Ford Maverick is the latest addition to Ford's fleet, a compact pickup truck for the 2022 model year. Its slick urban design will make it a guaranteed hit, but if you're in the market for a new pickup, you might be wondering what are the differences between the Maverick and the Ford Ranger.

We've made this guide to point out the key differences between these amazing trucks, and help you make the right purchase decision.

Capabilities 

Ford Maverick and Ranger may look similar, but their design philosophy is completely different.

The Maverick is a compact pickup truck, a class smaller than the Ranger. It's made on the chassis of the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, making it one of the few unibody trucks. 

Unibody differs greatly from body-on-frame construction, favoring ride comfort and lightweight construction over the true qualities of a pickup truck. Maverick is a true city pickup, versatile and capable enough to be used on the streets, where off-road capabilities aren't needed. It can still carry up to 1,500 pounds and trailer up to 4,000 pounds, which is quite impressive for a unibody truck.

Until Maverick appeared, the Ranger used to be the smallest light truck Ford had to offer. Built the old-fashioned way with the body-on-frame, it's more capable off-road and can haul up to 1,900 pounds of payload and 7,500 pounds of towing weight.

If you want a truck that can be a city vehicle but also an off-road & work truck, Ford Ranger strikes the perfect balance between the two sides.

Power & Fuel Consumption

There's a clear difference in power and fuel consumption between the two trucks. 

With the 2.0L EcoBoost, 250 horsepower engine, Maverick achieves 23 MPG in the city and hits 30 MPG on the highway. The 191 horsepower 2.5L hybrid is yet to be tested, but Ford claims it can do 40 MPG in the city, which is more than you'd ever expected out of a pickup truck.

Ranger has just one engine option - a 2.3L EcoBoost petrol engine that can do 21 miles to the gallon in the city, or 26 MPG on the highway. The larger engine delivers 270 horsepower, but when we take into account the 500-pound weight difference between the two trucks, Ranger has the upper hand.

Trims & Features

To streamline production and make it easier for the customers to get the right equipment, both the Ford Ranger and Ford Maverick have three trim levels with the same names: XL, XLT, and Lariat. These are the most important differences between them: 

The XL Trim

The XLT Trim

The Lariat Trim

In terms of features, both vehicles have similar options, although Maverick has less equipment available as standard. All the connectivity features for 2022 are there - phone integration, 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and phone chargers. 

Both trucks have front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as Safety Canopy side curtains, but Maverick also has the driver's knee airbag.

When it comes to the cost, Ford Ranger in base XL trim is almost as expensive as Maverick in Lariat, but that's mostly due to the increased production cost. Both trucks are very reasonably priced, and offer the maximum in terms of performance and features their price can allow.

Summary

The choice between the Ranger and the Maverick comes down to what you're looking to achieve with your new pickup truck. 

For a vehicle with some functionality of a pickup but also versatility and great fuel economy in the city, Maverick is a better option. If, on the other hand, you plan on utilizing your pickup to the fullest, then the Ranger  will prove to be a great light truck that can satisfy your needs!