2023 Ford Maverick vs 2024 Toyota Tundra

The 2023 Ford Maverick retained its distinctive look, characterized by its blocky front end and headlights, which set it apart within the Ford truck family. The Maverick Tremor variant added a rugged appeal with blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights, along with unique color options like Avalanche Gray. The Tremor package also featured orange tow hooks, updated fender vents, and a new grille with orange accents, enhancing its sporty appearance. Inside, the Maverick's crew cab was dominated by cold, hard plastic, though the Black Onyx seats offered a stylish salt-and-pepper look. Despite the utilitarian materials, the interior design managed to convey a surprisingly highbrow aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Tundra sported a massive grille, designed for powertrain cooling, which contributed to its bold appearance. The truck's industrial design theme, with camo-pattern detailing, emphasized durability and strength. However, the interior was marred by plastic elements that detracted from the overall build quality. The Tundra was available in various cab styles and trim levels, each equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine. The TRD Pro variant, with its hybrid powertrain, offered impressive off-road capabilities and a robust towing capacity. Despite its strengths, the Tundra's interior storage was compromised by the i-Force Max's battery, limiting rear underseat storage and a flat rear cab floor.

The 2023 Ford Maverick was notable for its hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid model featured a CVT and FWD, while the 2.0-liter, 250-hp EcoBoost engine offered an eight-speed automatic transmission and optional AWD. The Tremor package introduced Ford's "Advanced 4WD" system, enhancing off-road adaptability. The Maverick Tremor also boasted special springs, shocks, skid plates, and a 1-inch lift, providing 9.4 inches of ground clearance and improved approach and departure angles. However, the Tremor package reduced towing capacity to 2,000 lbs and payload to 1,200 lbs.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro excelled both on and off-road, thanks to its lighter BBS forged alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and FOX shock absorbers. The standard twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine delivered 358 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid i-Force Max powertrain boosted output to 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The TRD Pro's towing capacity reached 11,175 pounds, with a 1,600-pound payload. A 10-speed automatic transmission and part-time 4WD system with various off-road features further enhanced its capabilities. Despite its strengths, the Tundra's fuel efficiency was lower than expected, averaging 17.1 mpg.

The 2023 Ford Maverick offered ample interior space, with 42.8 inches of front legroom and 36.9 inches in the second row for gas engine models. The hybrid variant had slightly less rear legroom at 35.9 inches. The Maverick's utilitarian design featured a plastic-heavy interior, but upgrades were available, including heated seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Luxury Package added further comfort and tech features, enhancing the overall experience.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra provided a spacious interior, but the i-Force Max's battery limited rear underseat storage and a flat rear cab floor. The Tundra's cargo bed lacked some of the helpful features found in rival trucks, such as adjustable cargo tie-downs and innovative tailgate solutions. Despite these shortcomings, the Tundra offered wide seats and plenty of room, though the driver's seat caused some discomfort on long drives. The TRD Pro's heated and ventilated front seats were appreciated, but getting in and out of the truck was challenging for shorter individuals.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, as an entry-level truck, featured basic tech offerings. The 8-inch infotainment touchscreen was adequate, with standard Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. FordPass Connect provided a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription. The Lariat trim added a 6.5-inch LED driver-information display, additional USB ports, and a power-sliding rear window. The Luxury Package further enhanced the tech experience with an eight-speaker B&O sound system and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Toyota offered generous trial subscriptions to connected services, including Safety Connect, which provided essential safety features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system. Additional tech features included wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera, and trailering assistance.

The 2023 Ford Maverick came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 suite, including automatic high beams, pre-collision assist, and a rearview camera. Additional safety features were available, such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Maverick earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with some concerns about rollover resistance and passenger-side frontal crash performance. The IIHS rated it Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors were available on higher trims. The Tundra's lane-centering assist was less reliable, prompting some drivers to disable it. The NHTSA awarded the Tundra Crew Cab 4WD models five-star ratings, while the IIHS gave it a Top Safety Pick rating, though it received a Poor rating for rear-seat passenger safety in frontal impacts.