2022 Ford Maverick vs 2023 Jeep Gladiator

The 2022 Ford Maverick stood out with a design that mirrored traditional pickups. Its larger wheel arches and taillights evoked memories of the Ford F-150 and Ranger trucks. The bold grille and significant headlights ventured into a different design territory without making a particularly formidable statement. It was smaller than the midsize Ford Ranger, measuring 199.7 inches in length, nearly a foot shorter than the Ranger. Standing at 68.7 inches tall, it was significantly lower too. Unlike many of Ford's signature trucks, the Maverick featured unibody construction, shared with models like the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport.

The base Maverick XL offered plain 17-inch steel wheels, and moving up the trims introduced 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. Moreover, the limited-edition Maverick First Edition package presented distinct black graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and unique wheels and paint options. The interior design of the Maverick epitomized cost-efficiency blending with style, bringing in multicolored plastic elements and visible fasteners, which injected a sense of character. Additionally, higher trim levels could accommodate more luxurious touches such as leather upholstery and heated seats.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator exuded rugged charm, staying true to its robust Jeep heritage. The new Gladiator Freedom Edition was based on the Sport S trim and featured gloss black wheels and body-colored fender flares. It also included a steel front bumper and rock rails, LED headlights, and premium cloth seats with leather trim. These additions, coupled with unique decals, honored American servicemen and servicewomen, reinforcing Jeep’s patriotic spirit.

Functional high-velocity yellow was added to the color palette, and new enhancements graced the Willys and High Altitude trims. The Gladiator Mojave sported high-clarity front fender flares and off-road-centric design aspects, like Fox shocks, a hood scoop, and orange accents to distinguish it. The angular, robust aesthetic sustained the brand's off-road-ready look, while inside, the Gladiator combined ease of cleaning with practical amenities, such as fabric seats with patterned inserts and orange Mojave lettering. It balanced utility and style acceptably, despite its utilitarian roots.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was equipped with a hybrid powertrain as standard, featuring a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and a CVT. This combination delivered 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged engine offered more power, churning out 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid was available only with front-wheel drive, while the EcoBoost provided front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

The Maverick FX4 package augmented the all-wheel-drive models for off-road conditions, adding specialized suspension, underbody protection, and varied drive modes. Despite testing its prowess on challenging terrains, it fell short for hardcore off-roaders. Yet, its unibody construction facilitated a smooth ride quality over bumps, making it an easier vehicle to maneuver and park compared to large trucks. Opting between powertrains, the hybrid was notably smoother, while the EcoBoost variant relished in delivering more towing capacity and all-wheel drive.

Conversely, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator offered two engine choices: a standard 3.6-liter V6 producing 285 hp, available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, and an optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 pushing out 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. However, the turbodiesel focused more on fuel economy rather than towing. Command-Trac part-time 4WD came standard, while higher trims introduced more sophisticated systems like the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD and Rock-Trac system for Rubicon models.

Performance-wise, the gas V6 complemented with Fox shocks provided a decent 17.3 mpg in combined driving, notably stable during high-speed off-road or urban scenarios. Despite its off-the-line power, passing capability felt underwhelming. The Mojave model, designed for high-speed desert travel, showcased its rugged off-road aptitude with robust suspension. In daily driving, though noisier and less refined, the Gladiator demonstrated commendable durability and resilience in diverse settings, from highways to rugged off-road terrains, embodying a robust yet complex driving experience.

The 2022 Ford Maverick exclusively offered a four-door crew-cab setup, boasting more legroom than the Toyota Tacoma and exceeding the Hyundai Santa Cruz in front-seat legroom. When focusing on interior storage, the Maverick outstripped competitors with its cleverly designed cubbies, under-seat storage, and the innovative Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS). The 4.5-foot bed, though shorter than the Ranger’s, still held a respectable 1,500-pound payload capacity and functional features like an in-bed power outlet and multipurpose tie-downs.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator presented challenges with its elevated ingress and egress, particularly through narrow rear doors. Nonetheless, the crew cab's rear seats provided ample room and comfort. The Gladiator's interior sported practical storage solutions, including door panel netting and various bins. The five-foot cargo bed housed 35.5 cubic feet of storage, with optional features such as a spray-in bedliner and bed power outlet enhancing utility.

Comparing hauling capabilities, the Gladiator’s bed was deeper, supporting up to 1,710 pounds of payload. The Maverick, though less capable in raw numbers, leveraged innovative FlexBed features for versatile cargo management. Towing capacities differed as well, with the Maverick maxing at 4,000 pounds (2,000 for the hybrid) while the Gladiator offered up to 7,650 pounds, making the Jeep more suited for heavy-duty purposes.

The 2022 Ford Maverick came equipped with Sync 3 infotainment, featuring standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, albeit lacking wireless connectivity. The infotainment run through an 8-inch touchscreen, included a built-in WiFi hotspot, and furnished basic functionalities without embedded navigation. Its infotainment was practical, catering effectively to essential needs and making sure essential tech functionalities were covered.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Gladiator presented a tech spectrum ranging from basic to advanced. Standard features included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims boasted an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, connected services, and Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities. Despite advanced capabilities, voice recognition fell short in accuracy. The Gladiator also came equipped with useful off-road-related technology such as Off-Road+ driving mode and the TrailCam camera, adding a layer of functionality suited to its rugged persona.

The 2022 Ford Maverick's safety repertoire featured standard Ford Co-Pilot360, encompassing forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional upgrades introduced adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering, and evasive steering assist. However, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the launch, leaving potential buyers to make educated assumptions.

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator included basic standard safety features, with optional upgrades for enhanced protection. The Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors, addressing the truck’s limited visibility. The optional Advanced Safety Group further provided adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The NHTSA granted the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating, but only three stars for rollover resistance, reflecting average safety results. The IIHS gave its headlights a "Marginal" rating, even when equipped with optional LEDs.