2022 Ford Maverick vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular looks of the F-150 midsize pickup to the next level. Larger in every way, Super Duty models truly looked like heavy-duty trucks. This styling wasn't just for show, as Super Duty trucks carried many upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. Long bed lengths allowed for better cargo hauling, and the trucks' tall ride height gave them better ground clearance for climbing over tough terrain or navigating a messy job site. The trucks featured giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and bodywork that could stand up to taking a beating on a daily basis.

Depending on the cab configuration, the Super Duty's cabin ranged from tight and utilitarian to spacious and plush. The base XL trim offered good headroom and legroom but was otherwise a stripped-down work truck. Lower trims got simple cloth upholstery, but higher trims, such as the Super Duty Limited, could be decked out with leather and upscale finishes that rivaled the quality of many luxury cars.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Maverick looked like a conventional pickup, following the styling lead of larger Ford trucks with larger wheel arches and taillights reminiscent of the F-150 and Ranger. However, the front end broke that pattern with large headlights and a grille crossbar that didn't make a particularly strong styling statement. The Maverick was smaller than the current Ford Ranger midsize truck, standing 68.7 inches tall and measuring 199.7 inches long, almost a foot shorter than the Ranger. Unlike Ford’s larger trucks, which used traditional body-on-frame construction, the Maverick shared the C2 unibody platform with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport crossover SUVs.

The base Maverick XL got 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trim levels got 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. Available for the 2022 model year only, a Maverick First Edition package based on the Maverick Lariat trim added black graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and model-specific wheels and paint colors. Luxury packages available on XLT and Lariat trims added perks like a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and heated seats. Even for the base Maverick, the interior design made cheap cool, with multicolored plastic and money-saving touches like exposed fasteners and minimal trim pieces giving the interior character.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains. The base engine was a 6.2-liter V8 producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-liter V8 was available, producing 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. A 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was also available, rated at 475 hp and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines came paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Super Duty trucks came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) but could be upgraded with four-wheel drive (4WD). The Ford F-350 could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity specs extended to 4,060 pounds in some configurations, and towing could reach over 36,000 pounds for models with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 engine offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain.

With options, the Super Duty could become a capable off-roader. Super Duty Tremor models featured factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling. The EPA did not require fuel-economy ratings for heavy-duty trucks or commercial vehicles, so the Super Duty trucks didn't have an official number in that arena. However, mpg levels were expected to drop considerably during towing or while hauling heavy loads.

The 2022 Ford Maverick got a standard hybrid powertrain based around a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, which worked with a single electric motor and continuously variable transmission (CVT). Total system output was 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque and got an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Maverick hybrid was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the EcoBoost got standard FWD or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). An option FX4 off-road package for the AWD XLT and Lariat added different suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, hill-descent control, and Mud/Rut and Sand drive modes. All-terrain tires could be added to FX4 models at extra cost.

The Maverick FX4 easily handled a rock-strewn hill and a muddy track, offering more off-road capability than most crossover SUVs in its price range. Thanks to its unibody platform, the Maverick drove more like a small car or crossover on pavement, with ride quality that was a step above most other pickups. The tall hood impacted forward visibility a bit, but large exterior mirrors and low door sills helped when maneuvering in tight spaces. The hybrid powertrain felt smoother and more refined than the turbo-four, but the EcoBoost powertrain brought the option of all-wheel drive, more towing capability, and rambunctious acceleration.

Despite being built with a focus on hardcore utility, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered plenty in the way of creature comforts. The front seats came in a 40/20/40 folding bench setup as standard, providing the driver and front passenger with a comfortable armrest with cupholders. Crew Cab and Super Cab models offered generous rear seats with easy access through the trucks' huge doors. However, the Super Duty trucks were much more at home on job sites than cruising tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, while their large doors and tall ride height made entering and exiting a real pain at times. From behind the steering wheel, the F-250's flat hood and towing height could make it feel like driving a bulldozer. Loading child seats and entering the truck could be difficult, though running boards helped somewhat.

Ford's heavy-duty pickups also offered a clever tailgate design that could be optioned with steps and a handle for easy entry into the bed. It wasn't as elaborate as the tailgate functions on the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks but worked well for its intended purpose.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was available exclusively in a four-door crew-cab configuration. It offered more legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma and slightly more legroom for the front seats than the similarly-constructed Hyundai Santa Cruz, as well as more rear legroom in 2.0-liter EcoBoost form. However, the Hyundai offered more headroom and shoulder room in both rows. When it came to interior storage, the Maverick excelled, with lots of places for small items, including cubbies behind and next to the touchscreen, and on the center console. Ford also included storage space under the rear seats, a large storage bin and cupholders, and an open door-card design with clips for large water bottles. The FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) slots could hold different accessories, and Ford planned to publish measurements for the FITS slots so customers could 3D-print their own accessories.

The 4.5-foot bed was half a foot shorter than the bed on a crew-cab Ranger but still offered 1,500 pounds of payload capacity. The Maverick also boasted an in-bed power outlet and tailgate tiedowns that doubled as bottle openers. Engineers devised a group of features called FlexBed to get the most out of the smaller bed space, including tiedown cleats, indents for dividers or a false floor, and a multi-position tailgate. The Maverick’s 4,000-pound maximum towing capacity (2,000 pounds for the hybrid) was less than some crossover SUVs but still provided a useful amount of capability. It was also more than the Hyundai Santa Cruz, although the Hyundai had greater maximum payload capacity.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Menus were clearly labeled and did not require several taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use daily. The base XL trim got a non-touch display as standard, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trim levels. The system ran Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims got upgraded audio systems. The trucks were available with various tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches for accessories and other powered gear, and more. Ford also offered a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks that could quickly raise the cabin temperature before the engine warmed enough to provide heat.

The 2022 Ford Maverick, as an entry-level vehicle, got the older Sync 3 infotainment system rather than the latest Sync 4 system. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but not wireless versions. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard, along with a built-in WiFi hotspot that could support up to 10 devices. The infotainment system’s graphics and functions were fairly basic, but the screen size was decent considering the Maverick’s pricing. Ford also included a large slot for phones (with available wireless charging) and a stand-up slot with space to thread a cable to the USB port above. The Maverick didn’t break new ground in infotainment tech, but Ford nailed the basics. Hybrids also got a brake-coaching feature that judged drivers’ use of the regenerative braking, designed to help get the most out of the hybrid system.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though many were available as added-cost upgrades or for higher trims. A trailer tow package brought special camera views and Ford's excellent Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alerts, and more were all available. Super Duty trucks were considered commercial vehicles and were not crash tested in the same way that light-duty trucks, such as the Ford F-150, were. As such, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not issued scores for the trucks.

The 2022 Ford Maverick had not yet received crash-test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which was typical for new models. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional extras included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist.