Update 5/19/2023 1:45 am ET: Now that the 2024 Toyota Tacoma is officially revealed and there are more details about its specs, it's time to revisit how the Japanese pickup will fare against the Ford Maverick.
The Maverick’s greatest strengths lie in its affordability and utilitarian strength, but with the Tacoma’s core reputation of durability, it is unlikely to cede its throne to competitors. The Tacoma is popular for going strong beyond 200,000 miles. It’s also well known for its off-road capabilities, and with the 2024 model confirmed to utilize Toyota’s TNGA-F global truck platform alongside a reworked chassis, it has the upgrades to challenge the 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor package.
1 Why The 2024 Toyota Tacoma Is Better Than The Maverick: A Total Exterior And Interior Redesign
For the 2024 Toyota Tacoma to compete with the Ford Maverick, it needed a thorough interior rework and exterior revamp. It’s safe to say Toyota has delivered, with its team of designers focusing on a theme of “Badass Adventure Machine”. Externally, the higher lift and the slimmer shape of the body certainly shows some presence, and the chunkier 33-inch tires only add to that image.
The Tacoma also benefits from a significant storage space increase all-round, which plays right into the option of a five or six-foot double cab option. The Tacoma is as close to a mobile home as you’ll find without actually buying a motor home – but we already knew that about the 2024 Toyota Tacoma even 24 hours before launch.
2 Why The 2024 Ford Maverick Is A Tacoma Nemesis: Exceptional Mileage
One of the Ford Maverick’s strongest pillars is its exceptional gas mileage. While the total MPG for the 2024 Tacoma is yet to be disclosed, we do know that the previous Hybrid Tacoma would cost more than its gas-powered model to run, which doesn’t quite match up to the Maverick’s fuel efficiency in any instance.
The current Maverick comes with a choice of two powertrains, consisting of the older 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, rated at 22-23/29/30 MPG city/highway, in addition to the newer entry-level 2.5-liter straight-four hybrid, which returns an impressive 42/33 MPG city/highway. It remains to be seen if the 2024 Tacoma can match these figures, which would be a pretty impressive feat to achieve in itself, let alone beat.
3 Why The Tacoma Is Better Than The Maverick: More Powerful All-Electric And Hybrid Powertrain
This is the most interesting area where the Tacoma should see a dominant set of results, given that its range-topping 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbo hybrid puts out some serious numbers. Paired with an eight-speed automatic box, owners will benefit from 326 hp and 465 pounds of torque – allowing for a total towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. That’s a nice makeover from the previous model, whose four-cylinder base engine and optional V6 were starting to get weary.
By comparison, the 2023 Ford Maverick’s 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain puts out 191 hp and around 155 pounds of torque. That makes from grim reading in a battle against the Tacoma, but also why it gives us reason to believe that the 2024 Ford Ranger may just be the redesigned Toyota Tacoma’s greatest rival moving forward.
4 Why The 2024 Ford Maverick Is A Tacoma Nemesis: Anticipated Plug-In Hybrid
With an all-new Ford Maverick plug-in hybrid rumored to be in the works, it will be interesting to see how it matches up to the standard Ford Maverick Hybrid, which was HotCars’ Best Pickup of 2022. While the 2024 Tacoma will now have that hybrid option, it will surely be a big wake-up call for Ford to make waves with a plug-in Maverick.
We can’t expect it to match the Tacoma for outright power, but we do have reasonable grounds to believe that it will build upon the Maverick’s already brilliant efficiency. Couple that with the boost in power that it still should receive, and the plug-in hybrid Maverick could just be a big threat to the top-of-the-range 2024 Tacoma.
5 Why The Tacoma Is Better Than The Maverick: Updated Interior And Infotainment System
Headlining its fresh new interior is a 14-inch infotainment cluster on the premium model, accompanied by a 12.3-inch digital display ahead of the driver. A number of creature comforts are included for support, ranging from the Qi wireless charging pad with enhanced power output, and a number of useful ports all-round.
A wireless Smart Card key is also provided, which is roughly the size of a credit card, and easily allows multi-user access without the need for various keys. The other notable inclusion is that of a premium ten-speaker JBL audio upgrade, which includes an externally coupled subwoofer for those summer nights on the beach. All in all, the 2024 Tacoma’s technology systems come together to create a spectacular interior setting. So, while there may be some Toyota Tacoma upgrades you could consider, anything interior-related is now deemed unnecessary.
6 Why The 2024 Ford Maverick Is A Tacoma Nemesis: Outstanding Value For Money
The Ford Maverick is easily one of the most affordable pickups on the market right now, with the XL model starting at $22,595. Pound-for-pound, and considering the vast amount of car you’re getting in return, that is ridiculously cheap, even if the standard Maverick itself is slightly threadbare. It’s one of the many things we love about the Ford Maverick.
By comparison, the outgoing Tacoma starts at $28,250, which is already a fair amount more than its competitor. Thus, we can sensibly assume the updated 2024 version should come with a price tag closer to $30,000 – even for the entry-level trim grades. That’s a significant step up from the Maverick, and one that could just be its Achilles heel moving forward.
7 Why The Tacoma Is Better Than The Maverick: A New Trailhunter Off-Road Trim
The long-rumored Trailhunter trim level is now confirmed, and given just how excited the speculation made potential customers, we expect a fair amount of fanfare with this. Changes include all-new 2.5-inch forged monotube shock absorbers to support the 33-inch Goodyear Territory R/T tires, while a steel rear bumper and a selection of robust recovery points help the Trailhunter become a seriously unbreakable off-road machine. It may even prove to be more effective than the 2025 Toyota Tacoma Concept that we previously created.
Aesthetic changes include a bronzed heritage grille and a 20-inch LED light bar that’s paired with white/yellow color-switching LED fog lamps. The off-grid lifestyle is further supported by a strong 2,400W AC inverter, which can provide power to electronic items at the front and rear. From the information alone, it seems like a surefire bet that the anticipation for the 2024 Tacoma Trailhunter will be more than justified.
8 Why The 2024 Ford Maverick Is A Tacoma Nemesis: Off-Road Tremor Variant
But as good as we think the Trailhunter will be, it does still have the Maverick Tremor to contend with. For Ford shoppers leaning towards off-road capabilities, the FX4 and Tremor versions are almost as good as the Bronco Sport. The Maverick comes with ample standard equipment, starting with the entry-level Maverick XL, mid-tier XLT, and the range-topping Lariat.
However, the Maverick gets ruggedly cooler when outfitted with the new-for-2023 Tremor off-road package, although we’d rather make a beeline for the Bronco Sport if we really needed a compact Ford off-roader. Ford reserves the $2,995 Tremor package for the Maverick XLT and Lariat models using the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which seems a fair price to pay for an upgrade when you check out the best feature of the 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor.
9 Why The Tacoma Is Better Than The Maverick: The Latest In Safety Feature Technology
As we’ve come to expect from Toyota, its biggest new car reveals are usually peppered with the latest and greatest safety features to help you stay alert on the road. All 2024 Tacoma models will come as standard with the Safety Sense 3.0, which is the brand’s selection of active safety and convenience systems. The suite includes features like Pre-Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
We can continue with the list, but we’re sure you get the idea: the 2024 Tacoma is an incredibly safe car. It also features Toyota’s all-new Proactive Driving Assist, which uses the vehicle’s camera and radar to provide small amounts of brake pressure in situations, and is said to operate differently from the Pre-Collision system. Neat.
10 Why The 2024 Ford Maverick Is A Tacoma Nemesis: Impressive Driver-Assist Features
But just as the Tacoma looks to get ahead of the Maverick with Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0, Ford’s own consortium of safety features is rumored to be getting a revamp itself in the near future. The Blue Oval’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features is already one of the best in the industry, improving the safety of both passengers and other road users.
The suite includes high-tech driver-aid features like pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. The Maverick comes equipped with many Co-Pilot360 features, including automatic emergency braking and automatic high beams (standard on all trims), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. We've yet to see if any potential upgrade could push Ford beyond Toyota and its Tacoma's potentially class-leading systems in the near future.