January 2025 was $59,684 according to Cox Automotive as reported by Axios. That's compared to an average new car price of $39,233 during that same timeframe, which in itself is enough to make buyers think twice before buying a new car.

Even the so-called mid-sized pickup trucks like the Toyota Tacoma have grown portly over the years and now have similar dimensions to their full-size counterparts of past decades. Ford, however, broke the mold when it launched its popular Maverick compact pickup truck for the 2022 model year. Not only is the Maverick right-sized for adventurous retirees who need some hauling capacity, it's also quite affordable. In fact, if buyers can snag one of the 2024 Mavericks that some dealerships still have in inventory, the potential exists to motor off in a brand new easy-to-drive pickup for less than $25,000, not including a mandatory destination fee.

Besides a low price of entry, the Maverick has considerable other traits worth recommending. For instance, the diminutive pocket-size pickup rides on Ford's C2 chassis, which is the same platform as certain Ford cars and crossover SUVs like the Escape. That unibody construction means that the Maverick shuns the harsh ride that's typical of larger trucks with body-on-frame architecture. 

The Maverick's cargo bed isn't exactly huge at 54.4 inches long and a total storage volume of 33.3 cubic feet. Still, that's enough room for a couple bicycles or surfboards, provided that you leave the tailgate down. It's also enough room for trips to the hardware store for that value-enhancing home improvement or gardening project. Because the Maverick is a four-door or "crew cab" in pickup truck parlance, that means you can also take some friends or family along for the ride in relative comfort, just like a regular car. 

Depending on which year Maverick you're considering, a variety of powertrains are available including a fuel-saving hybrid engine and/or all-wheel-drive. The former is capable of traveling more than 40 miles on a single gallon of gasoline, while the latter is handy for retirees who live in snowy climates, or for doing some light off-roading to the prime hiking or camping spots. 

Basic versions of the 2024 Maverick without many options can still be obtained brand new for as little as $23,920 plus $1,595 destination fee, provided that you can locate one in dealer inventory. However, prices jumped considerably for the 2025 model year. The current pricing for the most basic XL trim level is $28,145 plus a mandatory $1,695 destination fee for a total of $29,840. That makes buying a Ford for less than $30,000 a lot harder, but not impossible.

While that's not exactly great news, do note that buyers are getting considerable updates over the 2022 to 2024 models that could make the spending splurge worthwhile. The exterior and interior have both been updated with fresh styling and color selections. As well, there's a larger infotainment screen, modernized safety suite, and the hybrid engine is now standard equipment. Although a portion of the Maverick's price hike may be justified with updates and equipment, the Maverick is made in Mexico and as such, is subject to the moving goalposts of the Trump administration's tariffs on foreign goods.

When the Maverick first launched, Ford couldn't produce the little trucks fast enough to meet popular demand. For example, the entire supply of 2023 models sold out in just six days. Nowadays, production appears to be better matched to demand. That means frugal retirees who want the utility of a truck with a side helping of friendliness can now purchase one without waiting months or paying a premium to jump the line in front of other buyers.