The Ford Maverick and Ranger Are Going in Opposite Directions
There could be a sibling rivalry brewing among the Ford truck lineup as the smaller options battle for success. The Ford Maverick is blowing the Ford Ranger out of the water, but is it really the better truck? Let’s see how the 2023 Ford Maverick and 2023 Ford Ranger stack up.
2023 Ford Maverick vs. 2023 Ford Ranger
The 2023 Ford Maverick is increasing sales at a rapid rate as interest in the 2023 Ford Ranger is dwindling. During the first three quarters of 2022, the Maverick sold 38,753 units. During the same time period in 2023, the Maverick sold 42,499 models. This is a 9.67% sales increase.
During the first three quarters of 2022, the Ranger moved 33,380 models, and during the same time period in 2023, it only sold 24,118 models. That’s a 28.73 % year-over-year decrease.
People may have been waiting for the redesigned 2024 Ford Ranger to debut before buying a truck. However, as the 2023 model phased out production, the Maverick increased its output to meet the higher demand.
Also, with the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike, the American plants that assemble the Ranger are closed. The Maverick is assembled in Mexico, so it’s currently not impacted by the strike. You might be able to get a 2024 Maverick before the 2024 Ranger.
Is the Maverick better than the Ranger?
The 2023 Ford Maverick and 2023 Ford Ranger serve different needs, so one isn’t necessarily better than the other. For example, the Ranger has a larger bed. It can tow up to 7,500 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,905 lbs.
With the Maverick, you can tow up to 4,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,564 lbs. The Maverick Hybrid can’t be paired with AWD or the tow package, so it maxes out at 2,000 lbs. The Maverick is designed for city life and more casual loads. The Ranger is a better work truck.
They have a similar amount of passenger space, but the Ranger offers a little more head and hip room in the first and second rows. The Maverick has 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
The Ranger has up to 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space in the interior and up to 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the bed with the six-foot option
Of course, the Ford Ranger is larger at 210.8 inches long and 85.5 inches wide. It has a 21-foot turning radius.
The Ford Maverick is 199.7 inches long and 72.6 inches wide, with a 20-foot turning radius. It’s a little more agile in tight areas.
But the Ranger has up to 9.7 inches of ground clearance and true 4×4 capabilities for off-roading. The Maverick has a ground clearance of up to 8.6 inches and the option for AWD.
Is the Ford Ranger or Ford Maverick more reliable?
The 2023 Ford Ranger has a reliability rating of 87 out of 100 from J.D.Power, while the 2023 Ford Maverick earned a reliability rating of 85. Scores between 81 and 90 are above average, while anything between 91 to 100 is best.
So, both trucks have an above-average ranking, but the Ranger landed two points ahead. The average Ranger is expected to last between 250,000 to 300,000 miles, while the Maverick should reach 200,000 miles.
The standard Ranger engine is the reliable turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder unit with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway.
With the Maverick Hybrid, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with an electric motor and a battery pack to generate 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. The Ford Maverick Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 42 mpg in the city and up to 33 mpg on the highway
Also, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine cranks out 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. It gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 30 mpg on the highway.
The Ranger starts at $27,400, while the Maverick starts at $22,595. The Maverick could be more popular due to its size, cheaper price, and better fuel economy.
However, the Ranger is larger and stronger. Do you think availability or waiting for the 2024 Ranger plays a role in the sales difference? Or is the Maverick better?
