Driving to the office every day can seem like such a mundane event. This changes with the vehicle you commute in, though! We want you to think outside the box beyond the normal “commuter car.” Automakers like Ford are becoming so innovative with their vehicle lineup that even a pickup truck can be an adequate commuting car. Don’t believe us? Let’s dive into the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick vs 2021 Ford Ranger to see which Ford pickup truck will make every traffic jam feel a little less stressful.
What’s Important in a Commuting Vehicle?
Before we can do a deep analysis on the 2022 Ford Maverick and 2021 Ford Ranger, it’s crucial to determine what’s important in a commuter vehicle. If you’re driving 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or even an hour each way to the office, there are specific things you need from your vehicle. Excellent fuel economy is probably at the top of the list, followed by versatility, comfort, safety, and technology. A great bonus would be this vehicle can keep up with your weekend hobbies. So now that we know the context, can the Maverick and Ranger live up to the commuter expectations?
Jaw-Dropping Fuel Economy
One of the main reasons people rule out pickup trucks as a commuter vehicle, or maybe even sell their current pickup truck for another car, is because of the mediocre fuel economy. The last thing you want to do on the way to and from work is constantly fill up with gas and throw all your hard-earned money at the gas pump. Ford is making it possible to drive a pickup truck efficiently, though.
The 2022 Ford Maverick is the newest pickup truck to release in Ford’s legendary truck lineup. It’s considered a compact pickup truck that has a standard full hybrid engine. You heard that right; the 2022 Maverick is the first-ever full hybrid pickup truck. What this means is you save big at the gas pump. The 2022 Ford Maverick has an estimated range of 500 miles, with an estimated 40 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. For this reason alone, the 2022 Maverick is the ideal pickup truck to take to work every day.
The 2021 Ford Ranger is Ford’s midsize pickup truck. It’s known for getting down and dirty with work or play, and sometimes that sacrifices fuel efficiency. The Ranger is similar to other midsize and full size pickup trucks with an estimated 21 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. You shouldn’t discount the 2021 Ranger just yet, because as you read on, you might find it may fit with your needs. The bottom line, the 2022 Ford Maverick is the clear winner in fuel economy.
Flexibility + Comfort
A pickup truck doesn’t have a great track record for being comfortable, but Ford is on a mission to change that. Both the 2022 Ford Maverick and 2021 Ford Ranger promote high levels of comfort for every passenger. Each pickup truck can seat 5 passengers, even with the Maverick’s compact size. In a commuter vehicle, though, the driver’s side is what’s most important.
More details are coming for the 2022 Maverick, but what we know now is there is an available dual-zone automatic climate control, power moonroof, and premium interior finishes. Even though the 2022 Ford Maverick finds itself in the compact pickup truck segment, it still boasts excellent leg and headroom. When it comes to flexibility, the 2022 Maverick is uniquely designed with ample storage spaces inside to fit all of your different items. From briefcases to lunches to groceries on the way home, the 2022 Ford Maverick helps you get it there conveniently.
Inside the 2021 Ford Ranger, comfort is also a priority. There are available leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a premium sound system, and strategically placed storage solutions. With the 2021 Ford Ranger being slightly larger than the 2022 Ford Maverick, it does allow for more flexibility with passengers and cargo, especially for heavy loads. The Maverick makes use of every square inch, though. Both pickup trucks make comfort and versatility big features, but the size and more premium features in the Ranger may make a difference for some drivers.
Tech & Safety to Enjoy the Ride
We all need a good pump-up playlist on the way to work every morning and maybe today’s hit podcast to get us through the ugly afternoon commute. So, needless to say, technology is important in a commuter car. Both the 2022 Maverick and 2021 Ranger carry Ford’s innovative technology systems to help you stay connected and entertained.
The 2022 Ford Maverick features a standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can even connect up to 10 devices on the Maverick’s WiFi hotspot. Two USB ports will help your devices stay charged up for the busy day ahead. The 6.5-inch productivity screen also gives you the information you need to stay on the go efficiently.
The technology in the 2021 Ford Ranger is also quite savvy. We already mentioned the premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, which will make anything you listen to sound awesome. You can also find dual 4.2-inch productivity screens and an 8-inch touchscreen. From the information we know now, the 2022 Maverick carries more standard and available technology than the 2021 Ranger.
When it comes to safety, both the Maverick and the Ranger succeed. Ford’s safety suite, known as Ford Co-Pilot360, features a variety of standard and available safety and driver assist features. All of the Ford Co-Pilot360 features are standard in the 2021 Ford Ranger in the XLT and LARIAT models, and some of them are optional on the base XL model. The 2022 Ford Maverick has the Ford Co-Pilot360 system standard. Since most drivers are probably opting for the XLT or LARIAT models of the Ranger anyway, both pickup trucks rank the same in the safety feature availability category.
Weekend Warrior
You can’t talk about pickup trucks without performance and capability included. Most commuters aren’t towing thousands of pounds or hauling a bunch of gear to the office, but if your weekend hobbies require it, a pickup truck with high capability is worth it. The great news is, you can have both, an efficient weekday vehicle with a powerful weekend warrior all packed into one nice pickup truck.
The 2022 Ford Maverick doesn’t mess around with capability, even as a hybrid. The standard hybrid engine allows you up to 2,000 lbs of towing with 191 horsepower. Keep in mind the excellent fuel economy you achieve with the 2022 Maverick when you consider these stats. The 2021 Ford Ranger is specially designed for an off-roading adventure. There are options for 4×2 or 4×4 systems and the innovative terrain management system that gives you the freedom to go wherever your heart desires.
Who’s the Ultimate Commuting Truck?
Both the 2022 Ford Maverick and 2021 Ford Ranger have their pros and cons to commuting life. The Maverick is a new release, so Ford is putting in extra special touches. The 2022 Ford Maverick is the ideal pickup truck for your weekday commute if you’re looking for efficiency and some weekend hobbies that require some extra performance. If you find yourself needing a pickup truck that’s more capable and closer to a Ford F-150 without the massive size, then the 2021 Ford Ranger might be best for you. When you sacrifice in some areas in both trucks, you gain in other areas, so go ahead and take on your daily commute with a pickup truck specific to your desires!
