Compare the2025 Ford MaverickVS 2025 Nissan Frontier

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
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 optional 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, 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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Maverick is safer than the Frontier Crew Cab:

	Maverick	Frontier
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	.79 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	7 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Injury Criterion	295	427
Head Peak Forces	no contact	88 G’s
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	156 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

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 37 points higher than the Frontier and the Ford Maverick is rated 48 points higher than the Frontier.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Maverick second among midsize pickups in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Frontier was rated third.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Maverick 4 cyl. hybrid gas is faster than the Nissan Frontier:

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

Fuel Economy and Range

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.

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 Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Frontier. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Maverick	Frontier
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11.3 inches

The Maverick stops much shorter than the Frontier:

	Maverick	Frontier
60 to 0 MPH	113 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 55 series profile than the Frontier SV/SL’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 S. The Maverick’s optional 19-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 average track (width between the wheels) on the Maverick is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the track on the Frontier.

The Maverick AWD handles at .78 G’s, while the Frontier LWB SV Crew Cab 4x4 pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

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 800 to 1200 pounds less than the Nissan Frontier.

The Maverick is 10.4 inches shorter than the Frontier Crew Cab, making the Maverick easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Maverick’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing 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 30.4 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.	1490 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1500 lbs.	1330 lbs.

Ergonomics

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.

The Maverick Lariat/Tremor’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Frontier’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

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’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.

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

The Maverick will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Maverick will retain 62.71% to 66.73% of its original price after five years, while the Frontier only retains 53.06% to 59.12%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Ford Maverick 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 2024 and 2023. The Frontier has never been chosen by Car and Driver 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.

The Ford Maverick outsold the Nissan Frontier by 62% during 2023.

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