Compare the2026 Ford MaverickVS 2026 Toyota Tacoma

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Maverick uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Tacoma uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Maverick and the Tacoma have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Maverick is safer than the Toyota Tacoma:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Maverick is safer than the Toyota Tacoma:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 2 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Maverick’s warranty.

The Maverick has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ford Maverick Hybrid’s reliability 17 points higher than the Tacoma and the Ford Maverick is rated 30 points higher than the Tacoma.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Toyota.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Maverick 4 cyl. hybrid gas is faster than the Toyota Tacoma turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Maverick gets better mileage than the Tacoma:

Regardless of its engine, the Maverick’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Toyota only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Tacoma Auto.

The Maverick has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Maverick Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Tacoma. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Maverick higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Toyota Tacoma (4 to 6). This means the Maverick produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tacoma every 15,000 miles.

The Maverick has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Maverick’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Tacoma:

The Maverick stops much shorter than the Tacoma:

The Maverick’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tacoma’s standard 70 series tires. The Maverick’s optional tires have a lower 55 series profile than the Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport/Limited’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Maverick offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Tacoma’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Maverick has fully independent front and semi-independent rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Tacoma SR/XtraCab has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Maverick has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Maverick flat and controlled during cornering. The Tacoma SR/XtraCab suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the Maverick uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the Tacoma SR/XtraCab, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Maverick has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Tacoma doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Maverick Lobo AWD handles at .85 G’s, while the Tacoma 5-ft. bed TRD Pro Double Cab pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Maverick Lobo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Tacoma 5-ft. bed Trailhunter Double Cab (27.1 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Maverick’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Tacoma XtraCab’s (40 feet vs. 42.2 feet). The Maverick’s turning circle is 10.6 feet tighter than the Tacoma 6-ft. bed Trailhunter Double Cab’s (40 feet vs. 50.6 feet).

The Ford Maverick may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 1500 pounds less than the Toyota Tacoma.

The Maverick is 1 foot, 1.2 inches shorter than the Tacoma 5-ft. bed Double Cab, making the Maverick easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Maverick is 6.5 inches narrower on average than the Tacoma, making the Maverick easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Maverick 4x4 is 7.2 inches shorter in height than the Tacoma, making the Maverick 4x4 much easier to wash and garage and drive off-road (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the Maverick’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Tacoma doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The Maverick has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tacoma (100.3 vs. 97).

The front step up height for the Maverick is 5.7 inches lower than the Tacoma Double Cab (18” vs. 23.7”). The Maverick’s rear step up height is 6 inches lower than the Tacoma Double Cab’s (18.5” vs. 24.5”).

A low lift-over bed design makes loading and unloading the Maverick easier. The Maverick’s bed lift-over height is 30.4 inches, while the Tacoma’s liftover is 34 inches.

Both the Maverick and Tacoma have bed indentations that accommodate 2x4’s for two-tiered loading, but the Maverick also has indentations to separate the cargo box into three different sections length-wise.

The Maverick has an all welded cargo box to eliminate possible corrosion spots and to provide better chassis stiffness. The cargo box in the Tacoma is bolted through the bed to the frame with large bolts. These bolts are a prime area for corrosion to start as the normal flexing of the truck’s chassis causes them to eat through the finish; they can also snag cargo as it slides in and out.

The Maverick Hybrid (except 2.0 Turbo) can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Maverick can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Tacoma can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Maverick has a higher standard payload capacity than the Tacoma:

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Maverick’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Tacoma doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Safety Connect™ can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Maverick’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Tacoma’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Maverick XLT/Lariat/Lobo/Tremor has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Tacoma doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Consumer Reports® chose the Ford Maverick as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Toyota Tacoma isn't recommended.

The Maverick was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 2 more times in the last 4 years. The Tacoma has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Maverick as their 2026 Truck of the Year. The Tacoma has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Maverick as the 2026 North American Truck of the Year. The Tacoma has never been chosen.