For 1978, the LTD II met a much larger degree of competition, as Ford introduced the Ford Fairmont as the replacement for the long-running Ford Maverick. Though officially considered a compact (nearly two feet shorter and seven inches narrower than the LTD II), the interior dimensions of the Fairmont entered close enough into the midsize segment as downsizing extended beyond full-size vehicles. Along with its slow sales, the potential for model overlap with the Fairmont led to the discontinuation of the LTD II station wagon.