For almost 40 years, the Ford Ranger reigned supreme as Ford’s leader in the light-duty pickup market, competing with the likes of the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevy Colorado. The Ranger sold over 7 million units between 1983 and 2011. In 2022, the recently relaunched mid-size Ranger got a new compact sibling, the Ford Maverick. How do the Ford Maverick and Ranger stack up in terms of reliability, price, and quality?
Ford Maverick Vs. Ford Ranger: How Similar Are They?
The Ford Maverick and the Ranger appeal to similar audiences: truck lovers who live in the city and want a more maneuverable and fuel-efficient vehicle. Both trucks offer the versatility needed for hard work, commuting, city life, and weekend getaways. They’re two of the best trucks on the market for people looking for the functionality and fun of an SUV, but who want the extra hauling capacity of a truck.
Now that the similarities are out of the way, what are the differences between the Ford Ranger and the Maverick? The trucks have key differences in size, fuel economy, powertrain, towing capacity, and overall performance.
What Is the Bed Size on the Ford Ranger and the Maverick?
One of the first things truck owners want to know when comparing the Ford Ranger vs. the Ford Maverick is how much cargo capacity they have. A major perk of owning a truck is being able to haul work gear, groceries, water skis, home improvement materials, and anything else you need.
2025 Ford Ranger Specs
The sixth-generation 2025 Ford Ranger is a mid-size pickup truck with rugged features and a large payload:
- Total length: 210.6 inches
- Wheelbase: 128.7 inches
- Width (without mirrors): 75.5 inches
- Height: 73.9 inches
- Bed length: 59.6 inches
- Max cargo capacity: 43.5 cubic feet
The Ranger has a turning circle of 42.5 feet, making it easy to drive. The 9.3 inches of ground clearance isn’t enough for hardcore off-roading, but it’s great for snow, mud, and other difficult conditions.
2025 Ford Maverick Specs
The Ford Maverick’s unibody frame and compact profile help it navigate tight turns, parking spots, and congested spaces smoothly:
- Total length: 199.7 inches
- Wheelbase: 121.1 inches
- Width (no mirrors): 72.6 inches
- Height: 68.7 inches
- Bed length: 54.4 inches
- Max cargo capacity: 43.5 cubic feet
With the Maverick’s turning circle of 40 feet, it’s nearly impossible for other trucks to outmaneuver this city-born and bred model. The 8.3 inches of ground clearance gets the job done for all highway conditions.
How Do the Ford Maverick and Ranger Compare in Towing Capacity?
The bed size on the Ford Ranger and Maverick isn’t the only big difference. Truck owners care about towing capacity, too. Whether you’re looking to haul your boat to the lake or drag a trailer with equipment for your business, you need plenty of power.
The Ford Ranger has a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds. Its base 2.3-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine delivers 310 pound-feet of torque and 270 horsepower, making it perfectly capable of hauling a 6,000-pound boat plus trailer.
The Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds, but you need the optional towing package. Otherwise, the truck maxes out at 2,000 pounds. Its optional 2.0-liter DOHC I-4 gas-powered engine provides a solid 277 pound-feet of torque and 250 horsepower.
Sacrificing half your towing capacity (or more) compared to the Ranger is a hard pill to swallow. Still, 4,000 pounds is plenty for small work trailers with ride-on lawn mowers and similar equipment. A small 20-foot travel trailer for vacation weighs about 3,000 pounds, and a jet ski weighs about 1,250 pounds (with trailer).
Truck Payload Comparison
The payload capacity for the Ranger depends on whether you opt for rear-wheel drive or 4WD. The front-wheel drive model can handle 1,805 pounds, compared to 1,711 pounds otherwise.
The Ford Maverick can handle a 1,500-pound payload. This payload capacity applies to the gas-powered and hybrid models, increasing the versatility of this popular truck. It’s perfectly capable of handling the demands of a work truck while delivering the fuel economy that makes it amazing for city dwellers.
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What Is the Fuel Economy of the Ford Maverick and Ford Ranger?
One of the biggest reasons to buy a Ford Maverick is its spectacular fuel economy, especially for a truck. Standard models come with a hybrid 2.5-liter 191-horsepower powertrain. This engine delivers a whopping 42/35 mpg city/highway on front-wheel drive models or 40/34 mpg for AWD.
The Ford Ranger gets a decent 21/25 mpg city/highway with its standard turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. If you opt for the twin-turbo V-6 and its 315 horsepower, your fuel economy drops to 19/23 mpg. This is closer to what you’d expect from a conventional truck.
How Reliable Are the Ford Maverick and Ford Ranger?
The Ford Ranger has an above-average reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. This puts it near the top of the mid-size truck segment, on par with the Chevy Colorado and ahead of the Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline. The average cost of repairs/maintenance is about $600 a year.
The Ford Ranger has a clean history as far as serious issues are concerned, with many owners praising its durability, reliability, and quality, especially from its 2019 relaunch onward.
The Ford Maverick is still too new to rate comprehensively for reliability. Publications like J.D. Power (85/100) and Car and Driver (10/10) give it high marks, and owners consistently rate it at 4.5/5.0 stars. That said, there have also been dozens of recalls of the 2022 to 2024 models for power module misconfiguration problems.
How Affordable Are Vehicle Protection Plans for the Ford Maverick Vs. the Ranger?
Ford Mavericks from 2022 are scheduled to lose their three-year, 36,000-mile factory limited warranty in 2025, but that doesn’t mean owners have to go it alone. A vehicle protection plan can keep coverage going and even provide coverage for systems that the OEM warranty doesn’t. Thanks to a good quality reputation, both the Ford Maverick and Ranger have plenty of affordable VPP options available. Contact our knowledgeable team for more information today.
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