Compare the2022 Ford MaverickVS 2022 Nissan Frontier

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 Frontier 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.

Full-time four-wheel drive is available on the Maverick. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Frontier.

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 Frontier uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Maverick and the Frontier have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, crash mitigating brakes, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much 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 Frontier doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Maverick (except 2.0 EcoBoost)’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Frontier 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 Frontier doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop 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 Frontier doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling 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 Frontier 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 Frontier’s standard 70 series tires. The Maverick’s optional tires have a lower 60 series profile than the Frontier’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Maverick has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Frontier. The Maverick’s optional 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Frontier.

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 Nissan Frontier has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Maverick has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Frontier Crew Cab suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Maverick has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Maverick flat and controlled during cornering. The Frontier King Cab suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Maverick uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Frontier, 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 handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Maverick is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than on the Frontier.

For better maneuverability, the Maverick’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Frontier King Cab 4x4’s (40 feet vs. 42.4 feet). The Maverick’s turning circle is 6.9 feet tighter than the Frontier LWB Crew Cab’s (40 feet vs. 46.9 feet).

The Ford Maverick may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1050 pounds less than the Nissan Frontier.

The Maverick is 10.5 inches shorter than the Frontier 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 Frontier doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The Maverick has .2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Frontier Crew Cab (100.3 vs. 100.1).

The Maverick (except 2.0 Turbo) can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Maverick can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Frontier can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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

The Maverick has higher optional payload capacities than the Frontier:

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Maverick has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Frontier doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

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

The power windows standard on both the Maverick and the Frontier have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Maverick is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Frontier prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Frontier doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry 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 Frontier doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.