Ranger vs. Maverick: Which Small 2022 Ford Truck Is Better?
You’ll immediately see a difference when you see the 2022 Ford Ranger and Maverick trucks together. The Ranger is a midsize truck, while the Ford Maverick is a compact model. The build of these two trucks is very different, with the Ranger offering classic truck build and style and the Maverick using a unibody construction. Which of these small Ford trucks is better for you?
What does the 2022 Ford Ranger offer?
The Ranger is a midsize truck that returned to the market only a few years ago. Although this pickup only offers one powertrain, it has the best-in-class payload numbers and an off-road capable Tremor package. This truck can carry up to 1,905 pounds in the bed and tows as much as 7,500 pounds, making it a strong truck for your drive.
The powertrain gives you a 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Cab options are the large SuperCrew with traditional doors or the SuperCab with the rear-hinged smaller doors for the rear of the cab.
You’ll find a generous mix of tech and safety features to make the 2022 Ford Ranger a good choice in the midsize truck class.
What does the 2022 Ford Maverick offer?
The Maverick brings you a four-door pickup truck that’s small, active, and built on a unibody platform. This truck has a choice of two engines, giving you more options for your drive. The Maverick is nearly one foot shorter than the Ranger but still has the truck capability you need.
You can carry 4×8 sheets of plywood in the Maverick, which has a 4.5-foot bed with an adjustable tailgate. This truck offers several ways to meet your needs between the FITS system and the various bed configurations.
The two powertrains of the 2022 Ford Maverick give you a base engine which is a 2.5-liter hybrid Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine that makes 40 city/33 hwy mpg. This powertrain uses a CVT and is only offered in FWD to give you 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque.
The upgraded powertrain for the Maverick is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine attached to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain offers 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. If you add AWD to this truck, you’ll increase the towing power to 4,000 pounds.
What should Ford change about these two small trucks?
The Ford Ranger could benefit from:
- Additional bed and cab options
- More powertrains
- A smoother ride
- Standard touchscreen
- Manual seat height adjustment
The Ford Maverick would be better with:
- AWD for the base engine
- Active safety features on all trim levels
How much does each Ford truck cost?
The 2022 Ford Ranger starts at $26,000, while the 2022 Ford Maverick begins at $19,995. Of course, if you want more power for towing, you’ll need to step up to the higher powertrain for the Maverick, which costs more.
Should you buy the 2022 Ford Ranger or the 2022 Ford Maverick?
What do you want to get out of your small truck? Before picking the small Ford truck you want to drive you need to answer this question. The Ford Ranger is the truck for you if you want more power, a higher ride height, and a larger build. If your towing needs are 4,000 pounds or less, and you want a smooth-riding small truck with several configurations, the Ford Maverick is the pickup you should drive.
Next, check out the worst full-size trucks to buy, or watch the two small Ford trucks compared in the video below:
