Compare the2022 Ford MaverickVS 2022 Chevrolet Colorado

The Ford Maverick has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Colorado doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Maverick has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Colorado offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Maverick has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Colorado doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Maverick’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Colorado doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Maverick’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Colorado doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Maverick uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Colorado uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Maverick and the Colorado have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Maverick’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Colorado’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Maverick’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Colorado’s camshafts. If the Colorado’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Maverick has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Colorado doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The Maverick’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (250 vs. 200) and 86 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 191) than the Colorado’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Maverick gets better mileage than the Colorado:

Regenerative brakes improve the Maverick (except 2.0 EcoBoost)’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Colorado doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Maverick’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Colorado doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Maverick has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Colorado doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Maverick has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Colorado. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Maverick has fully independent front and semi-independent rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Colorado has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Maverick has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Maverick flat and controlled during cornering. The Colorado’s suspension doesn’t offer stabilizer bars.

The front and rear suspension of the Maverick uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Colorado, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better maneuverability, the Maverick’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Colorado Extended Cab’s (40 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Maverick’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Colorado Long Box Crew Cab’s (40 feet vs. 44.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Maverick has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Colorado Long Box Crew Cab (8.6 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Maverick to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ford Maverick may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1250 pounds less than the Chevrolet Colorado.

The Maverick is 1 foot, 1 inches shorter than the Colorado Short Box Crew Cab, making the Maverick easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction makes the Maverick’s chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction’s stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles. The Colorado doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the Maverick easier. The Maverick’s bed lift-over height is 30.1 inches, while the Colorado Extended Cab’s liftover is 34.2 inches. The Colorado Crew Cab’s liftover is 34.5 inches.

An optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Maverick. The Colorado doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Maverick has a higher standard payload capacity than the Colorado:

The Maverick’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Colorado’s parking brake has to be released manually.

Intelligent Access standard on the Maverick Lariat allows you to unlock the driver’s door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chevrolet Colorado doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Maverick Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Colorado doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Maverick’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Colorado’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Maverick detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Colorado doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Maverick Lariat’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Colorado doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Maverick offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Colorado doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Maverick offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Colorado doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.