Compare the2023 Ford MaverickVS 2023 Nissan Frontier

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Maverick is safer than the Nissan Frontier:

	Maverick	Frontier
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	129	371
Neck Injury Risk	22%	29%
Neck Stress	234 lbs.	360 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	148 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	139/49 lbs.	578/791 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	202	407
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	258 lbs.
Neck Compression	47 lbs.	140 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	154/237 lbs.	383/260 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Maverick is safer than the Nissan Frontier:

	Maverick	Frontier
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	150 lbs.	170 lbs.
Hip Force	200 lbs.	317 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	255	351
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	458 lbs.	674 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Maverick, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 3.5% to 4.9% less likely to roll over than the Frontier, which received a three-star rating.

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ford Maverick Hybrid’s reliability 39 points higher than the Frontier and the Ford Maverick is rated 43 points higher than the Frontier.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Maverick is faster than the Nissan Frontier:

	Maverick Hybrid	Maverick EcoBoost	Frontier
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	7 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	15.4 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.7 MPH	88.9 MPH	87.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Maverick
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/33 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		Tremor 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Frontier
	RWD	3.8 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	17 city/22 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Maverick Hybrid’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 stoplights 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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Maverick higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Nissan Frontier (5). This means the Maverick produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Frontier every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Maverick Hybrid 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Maverick’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Frontier:

	Maverick	Frontier King Cab	Frontier Crew Cab
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.1 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.3 inches	11.3 inches

The Maverick stops much shorter than the Frontier:

	Maverick	Frontier
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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 SV/Midnight’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 PRO-X/PRO-4X.

Suspension 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 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).

Chassis

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.

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

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 Frontier King Cab’s liftover is 32 inches. The Frontier Crew Cab’s liftover is 33.4 inches.

Payload and Towing

The Maverick Hybrid (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:

	Maverick	Frontier
Crew Cab	1500 lbs.	1460 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1500 lbs.	1260 lbs.

The Maverick has higher optional payload capacities than the Frontier:

	Maverick	Frontier
Crew Cab	1500 lbs.	1480 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1500 lbs.	1290 lbs.

Ergonomics

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’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Frontier’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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.

The Maverick’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Frontier’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Maverick’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Frontier’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Maverick has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Frontier King Cab doesn’t offer rear vents.

Economic Advantages

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Maverick will be $9541 to $11885 less than for the Nissan Frontier.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Ford Maverick Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Frontier isn't recommended.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its February 2022 issue and they ranked the Ford Maverick XLT higher than the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab.

The Maverick was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. Car and Driver has never chosen the Frontier in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Maverick as the 2022 North American Truck of the Year. The Frontier has never been chosen.

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