2022 Ford Maverick vs 2023 RAM 1500

The 2022 Ford Maverick had a conventional pickup look, reminiscent of larger Ford trucks like the F-150 and Ranger, with its larger wheel arches and taillights. However, its front end, featuring large headlights and a grille crossbar, deviated from the typical Ford truck design without making a strong styling statement. The Maverick was smaller than the Ford Ranger, measuring 199.7 inches in length and standing 68.7 inches tall. It used a unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, unlike the traditional body-on-frame construction of larger Ford trucks.

The base Maverick XL came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. The 2022 model year also featured a Maverick First Edition package with unique graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and model-specific wheels and paint colors. The interior design of the Maverick, even in its base form, was notable for its creative use of plastic and multicolored elements, giving it a unique character. The interior featured exposed fasteners and minimalistic door cards, with seats in the base XL sporting a neat weave pattern. Higher trims offered leather upholstery and additional luxury features.

The 2023 RAM 1500, available in quad cab or larger crew cab configurations, offered a choice between a 6-foot, 4-inch bed and a 5-foot, 7-inch bed. The Limited trim, near the top of the eight available trims, featured a $4,145 Night Edition option for a stealthy look with a blacked-out grille, badging, headlamp bezels, mirror caps, and 22-inch black aluminum wheels. Inside, the Limited trim boasted plenty of leather with contrasting stitching, embossed logos, and open-pore wood on the dash. The 12-inch portrait-oriented screen added a unique touch, complemented by chunky volume controls and a Ram logo on the dash.

The 2022 Ford Maverick came standard with a hybrid powertrain featuring a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing a total of 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the EcoBoost offered standard FWD or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The FX4 off-road package for AWD XLT and Lariat trims added features like different suspension tuning, underbody protection, hill-descent control, and specific drive modes.

The Maverick FX4 demonstrated decent off-road capability on a short course, though it was better suited for light off-roading compared to traditional pickups. On pavement, the Maverick's unibody platform provided a smoother ride quality than body-on-frame vehicles. The hybrid powertrain was smoother and more refined, while the EcoBoost offered more towing capability and rambunctious acceleration.

The 2023 RAM 1500 offered drivers a choice between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). The standard engine on lower trims was a 3.6-liter V6 with Ram’s eTorque 48-volt mild hybrid system, while a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with eTorque was optional on lower trims and standard on upper trims. A 3.0-liter diesel engine was available on all but the top TRX trim, which featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The eTorque system provided better fuel economy and up to 130 pound-feet of supplemental torque at takeoff, with the V8 producing 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.

The RAM 1500's V8 engine offered strong performance, with smooth shifts from the eight-speed automatic transmission. The EPA rated the V8 4WD eTorque models at 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. The RAM 1500's coilover rear suspension provided a smooth ride, with an available air suspension further enhancing comfort. The truck's 14.9-inch brake rotors offered confident stopping power, and the steering was accurate with a quick ratio. The RAM 1500 had a maximum towing capacity of 12,750 pounds and could haul up to 2,300 pounds of payload, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was available exclusively in a four-door crew-cab configuration, offering more legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma and slightly more front legroom than the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Maverick excelled in interior storage, with numerous cubbies, under-seat storage, and the Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) for customizable accessories. The 4.5-foot bed offered 1,500 pounds of payload capacity, with features like an in-bed power outlet, tailgate tiedowns, and the FlexBed system for dividers and a false floor. The Maverick's maximum towing capacity was 4,000 pounds (2,000 pounds for the hybrid).

The 2023 RAM 1500 featured numerous storage options, including a two-tiered center console with sliding upper-level cupholders and a lower-level storage cubby. The front seats were heated and cooled, with eight-way adjustments for both the driver and front passenger. The rear seats reclined up to eight degrees, with 45.2 inches of rear legroom in the crew cab configuration. The multifunction tailgate could open like a 60/40 split door or a traditional tailgate, and the optional air suspension lowered the tailgate height to 32.8 inches from the ground. The RamBox storage system integrated into the rear quarter panel provided lockable storage for tools and other items.

The 2022 Ford Maverick featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though not the wireless versions. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard, along with a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to 10 devices. The infotainment system's graphics and functions were basic, but the screen size was decent for the Maverick's price range. The hybrid models included a brake-coaching feature to help drivers maximize energy recovery through regenerative braking.

The 2023 RAM 1500 received a tech upgrade with an available reconfigurable 12-inch gauge cluster, though it was not included in the tester. Lower trims had a standard 5-inch infotainment screen, while mid trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Upper trims offered a 12-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, allowing for dual-function display. The Uconnect system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though there was some lag with the former. The optional Equipment Group 1 added features like a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system. The RAM 1500 Limited also had multiple USB-A and -C outlets, a wireless charging pad, two 115-volt outlets, and a 12-volt outlet.

The 2022 Ford Maverick had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist.

The 2023 RAM 1500 lacked standard advanced driver-assist systems across the board, with features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning being optional or part of a package. The NHTSA gave the 2023 RAM 1500 crew cab an overall safety rating of five stars, while the IIHS rated it Good in most categories, with Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use. The Limited, Longhorn, and TRX trims received Good headlight ratings, while other trims were rated Marginal.