Ford truck choices might start out focused on practicality, but things can get emotional fast. Especially when you’re trying to balance daily drivability with the kind of capability that makes you feel prepared for whatever life throws at you.

Musings and feedback fueled a long Reddit thread where one Ford fan laid out his situation. He loved his old manual Ranger and his early-80s F250. He goes for trucks that feel “unkillable.” 

But he also needed something modern, safe, four-doored, and city-friendly.

His short list came down to a Ford Maverick or a used Ranger, based on his budget, and he wanted honest takes from people who drive them every day.

The responses from folks with direct experience in both models covered everything from powertrains to interior plastics. They also revealed just how far apart these two trucks sit philosophically, even if they share badges. I thought the answers were worth sharing here.

The Ranger is a “real” truck

Quite a few commenters argued that the difference starts with what you want the truck to feel like. One user boiled it down cleanly: “Ranger for a truck. Maverick for a car with a truck body.”

Another pointed to the global roots of the midsize model, noting, “The newer ranger was designed by Australia… better for towing but smaller interior because it’s body on frame.” That same user added that it’s the top-selling truck in Australia, which gives it real credibility in tough environments.

Others leaned on firsthand experience. A driver who owns a 2022 Ranger said it’s “been a really great and capable truck,” then added practical advice: “After August 2022 they built them with the upgraded 10R80 transmission. These are less susceptible to failure.”

Another commenter who works around Ford powertrains emphasized engine toughness: “The 2.3 is pretty damn robust… we literally never, ever see them for repairs except maybe the dpr pressure sensor.”

Plenty of folks simply enjoyed how it drove. One said, “I thought the Maverick felt boring and cheap in comparison… I just had so much more fun with the Ranger and it actually drove/felt like a truck.”

But the Maverick fits real life better

On the other side, practical drivers stepped in with the argument the Ford Maverick quietly wins: convenience. As one owner put it, “It’s the most practical vehicle I’ve ever owned.”

Fuel economy mattered, too. The OP’s wife liked the hybrid, and many commenters agreed the trade-offs favor the little pickup. One said the Maverick “wins in cost, mpg and general ease of use when parking or driving in cities.” Another pointed out that most people don’t need midsize capability: “Unless you’re towing regularly over 4k… the Maverick makes more sense, even more if it’s the hybrid.”

Others argued that the Maverick can handle mild adventures just fine. One pointed out that “plenty of people with maverick tremors [are] doing more than enough fun light duty stuff,” while another summed up actual usage honestly: “Gravel driveways and public camping spots are probably what most Mavericks will see anyways.”

Reliability according to real owners

This was the thread’s hottest topic. Ranger owners consistently showed more confidence. One commenter said both Ford trucks hold up well but stressed that the 2.3L turbo “is pretty damn robust,” and a follow-up clarified that many supposed transmission complaints are actually sensor-related: “People often mistake the bucking for a transmission issue when it’s really a faulty dpfp sensor.”

Like I mentioned earlier, a Ranger owner added that the updated 10R80 after August 2022 is “less susceptible to failure,” while another claimed excellent longevity: his truck hit “145,000 miles… bone dry not a single fluid leak,” with problems only starting after two rear-end accidents.

I can confirm that many pre-2022 Ford Ranger trucks (roughly the 2019 to 2021 model years) did have documented transmission problems. The output shaft seal failed widely in the 10R80 gearbox, not matter what it went in (truck or SUV). Owners report harsh shifting and quirky behavior leading to full rebuilds, too. In 2025, a lot of these trucks are out of warranty, so confirm it’s had the 10R80 addressed before buying.

The newer Ford Maverick (so far) isn’t known to share these issues at the same scale.

Not every 2019 to 2021 Ranger tranny failed, either. Some trucks reportedly go 100,000+ miles with no transmission trouble. Problems seem unevenly distributed, possibly tied to production tolerances, build-date, or early production flaws.

Maverick owners reported a mix of satisfaction and scattered quirks. One argued that early issues have been addressed: “Maverick has been out since 22 so Ford already fixed most of the issues… I would say new maverick and ranger have similar reliability.” Hybrid owners noted the biggest nuisance is a battery management quirk that “can be fixed by upgrading the battery.”

Then there was the bluntest comment, delivered by someone who works at a dealership: “As a service advisor for ford, just get the ranger. Mavericks have more issues.”

The thread didn’t crown a winner

Instead, it painted a clear split. The Ford Ranger is the stronger tool, built on a global platform with a proven powertrain and real off-road hardware. The Maverick is the smarter everyday companion: cheaper, easier to live with, and shockingly capable for most owners’ needs.

If you want a Ford that feels like your old Rangers and F-Series, the crowd leans midsize. If you want something that fits daily life while keeping fuel bills tame, the Maverick army makes a compelling case.