Truck Showdown

Ford vs Slate

When it comes to innovative automotive ideas, there’s no shortage, but not all are created equal. Take Slate Auto, for example. They’ve been grabbing headlines with their $28,000 electric truck concept geared towards being a game-changer in affordability and utility. Yet, anyone itching for a capable ride today would be wise to look at an already available contender – the Ford Maverick.

Pricing

Slate’s concept is ambitious with a starting price around $28,000 for their upcoming electric truck. The catch is, this is projected pricing for when it finally rolls off the production line, potentially by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, the Ford Maverick, a reliable, on-the-lot pickup, starts at $23,920 for the 2024 model year. This gets you the 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, with hybrid options starting a touch higher.

Efficiency

Slate pitches their base truck as offering 150 miles of range thanks to its 52.7 kWh battery, while a pricier upgrade bumps it to 240 miles with an 84.3 kWh pack. Comparatively, the Maverick offers efficiency in a different manner—by blending gas and hybrid powertrains. The hybrid promises a whopping 42 mpg combined, translating to almost 430 miles on a tank, which can be refilled at any gas station lickety-split.

Performance

The Slate promises a single electric motor with 201 horsepower and rear-wheel drive, while the Maverick presents more traditional, but convincingly robust choices. Whether opting for the front-wheel drive hybrid or the all-wheel drive turbo, the Maverick is all about practically delivering power and torque when needed.

Practical Usage

In terms of payload and towing, Ford’s Maverick doubles the offering of Slate’s hyped truck, with a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs compared to Slate’s 1,000 lbs. It’s an important consideration for anyone planning to use the truck for work or play, like hauling weekend gear or doing runs to the lumber yard.

Driving Experience

Driving the Maverick is akin to hopping in a well-worn baseball glove—comfortably familiar and ready for action. It handles smoothly, with enough zing from the turbocharged engine to make merging lanes or overtaking a breeze. Slate’s concept, while sounding promising on paper with its EV benefits, remains a concept at this point. The market just hasn’t felt its wheels on pavement yet.

Final Thoughts

There’s an undeniable appeal to Slate’s ingenuity, but whether this translates into a practical, everyday vehicle remains to be seen. Ford, by contrast, has already established their Maverick as the quintessential affordable truck that balances modern efficiency with traditional usability. Until Slate’s dreams become reality, Ford’s showroom is where practicality and proven performance win out.

Both these vehicles reflect the future’s horizon where affordability meets tech, but as of now, the Ford Maverick holds the torch.