So you’ve narrowed your options down to the 2024 Ford Maverick and Toyota Tacoma, but you’re still not sure which truck has more of what you want. Luckily, our comparison guide is here to lay out their pros and cons. Before the end, you’ll know which is better suited to your personal lifestyle, Ford’s thrifty compact truck or Toyota’s redesigned midsize truck!
Key Takeaways
- With a price that starts at $23,815, the 2024 Maverick offers major savings over the Tacoma’s $31,500 MSRP.
- Thanks to its unibody design and roomy cabin, the Maverick is big on everyday comfort.
- To tow and haul the heaviest loads, you need the Toyota Tacoma.
- Thanks to its hybrid powertrain, the Maverick maximizes your fuel budget.
What is the Starting Price of the 2024 Ford Maverick?
With a starting price of just $23,815, the 2024 Maverick has mass appeal. In spite of its budget-friendly price, Ford’s compact truck comes standard with many of the same features as the Tacoma, including LED headlights and smartphone-friendly infotainment technology. The entry-level Maverick even comes standard with more power than the base Tacoma!
With its stronger frame and extra-powerful engine options, the 2024 Tacoma has a much higher MSRP, starting at $31,500. Although it doesn’t add much to the base Maverick in terms of features, it remains the best choice for drivers who want to tow and haul more weight than the Maverick can handle (see below).
Is the 2024 Ford Maverick Comfortable?
The Maverick not only comes at a great price, but it also delivers everyday comfort. Every trim model comes standard with a roomy SuperCrew cabin, which delivers more front-seat space compared to the Tacoma’s Double Cab crew cabin. The Maverick’s three trim models offer increasingly longer lists of creature comforts, with available leather upholstery, wireless smartphone charging, and heated front seats.
The Tacoma can be configured with one of two cabin options, a two-door extended cab (XtraCab) or four-door crew cab (Double Cab). Although the Maverick delivers extra front-seat passenger space, the Tacoma has bragging rights to its own roomy cabin. We just wish its front-seat bottoms were a little more generously cushioned! The Tacoma is available with a similar list of upgrades, including dual-zone automatic climate control and a premium sound system.
How Much Can the 2024 Toyota Tacoma Tow?
The midsize Tacoma is a weight class above compact Maverick, therefore it offers stronger towing and hauling capabilities. Although the Maverick comes standard with more power than the base Tacoma, higher Tacoma trim models take the lead, delivering up to 326 horsepower. Properly equipped, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,500 pounds or haul payloads of up to 1,709 pounds.
Availability for the Tacoma’s three engines varies according to trim model:
- Base, SR: turbo 2.4L four-cylinder engine (228 hp, 243 lb-ft)
- TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited: high-output 2.4L four-cylinder engine (278 hp, 317 lb-ft with automatic or 270 hp, 310 lb-ft with manual transmission)
- TRD Pro, Trailhunter (and optional for the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited): i-Force Max hybrid powertrain (326 hp, 456 lb-ft)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Optional six-speed manual transmission
- Rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive
The 2024 Maverick comes standard with its most powerful engine option, supplying 250 horsepower at no extra cost! With this base turbocharged engine, the Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds. With the optional hybrid powertrain, max ratings drop to 2,000 pounds. All Maverick trucks can haul max payloads of 1,500 pounds, which isn’t too far behind the Tacoma!
Every Maverick trim model is available with these powertrain options:
- Standard turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 277 lb-ft)
- Optional 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid engine (191 horsepower, 155 lb-ft of torque)
- Eight-speed automatic transmission
- Front-wheel drive
- Optional all-wheel drive (2.0L only)
Is the 2024 Ford Maverick Fuel Efficient?
As the world’s first compact truck, the Maverick is completely unique, combining sporty capabilities with incredible fuel economy. With the available hybrid powertrain, Ford’s compact truck earns 37 mpg combined (42 city/33 highway). Considering its outsized output, the Maverick’s turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is also pretty thrifty, earning up to 26 mpg combined (23 city/30 highway).
When it comes to EPA ratings, the Tacoma lags behind the Maverick. Its thriftiest engine is also its weakest. And in spite of providing less power than the Maverick’s 2.0-liter engine, it still manages to use more fuel, earning up to 23 mpg combined (21 city/26 highway).
Is the 2024 Ford Maverick a Good Mid-Size Truck?
In our opinion, the 2024 Ford Maverick is the ultimate winner here. Ford’s compact truck not only comes at an incredible price, but it also comes standard with a fun-loving, 250-horsepower engine. If you want to balance its hearty hauling capabilities with better fuel economy, doing so is as easy as adding the hybrid powertrain!