2022 Toyota Tundra vs 2022 Ford Maverick

The 2022 Ford Maverick had a conventional pickup look, reminiscent of larger Ford trucks like the F-150 and Ranger, with its larger wheel arches and taillights. However, its front end was unique, featuring large headlights and a grille crossbar that deviated from other Ford trucks, though it didn't make a particularly strong styling statement. The Maverick was smaller than the Ford Ranger, measuring 199.7 inches in length and standing 68.7 inches tall. It used a unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport crossover SUVs, unlike Ford’s larger trucks that used traditional body-on-frame construction.

The base Maverick XL came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. A special Maverick First Edition package, available only for the 2022 model year, added black graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and model-specific wheels and paint colors. The interior design of the Maverick, even in its base form, was noted for making economical materials look stylish. It featured multicolored plastic, exposed fasteners, and minimal trim pieces, giving it a unique character. The base XL had seats with a neat weave pattern, and higher trims offered leather upholstery. Ford’s design team was praised for creating an interesting and stylish interior without sacrificing affordability.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra marked the start of its third generation, with every part redesigned and engineered anew. It featured a dynamic, expressive exterior with a large hexagonal grille, varying in finish and branding depending on the trim. The TRD Pro trim stood out with “TOYOTA” spelled out in retro letters above an LED strip light and a technical camo pattern on the trim and seat covers. The body’s side styling was chiseled and muscular, with pronounced wheel arches and a neatly tucked-in rear with LED taillamps.

The interior of the Tundra also saw significant updates, with a trend toward more premium materials and amenities. A 14-inch touchscreen display was optional on SR5 and standard on upper trims, while an 8-inch screen was standard on SR and SR5. The Tundra aimed to be a family’s everyday adventure vehicle, with cohesive design elements linking the exterior and interior. The new chassis and suspension improved handling, and the switch from leaf springs to a multi-link rear suspension with outboard-mounted coil springs enhanced ride quality, especially noticeable with an empty bed.

The 2022 Ford Maverick came standard with a hybrid powertrain featuring a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, a single electric motor, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing a total of 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the EcoBoost offered standard FWD or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The FX4 off-road package for AWD XLT and Lariat trims added features like different suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, hill-descent control, and specific drive modes.

The Maverick FX4 performed well on a short off-road course, handling rocky and muddy terrain with ease, though it was noted that hardcore off-roaders might prefer a more traditional pickup. On pavement, the Maverick’s unibody platform provided a smoother ride compared to body-on-frame vehicles. The hybrid powertrain was praised for its linear power delivery and smoothness, while the EcoBoost offered more towing capability and rambunctious acceleration.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra introduced two new engines, moving away from the outgoing 5.7-liter V8. The base engine, the i-Force, was a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with direct gasoline injection, producing 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque (348/405 in SR). The i-Force Max hybrid powertrain added an electric motor-generator to the twin-turbo V6, resulting in 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. Both engines used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD available on all trims except TRD Pro, which had standard 4WD.

Toyota estimated the i-Force models with RWD would achieve 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined, while 4WD models would get 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. The new twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and consistent power delivery, and the new chassis and suspension improved handling and ride quality. The Tundra’s off-road capabilities were enhanced with the TRD Off-Road package, and the TRD Sport package catered to those seeking better on-road performance.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was available exclusively in a four-door crew-cab configuration, offering more legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma and slightly more front legroom than the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Maverick excelled in interior storage, with numerous cubbies, under-seat storage, a large storage bin, and an open door-card design. The FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) allowed for customizable storage solutions, including 3D-printed accessories.

The Maverick’s 4.5-foot bed, though shorter than the Ranger’s, offered 1,500 pounds of payload capacity. It featured an in-bed power outlet, tailgate tiedowns that doubled as bottle openers, and FlexBed features for maximizing bed space. The Maverick’s towing capacity was 4,000 pounds (2,000 pounds for the hybrid), which was less than some crossover SUVs but more than the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra came in Double Cab or CrewMax configurations, both with a five-passenger seating capacity. The Double Cab offered 33.3 inches of rear seat legroom, while the CrewMax provided 41.6 inches. The Tundra featured an aluminum-reinforced composite bed, available in 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8.1-foot lengths, depending on the cab configuration. This new bed saved weight, resisted scratches and dents, and maintained a payload capacity of up to 1,980 pounds.

The Tundra’s towing capacity reached 12,000 pounds, with standard trailer sway control and TOW/HAUL mode. The cabin featured smart storage solutions, such as a sliding tray in the front center armrest and a conveniently placed 12-volt power tap. Toyota’s design focused on buyer convenience, making the Tundra a practical choice for those needing a capable and versatile truck.

The 2022 Ford Maverick featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (not wireless), an 8-inch touchscreen, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The infotainment system’s graphics and functions were basic, but the screen size was decent for the Maverick’s price range. The hybrid models included a brake-coaching feature to help drivers maximize energy recovery through regenerative braking.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra introduced a new infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on SR and SR5 trims and a 14-inch touchscreen standard on Limited and above (optional on SR5). Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all models. The Tundra also offered a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, Toyota Connected services, and a Qi-compatible charge pad. The instrument panel varied by trim, with a combination analog/digital display on lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital panel on higher trims. A 10.1-inch head-up display was available on 1794 and Platinum models.

Off-roaders benefited from the multi-terrain select system with crawl control and downhill assist control, available on 4x4 models. The multi-terrain monitor system provided special camera views to enhance the off-road experience.

The 2022 Ford Maverick had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. All Tundra models came with standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed range dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System, eight airbags, LATCH connectors, and other safety features were also standard. Blind-spot monitor was available on SR5 models and standard on higher trims.