Compare the2022 Ford MaverickVS 2021 Jeep Gladiator

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Maverick are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Gladiator doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Maverick has standard head airbag curtains for front and rear seats which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and outboard passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. The Gladiator doesn't offer side airbag protection for the head and are only available for the front seats.

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 Gladiator 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 Gladiator 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.

The Maverick’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a lane departure 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 Gladiator 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 Gladiator uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Maverick and the Gladiator have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 25 percent more Ford dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Maverick’s warranty.

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 Gladiator doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 22nd in reliability. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

The Maverick’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 260) than the Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

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

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

The Maverick has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Ford Maverick comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Gladiator.

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 Gladiator doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Maverick’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Gladiator Sport’s standard 75 series tires. The Maverick’s optional tires have a lower 60 series profile than the Gladiator Overland’s 70 series tires.

The Ford Maverick’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Gladiator’s solid front axle, which allows the Maverick’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

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 Jeep Gladiator has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Maverick has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Gladiator.

For better maneuverability, the Maverick’s turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the Gladiator 4x4’s (40 feet vs. 44.5 feet). The Maverick’s turning circle is 5 feet tighter than the Gladiator Mohave’s (40 feet vs. 45 feet).

The Ford Maverick may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 to 1600 pounds less than the Jeep Gladiator.

The Maverick is 1 foot, 6.3 inches shorter than the Gladiator, 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 Gladiator doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Maverick has standard flush composite headlights. The Gladiator has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Maverick has 1.6 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room and 1.6 inches more front shoulder room than the Gladiator.

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 Gladiator’s liftover is 35.4 inches.

The Maverick’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Gladiator has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Maverick’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Gladiator.

The Maverick’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Gladiator’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

The Maverick’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Gladiator.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Maverick’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Gladiator doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost SOS Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 Gladiator doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Maverick has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Gladiator only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Maverick offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Gladiator doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Maverick is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.