Comparing the Ford Maverick to the Honda Civic Might Seem Weird But Ford Asked for It
The 2022 Ford Maverick is what the automotive industry considers a “white space” vehicle. It doesn’t exactly slot perfectly into any segment; doesn’t position itself against any one type of vehicle. In fact, the press release for the Maverick poises it straight against the 2022 Honda Civic in terms of both pricing and fuel economy.
Comparing the 2022 Ford Maverick to a 2022 Honda Civic might seem a little off, but Ford asked for it. So there must be some merit to the comparison, right? This little truck wants to come in and compete with traditional pickup favorites like the Toyota Tacoma.
But it also competes with the two unibody trucks. Both the Honda Ridgeline and the upcoming 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz have a place in the competition as well. However, the 2022 Ford Maverick will also face off against the compact cars of people and stuff moving.
Watch out 2022 Honda Civic, the 2022 Ford Maverick is coming for the compact car segment
The Honda Civic is easily one of the best cars on the market. It places at the top of charts regularly in places like U.S. News and World Report and Kelley Blue Book. So how can the 2022 Ford Maverick dare to compete with the likes of the legendary Civic?
Well, it’s actually quite simple. What do people want? The vast majority of the population wants an affordable vehicle that offers versatility, efficiency, and quality.
Both the Honda Civic and the Ford Maverick deliver on these fronts. However, the 2022 Ford Maverick has a truck bed. Because, well, it’s a truck. Surely this is a clear edge, right?
Compact pickup truck vs compact car: fuel economy comparison
Ford says that the 2022 Ford Maverick gets up to 40 mpg on the highway, 33 mpg in the city, and 37 mpg combined. These numbers are for the standard hybrid powertrain. The fuel economy ratings for the optional 4-cylinder gas-powered model––which gives drivers the option for all-wheel drive––are not yet released.
The upcoming 2022 Honda Civic offers very similar fuel economy ratings. According to U.S. News, the 2022 Honda Civic LX gets 40 mpg on the highway and 31 mpg in the city. Both the Sport and Touring models top out at 37 mpg and 38 mpg, respectively. The least thirsty of the 2022 Civic lineup is the EX model, which gets 33 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.
Room for passengers: does the win go to the Ford Maverick or the Honda Civic?
Up front, the 2022 Ford Maverick offers its passengers 40.3 inches of what Ford calls “effective headroom.” Then it offers 39.6 inches of headroom in the second row. The front and rear of the Maverick offer 42.8 inches of legroom and 35.9 (2.5-liter Hybrid)/36.9 (2.0-liter), respectively. Ford’s new ute provides 100.3 cubic feet of total passenger space.
On the other hand, Honda says the 2022 Honda Civic offers 39.3 inches of headroom up front and 37.1 inches in the rear. This is where it gets interesting. The new Civic may be a compact car, but it offers 42.3 inches of legroom up front and 37.4 inches in the rear. The Civic gives passengers 99.0 cubic feet of total passenger space.
The fact that the Civic is roomier in the rear is a big deal, especially for families that have older kids or young children in car seats. Or, for those that plan to carpool with friends.
Which one is actually better?
These vehicles are starkly similar on paper in many ways. Plus, they both start just over $20 grand when you include the destination fee. It makes absolute sense why Ford is pitting this compact pickup truck against Honda’s famed compact car.
It’s hard to say which one is “better” per se. The 2022 Honda Civic will still appeal to a vastly different audience than the 2022 Ford Maverick. But that doesn’t mean the Maverick won’t steal at least some buyers away from the Civic.
