Tammy Teal
7/27/2026
The customer service provided was excellent. I will definitely come back to Downtown Ford again in the future.
If a small Ford truck is what you want, this Ford Maverick vs. Ranger guide from Downtown Ford Sacramento is what you need. Below, we cover all the key details, including size, specs, and features. Once you've determined whether the Ranger or Maverick is your ideal next truck, visit us in Sacramento, CA, and test-drive your pick!
| Maverick | Ranger | |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Length (Base) | 199.8 in | 210.6 in |
| Engine |
|
|
| Max EPA-Est. MPG (Cty / Hwy) |
|
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| Max Towing Capacity | 4,000 lbs2 | 7,500 lbs2 |
| Max Payload Capacity | 1,500 lbs3 | 1,767 lbs3 |
| Bed Cargo Volume | 33.3 cu ft | 43.5 cu ft |
| Bed Length at Floor | 4.5 ft | 5 ft |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Max Legroom (1st / 2nd Row) | 42.8 / 36.9 in | 43.2 / 34.6 in |
Dimensions are the first and most obvious difference between the Ford Maverick vs. Ranger.
The Ranger, as we mentioned, is a midsize truck; it measures 210.6 to 210.9 inches long, 75.5 to 79.8 inches wide, and 74.4 to 75.9 inches tall. The Maverick, meanwhile, is a compact model that's 199.8 to 200.9 inches long, 72.6 inches wide, and 67.7 to 69.4 inches tall.
Beyond just size, a key Ranger vs. Maverick difference is that the Maverick is built on a unibody frame (the same as you'd find in crossovers like the Ford Escape), so it combines a more agile form with a smoother, more nimble chassis. The Ranger is a body-on-frame truck, which is the traditional truck-building method; it may take some getting used to if you're new to pickups as a whole.
The Ford Maverick vs. Ranger comparison takes an interesting turn when we move inside these trucks. Both have a five-seat interior. While smaller on the outside, the Maverick has some larger interior dimensions than the Ranger, though the Ranger does have its own interior-space wins.
For example, the Maverick has either 35.9 or 36.9 inches of rear legroom, depending on the configuration; every 2026 Ranger features 34.6 inches of rear legroom. The Ranger has 43.2 inches of front legroom and 41 inches of front headroom, while the Maverick comes with 42.8 inches and 40.2 inches, respectively. Hip and shoulder room are competitive.
To properly compare the Ford Maverick vs. Ranger, we have to look at what makes them trucks: their cargo beds. Both of these pickups offer a single bed size option. Specific dimensions can make things seem close, as the Ranger truck's bed length is 59.6 inches vs. the 54.4-inch-long bed of the Maverick.
However, for outright cargo space, the Maverick has 33.3 cubic feet in its bed, while the Ranger has 43.5 cubic feet of bed-based cargo room. The bed width is mainly responsible for this difference in cargo volume: The Maverick has 42.6 inches of bed width between the wheel housings, and the Ranger has 48.2 inches.
As the smaller, lighter truck, the Maverick is more fuel-efficient than the Ranger; its least-efficient form has an EPA-estimated 21/27 MPG (City/Highway),1 while the most-efficient Ranger delivers an EPA-estimated 21/25 MPG (City/Highway).1
Those fuel economy results don't tell the full story, though. For starters, the Maverick has two different engines, with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder delivering the above-mentioned MPG rating.
The other Maverick engine really sets it apart in the Ford Maverick vs. Ranger showdown: the standard 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder, which delivers an EPA-estimated 42/35 MPG (City/Highway)1 with FWD or up to 40/34 MPG (City/Highway)1 with AWD.
However, the Maverick hybrid has 184 net horsepower and its EcoBoost option has 250 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Ranger offers three EcoBoost engines, all of which are more powerful: a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 270 horsepower, a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 with 315 horsepower, and a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 with 405 horsepower.
Rounding out the Ford Maverick vs. Ford Ranger specs comparison, the Ranger has nearly double the maximum towing capacity of the Maverick. Specifically, the 2026 Ford Ranger can tow up to 7,500 pounds2 in all trims and configurations except for the Ranger Raptor, which instead has a 5,510-pound maximum towing capacity.2
The Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds2 in all configurations with AWD and the 4K Tow Package, or a maximum of 2,000 pounds without that package.2 As this should make clear, the Ranger is meant to be a more capable workhorse for traditional truck tasks, while the Maverick is designed to be an ideal everyday companion for versatile go-getters.
When it comes to payload capacity, the Ford Maverick vs. Ranger comparison is much closer. The Ranger has a maximum payload rating of 1,767 pounds3 with its base 2.3-liter engine, 1,513 pounds3 with its 2.7-liter V-6, and 1,373 pounds3 with the Raptor-exclusive 3.0-liter engine. Both Maverick engines can haul up to 1,500 pounds of payload.3
Maverick vs. Ranger technology features see no compromise on either side. Since there's so much to explore in both trucks, here's a lightning round of tech amenities, starting with the standard benefits of each truck:
For Ford Maverick vs. Ranger upgrades, the following features await in the penultimate Lariat trim of each truck:
Since the Maverick Lariat has a lower starting price than the Ranger Lariat, this round is also a close call.
Continuing the feature fiesta, both of these new Ford vehicles offer the latest in safety and driver-assistance technology, including Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and LED reflector headlamps as standard. Both trucks, too, are available with a massive range of features like a Blind-Spot Information System and Rear Parking Sensors.
Neither side of the Ford Maverick vs. Ranger matchup is unsafe, as both models sport durable foundations and earned top marks in the IIHS Small Overlap Front crash test.4 Plus, with our Ford Ranger and Ford Maverick lease specials, you can easily jump into a model with the available driver-assist upgrades you desire; visit us today at Downtown Ford Sacramento and compare both of these trucks with a test drive!
No, the Ford Ranger is bigger than the Maverick, being a midsize truck vs. a compact pickup. As for specifics, the Maverick is 199.8 to 200.9 inches long and 72.6 inches wide, while the Ranger is 210.6 to 210.9 inches long and 75.5 to 79.8 inches wide.
The Ford Ranger is a body-on-frame midsize truck that's more traditional in nature, while the Ford Maverick is a unibody compact truck that drives more like a crossover SUV. The Maverick, as a result, is more fuel-efficient, but the Ranger is more capable.
The Ford Maverick has better fuel economy than the Ranger, delivering up to an EPA-estimated 42/35 MPG (City/Highway).1 The Ranger provides a maximum of 21/25 MPG (City/Highway).1
7/27/2026
The customer service provided was excellent. I will definitely come back to Downtown Ford again in the future.
1EPA-estimated city/hwy mpg for the model indicated. See fueleconomy.gov for fuel economy of other engine/transmission combinations. Actual mileage will vary. On plug-in hybrid models and electric models, fuel economy is stated in MPGe. MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation.
2When properly equipped. See dealer for details.
3Maximum payload capabilities are for properly equipped vehicles with required equipment and vary based on vehicle configuration, accessories, and option content. Horsepower, torque, payload and towing are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously.
4Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this award, visit https://www.iihs.org.