The 2022 Ford Maverick and the 2022 Toyota Tacoma are two of the hottest pickup trucks on the market right now. The 2022 Ford Maverick is a new compact pickup truck that’s turning heads for a whole lot of reasons. Its small size is a big selling point, as is its affordability – the 2022 Maverick starts at around $20,000. The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is a longstanding top truck known for its technology and off-road skill. It’s no wonder that the newest pickup truck on the market want to stomp all over the Toyota Tacoma. The question is, can it?

Is the 2022 Ford Maverick the same size as the 2022 Toyota Tacoma?

No, the 2022 Ford Maverick definitely isn’t the same size as the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. The 2022 Maverick is a compact pickup truck, which is a large part of its appeal. In fact, there’s a growing group of women and younger car shoppers buying the 2022 Ford Maverick. This represents an increase in a demographic that previously wasn’t largely represented in the truck buyers category.

On the other hand, the 2022 Toyota Tacoma is a midsize pickup truck. You can get either a five or six foot bed in the Tacoma, which is definitely a selling point. The Maverick only comes with a 4.5 foot bed. In addition, you can customize your Tacoma cab, which you cannot do in the Maverick.

The 2022 Maverick is a foot shorter than the 2022 Tacoma, though it offers more legroom. That’s going to be a plus for those who will be transporting passengers as often as they’re transporting goods in the bed of the truck.

The Maverick is more fuel-efficient

It should come as no surprise that the 2022 Ford Maverick is more fuel-efficient than the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. It is, after all, a hybrid pickup truck. The 2022 Ford Maverick comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s matched to a hybrid system, according to Edmunds. That setup makes 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This can come with front or all-wheel drive.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma’s base model has a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. That’s for the base model, the Tacoma SR and the trim level above it, the SR5. You can upgrade the engine on those trims to a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. That engine comes standard on all other Tacoma trim levels, including the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited and TRD Pro.

2022 Toyota Tacoma vs. 2022 Ford Maverick

What’s Wrong With the 2022 Toyota Tacoma’s Reliability?

Another one of the 2022 Ford Maverick’s big selling points is its price. The 2022 Ford Maverick price starts at around $21,490 while the 2022 Toyota Tacoma starts at $28,545 – a full $7,000 less than the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. It even comes with a larger touchscreen infotainment screen than the Tacoma’s at eight inches to the Tacoma’s seven.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma can tow more than the 2022 Ford Maverick. It can tow up to 6,800 pounds while the Maverick can only tow up to 4,000 pounds. In addition, the Tacoma has a max payload of 1,685 while the Maverick has a max payload of 1,500 pounds.

If you’re buying a pickup truck for heavy-duty towing or regular transporting of goods, then you’re probably going to be happier with the Toyota Tacoma. If, on the other hand, you want a pickup truck for occasional truck use or just because you like them, you’ll probably love the Ford Maverick. With its cheaper price, hybrid powertrain, and extra legroom, the 2022 Ford Maverick has a serious chance at taking down the 2022 Toyota Tacoma.