Ford’s most popular vehicles speak some dangerous truths for new car buyers

The automaker’s November sales reveal some clear trends among owners buying vehicles bearing the blue oval.

With the frenzy of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday finally in the rearview mirror, automakers are now taking stock of how their sales shook out in November.

After all, spending season is a time that can provide some powerful insights, as data collected after the dust settles often speaks to trends — not just for the month, but the year and what’s to come for shoppers.

Ford’s latest sales report is no exception. In addition to highlighting an alarming trend in the U.S. car market, it also foreshadows what could be a growing reality as we move away from electrification.

Focus on trim value

In case you missed it, new cars are more expensive than ever. After rising steadily for more than a year, prices hit a record high in September — the average American new car buyer paid $50,080.

It’s the first time that figure has topped the $50,000 mark, and it’s a change that has been driving buyers the most for which models in Ford’s lineup throughout November.

That’s because, despite a broader market decline of about seven percent during the month, combined sales of the Blue Oval’s cheaper, more accessible models — the Maverick XL, Ranger XL, and Bronco Sport Big Bend — rose 26.4 percent.

The trend isn’t limited to November, either, as collective sales of each of these models are up 12.7 percent year over year. Furthermore, when you break it down by vehicle trims, the numbers are particularly telling.

For example, sales of the base Maverick XL have skyrocketed, improving by 76.2 percent for the month over last year. It’s a unique value proposition, as it’s the only trim in the range that starts under $30,000, and it’s currently the cheapest new pickup in the U.S. at $28,145.

Moreover, entry-level price appeal has also increased in the Ranger truck and Explorer SUV. The former posted a 48 percent increase in base XL trim sales, while the latter had its best November since 2018, up 41.5 percent thanks to the Active and ST-line trims.

Battery is dead

Amid record 16,301 hybrid sales and an improvement of 13.6 percent in November, Ford continued to demonstrate growth potential with its mixed-energy offerings. Of course, the Blue Oval has repeatedly proven that such vehicles can win over buyers, as its hybrids have grown by 19.4 percent year-on-year.

However, like other industries, the automaker’s EV sales fell for a month. While that in itself isn’t surprising, given the end of federal incentives, it’s the performance of another model that makes the extent of the fallout so apparent: the Mustang.

Gas-powered pony sales alone almost match that all Ford’s electric vehicle joint. Ford managed to sell 4,207 Mustangs, compared to a total of 4,247 EVs. The model improved by 78.6 percent, a huge increase considering only 2,355 buyers were added in November 2024.

While this can be attributed to a myriad of factors – price incentives, restocked inventory and even the model’s unique V8 appeal – there’s no denying that it represents a seismic shift.

After all, even if Ford doesn’t convert EV buyers into muscle car enthusiasts, the fact that the Mustang managed such a performance (after being repeatedly defeated by the Mach-E, no less) is a remarkable achievement.

Between the obvious demand for affordable vehicles and the big shift away from EVs, Ford’s November sales are nothing short of revealing.

About the author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not following the latest industry news, he’s probably hustling away at one of several projects. For better or worse, he believes the classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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