2021 Ford Ranger vs 2022 Ford Maverick

The 2021 Ford Ranger was available in two styles: SuperCab (extended cab) and SuperCrew (crew cab). SuperCabs came with a six-foot cargo bed, while SuperCrews had a five-foot cargo bed. The trim levels included XL, XLT, and Lariat, all powered by the same turbo four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD).

Our test model was a SuperCrew Lariat, with the Tremor Off-Road Package, a spray-in bedliner, and a SecuriCode keyless entry pad, resulting in a price of $46,865, including a $1,195 destination charge. The Tremor package gave the Ranger a subtle but noticeable stance, thanks to its unique 17-inch dark gray wheels and 32-inch all-terrain tires. The off-road capabilities were further highlighted by red grille accents, front and rear tow hooks, off-road hoop-style side steps, and “Tremor” graphics, giving it a purposeful look. Inside, the Lariat trim and Tremor’s simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches made this the most well-equipped Ranger available.

The Ranger’s cabin featured a clean and contemporary design. It offered simple radio and climate controls, partial digital instrumentation, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and switchgear comparable to a Lincoln. The use of hard plastic was predominant but managed to avoid the cheap look and feel commonly associated with it.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Maverick sported a conventional pickup design reminiscent of larger Ford trucks, complete with large wheel arches and taillights similar to the F-150 and Ranger. However, the front end deviated with large headlights and a grille crossbar, making a distinctive statement. Measuring 199.7 inches in length, the Maverick was nearly a foot shorter than the Ranger and stood 68.7 inches tall, making it 4.6 inches shorter. Unlike the Ranger's body-on-frame construction, the Maverick utilized a unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport.

The base Maverick XL featured 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. The Maverick First Edition package, available only for the 2022 model year and based on the Maverick Lariat trim, included black graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and unique wheels and paint colors. Luxury packages on XLT and Lariat trims provided premium features like a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and heated seats.

Inside, the Maverick went for a "cheap cool" vibe, using multicolored plastic, incorporating speckled plastic that resembled playground equipment. Exposed fasteners and minimally trimmed door cards added to the character, while the base XL trim boasted seats with an intriguing weave pattern, with leather upholstery available on higher trims. The Maverick’s interior turned affordability into an advantage, making a style statement with its creative design.

The 2021 Ford Ranger was equipped with a single powertrain option: a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This configuration produced a robust 270 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The muffled chuffing engine note added a unique character to the Ranger. It also offered a rotary dial on the center console to switch between 2-Hi, 4-Hi, or 4-Lo driving modes. The Tremor version came with a Terrain Management System featuring settings for Normal, Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Grass/Gravel/Snow, as well as an electronic locking rear differential and Trail Control.

The Tremor Off-Road Package included an upgraded off-road suspension with revised springs and Fox off-road performance shocks. This setup provided 9.7 inches of ground clearance and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, complemented by a standard front bash plate and underbody skid plates for protection. Depending on its configuration, the Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul a maximum payload of 1,860 pounds. However, in the Tremor specification, the maximum payload reduced to 1,430 pounds. The EPA rated it at 19 mpg in combined driving, with 19 mpg in the city and on the highway. Our testing yielded an average of 18.5 mpg.

Driving the Ranger was enjoyable, with swift acceleration and refined performance. The Tremor's suspension delivered a smooth ride on paved roads and maintained steady progress off-road thanks to Trail Control. The Ranger Tremor proved more maneuverable and capable compared to rivals like the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro on challenging trails.

The 2022 Ford Maverick offered two powertrain options: a standard hybrid setup with a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), delivering a combined 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The hybrid version was only available with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the EcoBoost offered standard FWD or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The FX4 off-road package, available on AWD XLT and Lariat trims, added various off-road enhancements, including different suspension tuning, underbody protection, hill-descent control, and specific drive modes for Mud/Ruts and Sand terrains.

Testing the Maverick FX4 demonstrated its off-road capabilities, although it wasn't aimed at hardcore off-road enthusiasts. On pavement, the Maverick's unibody platform provided a ride quality similar to small cars or crossovers, avoiding the common bump shudder experienced in body-on-frame vehicles. The tall hood impacted forward visibility slightly, but large exterior mirrors and low door sills made it easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

The hybrid was noted for its smooth and refined power delivery, offering a more pleasant driving experience compared to the turbo-four. However, the EcoBoost provided options like AWD, higher towing capacity, and more spirited acceleration.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor featured sturdy hoop-style step bars with a granular surface for traction. These high-mounted bars were less useful for shorter individuals and posed a scraping risk for taller passengers. The SecuriCode keyless entry system allowed for locking and unlocking the doors via a passcode and was a practical addition for adventurers. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and six-way power passenger seat provided comfort, though tall drivers might find the seating position less accommodating. Rear-seat space was more comfortable than most competitors except the Honda Ridgeline but lacked air conditioning vents and a powered sliding rear window.

The Ranger offered decent storage, but the single-piece lifting design of the rear-seat cushion hindered access to the storage bins underneath. The tailgate, undampened and slamming down, was light and easy to use. Cargo bed capacity was 43.3 cubic feet for the SuperCrew model and 51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs, with four tie-down hooks but limited built-in cargo solutions.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was exclusively available in a four-door crew-cab configuration. It offered more front legroom than the Hyundai Santa Cruz and more rear legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma. The Maverick’s interior storage was impressive, with cubbies, large storage bins, cupholders, and an open door-card design with clips for large water bottles. The FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) included slots for various accessories, with future 3D printing possibilities.

The Maverick’s bed, at 4.5 feet, was shorter than the Ranger's but still provided a 1,500-pound payload capacity, an in-bed power outlet, and multi-purpose tailgate tiedowns. The FlexBed features, which included tiedown cleats, indents for dividers, and instructions for customization with basic tools, allowed owners to maximize the smaller bed space. The multi-position tailgate facilitated the transport of large sheets of plywood. The Maverick's towing capacity was 4,000 pounds for the EcoBoost (2,000 pounds for the hybrid), less than some crossover SUVs but useful for many tasks and higher than the Hyundai Santa Cruz's maximum payload.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and various connectivity options like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Additional features included voice recognition, Ford + Alexa, FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot, and navigation. However, the voice recognition was inconsistent during testing. The initiative to incorporate basic climate control commands added convenience to the system's interface. A Bang & Olufsen premium sound system enhanced the audio experience in the Ranger Tremor.

The 2022 Ford Maverick also featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, which included essential functions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, minus the wireless versions. The Maverick provided a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to 10 devices. Despite the basic graphics and functionality, the Maverick's system was straightforward and in harmony with the vehicle's affordable price tag. The hybrid variant included a brake-coaching feature to optimize regenerative braking but this might not be a highly utilized feature in everyday driving scenarios.

The 2021 Ford Ranger was equipped with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The lane-departure system provided subtle warnings through the steering wheel. Additional safety features consisted of a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert (including trailer coverage) and adaptive cruise control, though it lacked full-stop or stop-and-go capabilities. Visibility was enhanced with a reversing camera and, depending on the configuration, rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and a de-icer system. Front and rear parking sensors helped with maneuvering in tight spaces.

The Ranger received a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with top scores in various categories but a three-star rating for rollover resistance. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests, the Ranger performed well, though it received an "Acceptable" rating for front-passenger protection in the small-overlap frontal-impact test and a "Marginal" rating for its headlights.

The 2022 Ford Maverick had yet to be rated by the IIHS and NHTSA at the time of publication. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional safety features encompassed adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist.