Nissan Frontier vs Ford Maverick

The 2025 Ford Maverick presented a fresh yet familiar design, maintaining its chunky styling and large wheel arches reminiscent of larger Ford trucks like the Ranger and F-150. The removal of the crossbar that previously bisected the headlights gave it a more conventional look, opening up the grille with various designs depending on the trim level. The Maverick offered several trim levels, including the base XL, XLT, and Lariat, along with specialty models like the Tremor and Lobo. The Tremor was an off-road model with dedicated suspension tuning, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a twin-clutch rear drive unit for its AWD system. The Lobo, a new addition for 2025, paid tribute to the street truck trend with a cleaner front fascia, painted rear bumper, side skirts, and 19-inch wheels, emphasized by lowered suspension. The Maverick's interior, even in the base XL model, featured neat details like multicolor trim and exposed screwheads, creating a fun design and high-quality feel.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier was available in S, SV, Pro-X, and Pro-4X trim levels, with the Frontier S offering both King Cab and crew-cab styles. The Pro-4X came standard with four-wheel drive, while other models defaulted to rear-wheel drive. A new Dark Armor option package debuted for the Frontier SV, adding black wheels and blacked-out detailing. The Pro-4X model, which was tested, featured a rugged look with a black nose, bold wheels, and big overfenders. Inside, the Pro-4X had a mix of red accents, gloss-black detailing, and purposeful grab handles, emphasizing its off-road capabilities. The dashboard had a traditional control layout with large knobs and buttons, making it easy to use even with gloves. Modern tech was integrated where it made sense, such as the new control cluster for Terrain modes, a 7-inch digital driver display, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2025 Ford Maverick offered two powertrain options, with notable changes to drivetrain configurations. The standard hybrid powertrain was available with front-wheel drive or AWD, while the non-hybrid powertrain was AWD-only. The hybrid used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and CVT, producing 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.0-liter Ecoboost turbocharged engine delivered 238 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, except for the Maverick Lobo, which used a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Lobo's unique features included lowered suspension, dual-piston front brake calipers, an upgraded cooling system, and a track-focused drive mode. The Maverick's unibody platform provided a passenger-car-like ride, with the Lobo offering a sporty character and excellent handling on winding roads.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This V6 provided a stout response and made the Frontier feel powerful in daily driving. The Pro-4X model averaged 18.3 mpg on a test loop, beating the EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined. The Frontier's towing capacity topped out at 7,150 pounds, while the payload rating reached up to 1,590 pounds, depending on the configuration. The Pro-4X came equipped with standard 4WD, all-terrain tires, Bilstein off-road shocks, and a Terrain mode selector. On the road, the Pro-4X handled speed humps well, but the stiff suspension caused significant structural shudders over speed bumps. The hydraulic power steering required some muscle, but the Frontier performed better than expected on twisty roads, with good grip from the Hankook Dynapro all-terrain tires.

The 2025 Ford Maverick had a base towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, which could be increased to 4,000 pounds with the optional 4K Towing Package, except for the Lobo and Tremor models. The hybrid models had a payload capacity of 1,400 pounds with AWD and 1,500 pounds with FWD. The Maverick's 4.5-foot bed featured specially-designed pockets for cargo dividers, a 110-volt outlet, and pre-wired 12-volt connections. The tailgate could be locked at an angle to accommodate larger cargo, and a bed extender was available. Inside, the Maverick offered ample storage with intricately molded in-door cubbies and mounting points for 3D-printed accessories. The unibody platform provided similar headroom and legroom across both rows as the larger Ford Ranger.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system, an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Pro Premium Package added leather upholstery and a power sunroof. The driver's seat was supportive for long drives, but the back seat was cramped with an uncomfortable backrest angle. Front-seat storage was good, with a dash-top tray, bottle holders, and a center storage bin. The rear seat flipped up for underseat storage or folded down for a level loading area. The Pro Convenience Package included a spray-on bedliner, adjustable cargo tie-down system, LED bed lighting, and a 120-volt power outlet in the bed.

The 2025 Ford Maverick upgraded to the Sync 4 infotainment system with a standard 13.2-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous eight-inch screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a new eight-inch digital instrument cluster. The tech was straightforward, but the reliance on the touchscreen for temperature and seat heaters was less user-friendly. The Maverick borrowed towing tech from Ford’s bigger trucks, with Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist available on the Lariat and Tremor models.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier featured a 7-inch digital driver display between analog gauges, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The test truck included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and NissanConnect services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Pro Convenience Package added a wireless smartphone charger, while the Pro Premium Package included a navigation system and a 10-speaker Fender audio system. The infotainment system's digital voice assistant was less effective, leading to reliance on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2025 Ford Maverick offered standard forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams on the base XL. Upgrading to the XLT added lane-keep assist and lane-departure warning, while the Lariat or Tremor included adaptive cruise control. A 360-degree camera system was a new option for 2025. The Maverick received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests. The IIHS gave it a "Good" rating in the updated side crash test but only a "Marginal" rating in the moderate overlap front test.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier included standard driver-assistance systems like automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and more. The Pro Convenience Package added a surround-view camera system. ProPilot Assist was unavailable, but the lane-departure warning system was effective. The Frontier received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with a five-star side-crash rating. The IIHS offered a mix of "Good" and "Acceptable" ratings, but results for the small overlap frontal-impact crash test were not available.