Compare the2023 Toyota TacomaVS 2022 Ford Maverick

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

The Tacoma has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Maverick doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Tacoma’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Maverick.

The Tacoma offers an optional Panoramic View/Multi-Terrain Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Maverick only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Tacoma and the Maverick 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tacoma the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 183 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Maverick has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tacoma for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Maverick.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

The Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 28 more horsepower (278 vs. 250) than the Maverick’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Tacoma V6 is faster than the Ford Maverick turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Tacoma uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Maverick requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Tacoma has 7.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maverick Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (21.1 vs. 13.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tacoma has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank (21.1 vs. 16.5 gallons).

The Tacoma offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Maverick doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Tacoma stops shorter than the Maverick:

For better traction, the Tacoma has larger standard tires than the Maverick (245/75R16 vs. 225/65R17). The Tacoma TRD Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Maverick (265/65R17 vs. 235/65R17).

The Toyota Tacoma’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Maverick only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tacoma Short Bed Double Cab’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the Maverick (127.4 inches vs. 121.1 inches). The Tacoma Long Bed Double Cab’s wheelbase is 19.5 inches longer than on the Maverick (140.6 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

The Tacoma’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Maverick’s (58.8% to 41.2%). This gives the Tacoma more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Tacoma has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Maverick (9.4 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the Tacoma to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Tacoma Short Bed Limited 4x4 is quieter than the Maverick XLT AWD (69 vs. 70 dB).

The Tacoma Double Cab shortbed has a much larger cargo box than the Maverick shortbed (34.8 vs. 33.3 cubic feet).

The Toyota Tacoma has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. The Ford Maverick doesn’t offer a tailgate assist.

The Tacoma’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Maverick’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Maverick is only 4000 pounds. The Tacoma Access Cab offers up to a 6800 lbs. towing capacity.

The Tacoma has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Maverick (1685 vs. 1500 lbs.).

The engine in the Tacoma is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Maverick. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Consumer Reports rated the Tacoma’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Maverick’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Tacoma has standard power remote mirrors. The Maverick XL doesn’t offer either a remote driver side or passenger side mirror. The driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Tacoma’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Maverick.

The Tacoma (except SR)’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Maverick’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Toyota Tacoma comes in extended cab and crew cab bodystyles; the Ford Maverick isn’t available as an extended cab.

The TRD Off-Road was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2016 4x4 of the Year. The Maverick has never been chosen.