The Ford Maverick has been great for the small truck segment. As a compact pickup, it has proven that Americans don’t always want a full-size truck. Outside of Ford, Hyundai is currently the only other brand offering a compact pickup with the Hyundai Santa Cruz. And frankly, it would be nice to see that change. It’s unclear if Ram or Toyota have plans to introduce competitors to the Maverick pickup. But, if these brands did, it would certainly help to diversify the market. And that is a good thing.

Does the Ford Maverick have any competitors?

The clearest rival to the new Maverick is the Hyundai Santa Cruz. While the Santa Cruz may lack the styling of a traditional truck, it certainly has serious utility. Both of these compact pickups are built on unibody platforms. They also offer modern features as well as a pretty affordable price tag. 

In terms of towing, the Hyundai Santa Cruz does have the Ford Maverick beat with a 5,000-pound towing capacity. But, the Maverick is a small truck that is ready for some off-road use with things like its FX4 Off-Road package and the upcoming Tremor variant. Unfortunately, Hyundai does not have a dedicated off-road option for the Santa Cruz. But, according to MotorTrend, it can still handle some use on the trail. 

Does Toyota have a small truck?

The smallest truck that Toyota offers is the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. And, that truck really is not that small. If you compare it to full-size trucks of the past, it is bigger. But, Toyota could enter the small truck roles. Much like Ford and Hyundai borrowed their compact pickup platforms from existing crossovers, Toyota could do that with the RAV4. 

If Toyota did use the RAV4 to make a small truck, it could benefit from a plug-in hybrid system or Toyota’s existing hybrid engines. And if the Maverick is any indication, people do appreciate a pickup with a hybrid powertrain. Because you still get legitimate utility, without taking a huge hit on fuel economy. 

Will Ram make a Ford Maverick competitor?

Along with Ford, Ram is one of the most popular truck brands. But, the brand does lack a small or even mid-size pickup. Surely, the folks at Ram have seen the kind of success that Hyundai and Ford are having with small trucks. There have been rumors that Ram plans to bring back the Dakota or offer something known as the 1200. 

A smaller Ram truck could borrow from the Jeep Gladiator. Doing so would help Ram save money in terms of development costs. 

Can you buy a 2023 Maverick?

Unfortunately, you can no longer order a 2023 Ford Maverick. It seems like almost immediately after orders were opened; Ford was forced to close them.

Hopefully, Ford can get things sorted out with its small truck. But with a product this popular, it can be hard to keep up with demand.