The Ford Maverick and the Chevrolet Colorado are solid choices for pickup truck shoppers. See how they stack up in this 2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado head-to-head comparison.

2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado: What are the differences?

In this 2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Chevy Colorado pickup truck comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, towing, payload, off-road capabilities, passenger space, warranty coverage, and price.

Maverick vs. Colorado: Performance

With its turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four engine, the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado outmuscles the 2023 Ford Maverick. It offers three variants of the turbo inline-four, with each one providing different levels of horsepower (hp) and torque (lb-ft): the 2.7L Turbo (237 hp/259 lb-ft), 2.7L Turbo Plus (310 hp/390 lb-ft), and 2.7L Turbo High-Output (310 hp/430 lb-ft). 

In comparison, the Maverick offers two engine options. Its standard hybrid engine generates 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, and its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.

While the Colorado has more powerful engine options, the Maverick is more maneuverable. This is due to its smaller size, lower weight, and tighter turning circle. 

Maverick vs. Colorado: Gas mileage

The Maverick is an efficient pickup truck, especially for the hybrid model. The Maverick Hybrid gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 42 city/33 highway mpg, while the fully gas-powered Maverick gets a fuel economy of up to 23 city/30 highway mpg. 

We don’t yet know the efficiency ratings of the 2023 Colorado. However, it’s expected to be similar to the 2022 Colorado, which has an estimated gas mileage of up to 20 city/30 highway mpg. 

Maverick vs. Colorado: Towing and Payload

The 2023 Colorado can tow more than the 2023 Maverick. It has a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, compared to 4,000 pounds for the Maverick. Also, the Colorado can haul a heavier load in the pickup bed. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,684 pounds, compared to 1,564 pounds for the Maverick.

Maverick vs. Colorado: Off-road capabilities

The Colorado is better than the Maverick for off-road driving. For one, the four-wheel drive system offered for the Colorado is more effective for driving over challenging terrain compared to the all-wheel drive system for the Maverick. Also, the all-wheel drive system isn’t available for the hybrid version of the Maverick. 

Furthermore, while the Maverick offers a new Tremor off-road package, it doesn’t match the capabilities of the Colorado Trail Boss and ZR2 trims, which are specifically designed for off-road use. 

Maverick vs. Colorado: Passenger space

The 2023 Colorado is bigger than the 2023 Maverick. The larger size of the Colorado doesn’t result in more space for the rear seat passengers, though. It provides 34.7 inches of rear legroom, compared to 35.9 inches for the Maverick. However, the Colorado offers more front seat legroom (45.2 vs. 42.8 inches). 

Maverick vs. Colorado: Warranty coverage

For warranty coverage, both the Maverick and Colorado are backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Maverick vs. Colorado: Price

Which pickup truck costs more: the 2023 Maverick or the 2023 Colorado? With a starting price of $22,195 MSRP, the 2023 Maverick is the cheapest new truck available in the United States. 

For the 2023 Colorado, the official price information is not yet available, but it will likely cost slightly more than the 2022 version. The starting price of the 2022 Colorado is $25,500 MSRP for the Extended Cab models and $27,400 MSRP for the Crew Cab models. The 2023 Colorado only offers Crew Cab models, though.

2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Chevrolet Colorado: Which pickup truck is better?

In this 2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Chevrolet Colorado comparison, each pickup truck has various advantages. For the 2023 Maverick, advantages include maneuverability, an efficient hybrid model, rear legroom, and affordability. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Colorado include more powerful engine options, towing, payload, off-road capabilities, and front legroom.