3 Reasons the 2023 Toyota Tacoma Is Still Better than the Ford Maverick
In terms of comparisons, I am sure you’ve seen the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Maverick pitted against each other. Both are, respectively, their brand’s smallest trucks, and both are fairly popular. Most notably, ordering the 2023 Ford Maverick is nearly impossible right now. But how does the 2023 Toyota Tacoma vs. the 2023 Ford Maverick pan out?
Is the Toyota Tacoma a good truck?
In terms of being a midsize truck, the Tacoma has long been a solid pick. It often comes with good resale value, reliability, and overall utility. Although the 2023 Toyota Tacoma is essentially the same truck that was introduced back in 2016, there is a lot to like about it.
You can get this midsize truck in a range of different configurations. Plus, you can actually get it with a manual transmission. It has been slightly revised in recent years, but we are still waiting for Toyota to give this pickup a full update. Still, it does lead its segment as one of the hotter items to get.
The Toyota Tacoma has a manual transmission
OK, so I know most folks are not getting a new truck with a manual transmission. But the enthusiast in me does see this as a perk. While other pickups like the Frontier have dropped the standard transmission, you can still pick up a 2023 Tacoma that allows you to row your own gears.
The Ford Maverick only comes with an automatic transmission. That is probably not a deal breaker in 2023, but if you want a truck with a standard, you’ll need to look elsewhere. You can even get the Tacoma TRD Pro with a manual transmission, giving you a legitimate off-road truck with six gears.
Toyota’s small truck is body-on-frame
We can argue about the benefits of a body-on-frame truck vs. a unibody truck until the cows come home. But body-on-frame typically means a pickup is more capable and can stand up to some serious miles.
The 2023 Maverick does share its platform with the Ford Bronco Sport, but it is still unibody. Because the Tacoma is body-on-frame, you might be able to rely on it to do more truck stuff. Even if that does mean sacrificing some ride comfort.
The 2023 Tacoma has a V6
Both the Ford Maverick and the Toyota Tacoma offer two engine options. As it stands, you can not get the Tacoma with a hybrid like Ford’s small truck. But you can find it with a 3.5-liter V6. According to Autotrader, this engine makes 278 horsepower and 265 pound-foot of torque. You also won’t have to worry about the reliability of a turbocharged engine.
For no additional fee, you can opt for a 2023 Maverick with a turbocharged EcoBoost engine. It makes 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. But, the longevity of this engine is not as proven as the Tacoma’s V6.
If you are hoping to keep your pickup truck for a long time, the Tacoma might be able to handle more miles. But at the same time, you will probably lose out on some fuel economy.
