Do you want to get behind the wheel of a pickup truck but want something smaller than what you get with the full-size truck segment? Two popular choices are the Ford Maverick compact truck and the Toyota Tacoma midsize truck. Find out how they measure up in this 2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma comparison.

2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma: What are the differences?

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

Maverick vs. Tacoma: Performance and gas mileage

On the performance front, both pickup trucks offer two engine options. The standard hybrid powertrain in the 2023 Ford Maverick generates 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, and the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. In comparison, the base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2023 Toyota Tacoma generates 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and the available 3.5-liter V-6 engine produces 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.

For efficiency, the Maverick has the advantage. The Maverick Hybrid gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 42 city/33 highway mpg, while the gas-powered Maverick gets a fuel economy of up to 23 city/30 highway mpg. In comparison, the Tacoma has an estimated gas mileage of up to 20 city/23 highway mpg.

Maverick vs. Tacoma: Towing and payload

For towing, the 2023 Tacoma has the advantage. It has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, compared to 4,000 pounds for the 2023 Maverick. Also, the Tacoma can haul a heavier load in the pickup bed, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,685 pounds, compared to 1,564 pounds for the Maverick.

Maverick vs. Tacoma: Off-road capabilities

The Tacoma is a much better choice for off-road use. For one, the four-wheel drive systems offered for the various Tacoma models are more advanced and effective for driving on rugged terrain compared to the all-wheel drive system offered for the Maverick. Also, the all-wheel system is not available for the Maverick Hybrid.

Furthermore, while the Maverick offers a new Tremor off-road package, it doesn’t match the capabilities of the off-road-focused models for the Tacoma, such as the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims.

Maverick vs. Tacoma: Passenger space

Despite the Tacoma being bigger than the Maverick from an exterior dimension standpoint, the pickup trucks offer nearly the same amount of passenger space and can seat up to five people. The Tacoma has a total passenger volume of up to 100 cu-ft, compared to 100.3 cu-ft for the Maverick. 

Maverick vs. Tacoma: Warranty coverage

Both pickup trucks have similar warranty coverage, with the backing of a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, unlike the Maverick, the Tacoma offers a free maintenance plan, with two years or 25,000 miles of coverage.

Maverick vs. Tacoma: Price

Which pickup truck costs more: the 2023 Maverick or the 2023 Tacoma? The price information is not yet available for the 2023 model year, but both trucks will likely only have a slight price increase compared to the 2022 versions. 

The starting price of the 2022 Maverick is $20,995 MSRP, making it the cheapest pickup truck available in the United States. In comparison, the starting price of the 2022 Tacoma is $27,150 MSRP for the Access Cab models and $27,980 MSRP for the Double Cab models.

2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma: Which pickup truck is better?

In this 2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Toyota Tacoma comparison, each pickup truck has various advantages. For the 2023 Maverick, advantages include gas mileage and a lower price. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Tacoma include towing, payload, off-road capabilities, and a free maintenance plan.