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The Maverick Keeps Finding Buyers
The Ford Maverick is on a roll this year, and the latest numbers prove it’s not slowing down. In the third quarter alone, the compact pickup found 27,793 new homes – a wild 59.6% jump over last year. By the end of September, Ford had moved 74,300 Mavericks, setting a new record for the model.
The hybrid version remains particularly important to the Maverick, with Ford calling it America’s best-selling hybrid pickup. That said, even the entry-level Maverick XL is getting in on the action, with sales jumping 15.5% in the third quarter. Ford’s affordable lineup strategy seems to be paying off.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Hyundai Santa Cruz managed just 1,620 sales in September, a 9% drop from last year. Its third-quarter tally was only 4,830 units, a steep 25% slide from Q3 2025. YTD Santa Cruz sales have dropped to 14,811 through September, down from 20,633 last year – a 28% nosedive.
Cole Attisha
Ford’s Other Trucks and SUVs Are Pulling Their Weight
Ford sold 1,516,279 vehicles through September, with F-Series sales reaching 561,508 units. F-Series production increased 4.5% in Q3 to 266,777 trucks, with Super Duty production reaching its best quarterly result in 19 years.
Ford SUVs also posted a record third quarter, with the Bronco at 38,020 units and a year-to-date total of 114,956. Explorer sales jumped 17.6% to 189,210, while Expedition retail sales cruised up 10.1% so far this year. All told, Ford’s got growth coming from every corner – from the pint-sized Maverick to the big bruiser trucks and SUVs.
Cars & Bids
Lincoln Finds Some Momentum, Too
Three of Lincoln’s headline SUVs – Nautilus, Aviator, and Navigator – saw sales climb in Q3. Nautilus sales jumped 17.7% to 9,066 units, its best third quarter since the model’s forebear first hit the midsize premium SUV scene in 2007. Nine months in, the outgoing model has already set a new record with 27,248 sold. Aviator sales climbed 11.3% to 4,887 units for the quarter, with 18,309 sold so far this year.
For Ford, the numbers tell the story: the whole lineup is pulling its weight. But it’s the Maverick that’s stealing the spotlight among small trucks, especially when you stack its record-breaking run against the slide of its main competitor, the Santa Cruz.
Lincoln
About the author
Jacob Oliva has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade, covering industry news, price analysis, aftermarket modifications, and in-depth reviews of new vehicles. He’s the current managing editor of Autocar Philippines, where he also manages and produces video content. Jacob’s work has also appeared in outlets including AutoDeal, Motor1, Philkotse, Philstar Wheels, and CarBuzz, and he has covered major motor shows across Asia. He lives in Manila and is a recipient of the Henry Ford Awards for auto journalism.