Ford has a highly successful lineup of pickup trucks. Along with the F-150, the Ranger is a longtime favorite. However, over the past year, the Maverick has surprisingly upstaged them. Prospective Ford truck buyers often deliberate between getting either the compact Maverick or the midsize Ranger — and they are both great trucks. However, the 2023 Ford Maverick has one special thing that the 2023 Ford Ranger doesn’t offer: an ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain.

Unlike the 2023 Ford Ranger, the 2023 Ford Maverick has an ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain

The average price of gasoline is not as high as it was earlier in 2022. However, gas is still one of the biggest costs of vehicle ownership. With its standard hybrid powertrain, the 2023 Ford Maverick helps alleviate this financial burden. While pickup trucks have a reputation for being gas guzzlers, the Maverick defies this perception.

The hybrid powertrain in the Maverick combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. This enables the Maverick Hybrid to get a fuel-sipping estimated fuel economy of up to 42 city/33 highway mpg. Excluding EVs, this is the best gas mileage for a pickup truck. The Maverick also offers an available turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. While not as efficient as the hybrid model, it gets a respectable estimated fuel economy of up to 23 city/30 highway mpg.

In comparison, all American-spec 2023 Ford Ranger trucks come equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, with no option for a hybrid. The Ranger gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 21 city/26 highway mpg. Compared to the Ranger, the Maverick Hybrid gets 21 more mpg for city driving and seven more mpg for highway driving. 

Along with saving money on fuel, another benefit of the high gas mileage of the Maverick Hybrid is convenience. With lower fuel consumption, the Maverick Hybrid has a considerably better driving range than the Ranger. This means that trips to the gas station are fewer and far between for the Maverick.

2023 Maverick is also cheaper than the 2023 Ranger

In addition to its ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain, another advantage of the 2023 Ford Maverick is affordability. With a starting price of $22,195 MSRP, the 2023 Maverick is the cheapest new pickup truck available in the United States. With inflation, pickup trucks are getting more and more expensive. However, the Maverick is an affordable option. Furthermore, with its wide array of standard features, it offers excellent value. 

In comparison, the 2023 Ford Ranger has a starting price of $27,400 MSRP. In terms of MSRP, it costs over $5,000 more than the Maverick.

Other benefits of the 2023 Maverick compared to the 2023 Ranger

Along with its high fuel economy and affordability, the 2023 Maverick has a couple of other benefits compared to the 2023 Ranger. With its smaller size, tighter turning circle, and lower weight, the Maverick has greater maneuverability than the Ranger. Also, it features an innovative FLEXBED, which provides owners with many configuration options and DIY solutions. 

However, the most special thing that the 2023 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck has going for it compared to the 2023 Ford Ranger is its ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain. No other gas-powered truck comes close to matching the high fuel economy of the Maverick Hybrid, including the Ranger.