Compare the2024 Jeep GladiatorVS 2023 Ford Maverick

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Gladiator. But it costs extra on the Maverick.

Compared to metal, the Gladiator’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Ford Maverick has a metal gas tank.

Both the Gladiator and the Maverick 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, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Jeep Gladiator weighs 910 to 1468 pounds more than the Ford Maverick. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Gladiator for 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Maverick.

The Gladiator has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Maverick AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Gladiator has a standard 180-amp alternator (240-amp - Gladiator optional). The Maverick’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Gladiator first among midsize pickups in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Maverick was rated third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

The Gladiator’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 94 more horsepower (285 vs. 191) than the Maverick Hybrid’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 35 more horsepower (285 vs. 250) than the Maverick’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Gladiator is faster than the Maverick Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid (automatics tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Gladiator uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Maverick requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Gladiator has 8.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maverick Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (22 vs. 13.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Gladiator has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank (22 vs. 16.5 gallons).

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

The Gladiator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Maverick are solid, not vented.

The Gladiator stops much shorter than the Maverick:

For better traction, the Gladiator has larger standard tires than the Maverick (245/75R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Maverick (285/70R17 vs. 235/65R17).

The Gladiator has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Maverick doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Gladiator 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 Maverick. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Gladiator Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Maverick doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Gladiator’s wheelbase is 16.2 inches longer than on the Maverick (137.3 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Gladiator is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Maverick.

The Gladiator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.8% to 47.2%) than the Maverick’s (58.8% to 41.2%). This gives the Gladiator more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Gladiator Sport has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Maverick (10 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the Gladiator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Gladiator Mojave’s minimum ground clearance is 2.2 inches higher than on the Maverick Tremor (11.6 vs. 9.4 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Gladiator Overland is quieter than the Maverick XLT AWD (37 vs. 39 dB).

The Gladiator has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Maverick (102.9 vs. 100.3).

The Gladiator has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maverick.

The Gladiator has a much larger cargo box than the Maverick shortbed (35.5 vs. 33.3 cubic feet).

The Gladiator’s cargo box is larger than the Maverick’s in almost every dimension:

The Gladiator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Maverick’s (4000 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Maverick is only 4000 pounds. The Gladiator offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

All models of the Gladiator can be flat towed on all four wheels, allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Gladiator can be unhitched and driven around locally. Only the Maverick Hybrid can be dinghy towed.

The Gladiator has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Maverick (1710 vs. 1500 lbs.).

The engine in the Gladiator 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.

The Gladiator’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Maverick does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Gladiator’s available front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Maverick’s passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Gladiator’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Maverick doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Both the Gladiator and the Maverick offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Gladiator has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Maverick doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Insurance will cost less for the Gladiator owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Gladiator will cost $190 less than the Maverick over a five-year period.

The Gladiator will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Gladiator will retain 67.98% to 71.1% of its original price after five years, while the Maverick only retains 62.71% to 66.73%.

The Jeep Gladiator outsold the Ford Maverick by 3485 units during 2022.