Ford Maverick and Ford Ranger: what makes them different?

The Ford Maverick is a new player in the Ford lineup this year. And if you do a quick count, there are now three pickup trucks in the family. The Maverick slips under the Ford Ranger in the lineup, which might suggest that we now have two rugged pickups for those who don't want a full-size model like the F-150.

However, while the Maverick is a very solid product, its purpose is not the same, as its design is different. Here's what sets it apart from its big brother, the Ranger.

The structures

The first thing that is important to understand is that the two models are not based on the same kind of platform. The Ranger's platform is called "ladder", which means it's a real truck structure, more robust and more rigid. With the Maverick, we opted instead for a unibody approach, the same one that serves the Escape SUV. At the end of the day, that translates into very different capabilities on one side and the other because of the strength of the chassis itself.

Towing Capacity

Because of their different structures, each model does not offer the same towing capacity. If you look at the Ranger, you'll find that up to 7500 pounds of equipment can be towed behind it. With the Maverick, the maximum capacity is 4,000 pounds when you have the 2-litre (gasoline) engine under the hood. With the 2.5-liter hybrid engine (gasoline and electric), the capacity is 2000 pounds.

Of course, this is interesting in both cases. It all depends on your needs and the use you want to make of your truck.

Fuel economy

Ford has a history of offering mechanicals that are frugal. However, it's hard to do miracles with a truck whose primary mission is to work hard. That's why with the Maverick, Ford decided to take an innovative approach. In fact, the base version of the model comes with a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine that offers 191 horsepower. What's important to remember about this version is its fuel economy rating. In the city, the Maverick also consumes more than 5.6 liters per 100 km, while its average rating is 6.3 liters in the combined city/highway. This is quite exceptional for a model that offers the same versatility as a regular pickup truck.

As for the rest, it's up to you to decide what interests you; fuel economy or towing capacity? You should also know that the Maverick's road manners are more civilized, more comfortable, because of its structure. With the Ranger, we're more interested in heavy-duty work.

Two very useful vehicles, but for customers with different needs.