2022 Ford Maverick vs 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2022 Ford Maverick presented a conventional pickup appearance, reminiscent of larger Ford trucks like the F-150 and Ranger, with its prominent wheel arches and taillights. However, its front end diverged from this pattern, featuring large headlights and a grille crossbar that didn't make a particularly strong styling statement. Despite being smaller than the Ford Ranger, the Maverick maintained a substantial presence, measuring 5,073 millimetres in length and standing 1,879 mm tall. It utilized a unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport, differing from the traditional body-on-frame construction of larger Ford trucks. The Maverick's interior was a standout feature, with its multicoloured plastic design and money-saving touches like exposed fasteners, giving it a unique character. Even the base XL trim offered seats with a neat weave pattern, and higher trims added luxury features like leather upholstery and heated seats.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty underwent a visual evolution rather than a revolution, maintaining its robust and imposing presence. It was available in various trims, including XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited, each offering a range of creature comforts. The King Ranch trim, in particular, stood out with its 20-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paint job, and reduced chrome accents. The interior of the King Ranch featured two-tone brown leather, perforated seats with saddle leather and stitching, and the signature Flying W emblem. The F-250 Super Duty was equipped with advanced features like an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium stereo system, auxiliary switches for electronic add-ons, and Pro Power Onboard for 2-kilowatt power output. The Platinum and Limited trims offered additional luxury and technology features, making the F-250 a legitimate luxury truck option.

The 2022 Ford Maverick offered a standard hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, producing a total system output of 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid was available only with front-wheel drive, while the EcoBoost offered all-wheel drive. The Maverick's FX4 off-road package added suspension tuning, underbody protection, and off-road drive modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Maverick's unibody platform provided a smooth ride, akin to a small car or crossover, with better ride quality than traditional body-on-frame pickups. The hybrid powertrain was noted for its linear power delivery and refinement, while the EcoBoost offered more towing capability and spirited acceleration.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty boasted four engine options, starting with a 6.8-litre gas V8 producing 400 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-litre V8 offered 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.7-litre PowerStroke turbodiesel V8 delivered 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. The high-output PowerStroke turbodiesel engine pushed the limits with 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. Power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring optimal performance. The F-250's towing capacity reached a maximum of 18,140 kg (40,000 lbs) with specific configurations, while the max payload topped out at 3,628 kg (8,000 lbs) for the F-350 dually. The Super Duty's advanced towing features, such as Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Trailer Navigation, made towing tasks more manageable and efficient.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was available exclusively in a four-door crew-cab configuration, offering more legroom than the Toyota Tacoma and Hyundai Santa Cruz. Its interior storage was impressive, with numerous cubbies, storage bins, and the innovative Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) for customizable accessories. The Maverick's 1,382 mm (4.5-foot) bed, though shorter than the Ranger's, provided 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of payload capacity. The FlexBed system allowed for creative use of the bed space, with tiedown cleats, indents for dividers, and a multi-position tailgate. The Maverick's towing capacity reached 1,814 kilograms (4,000 pounds) with the 4K Tow Package, offering a useful amount of capability.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty was offered in regular cab, SuperCab, and Super Crew configurations, with bed lengths of 6.75 feet or 8 feet. The SuperCab featured rear-hinged clamshell doors, providing a wide opening for the cab. The F-250's interior was spacious, with numerous cupholders, a massive centre storage bin, and dual glove boxes. The Super Crew model's rear seats folded up, creating a large cargo area. The F-250's bed steps and grip handles made accessing the bed easier, even for taller individuals. The optional Warn winch and soft-opening tailgate added to the truck's functionality and convenience.

The 2022 Ford Maverick featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system, offering standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, though not wirelessly. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard, along with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system's graphics and functions were basic, but the screen size was adequate for the Maverick's price range. The hybrid model included a brake-coaching feature to optimize regenerative braking, though its practical use was debatable.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty's base infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our test model featured a larger 12-inch screen with wireless connectivity options and a logical control layout. The F-250 offered multiple USB ports, a wall-style power outlet, and wireless device charging. The navigation system included Trailer Navigation, optimizing routes based on trailer weight and dimensions, enhancing safety and convenience during towing.

The 2022 Ford Maverick's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional extras included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centring, and evasive steering assist.

The 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty, starting at the XLT trim, came equipped with the Ford CoPilot 360 suite of driver assistance features. Depending on the trim, these included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The F-250's dual-tier power-adjustable trailer mirrors and trailer blind-spot monitoring system enhanced safety during towing. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had crash-tested the Ford Super Duty at the time.