2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2022 Ford Maverick

The 2022 Ford Maverick presented a conventional pickup look, reminiscent of larger Ford trucks like the F-150 and Ranger, with its larger wheel arches and taillights. However, its front end, featuring large headlights and a grille crossbar, deviated from the typical Ford truck design without making a strong styling statement. The Maverick was smaller than the Ford Ranger, measuring 199.7 inches in length and 68.7 inches in height, and utilized a unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport crossover SUVs. The base Maverick XL came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. The Maverick First Edition package, available only for 2022, added unique graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and model-specific wheels and paint colors. The interior, despite being heavy on plastic, was designed to be visually appealing with multicolored elements and a speckled plastic reminiscent of playground equipment. The base XL featured seats with a neat weave pattern, and higher trims offered leather upholstery.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, particularly the updated version released in the second half of the year, came in various configurations, including regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab, with multiple bed lengths and trim levels. The new Silverado ZR2 was introduced for high-speed desert running and challenging terrain, featuring standard four-wheel drive. Prices ranged from $34,845 to $70,490, with the ZR2 evaluated at $76,095. The 2022 updates included styling modifications to the headlights, grille designs, front bumpers, and wheels, along with standard Chevy Safety Assist. Higher trims received a new interior with digital instrumentation, a widescreen infotainment touchscreen, and improved materials. The standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine gained more torque, and the turbodiesel inline-six's towing capacity increased to 13,300 pounds. The ZR2 featured steel bumpers, a lifted suspension, unique body cladding, and a 6.2-liter V8 engine.

The 2022 Ford Maverick came standard with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing a total of 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine offered 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid model was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the EcoBoost version offered standard FWD or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The FX4 off-road package for AWD XLT and Lariat trims added suspension tuning, underbody protection, hill-descent control, and specific drive modes. The Maverick FX4 demonstrated off-road capability on a test course, though it was better suited for less extreme conditions. On pavement, the Maverick's unibody platform provided a smoother ride compared to traditional body-on-frame trucks. The hybrid powertrain was noted for its linear power delivery and refinement, while the EcoBoost offered more towing capability and spirited acceleration.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 focused on performance, with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Despite its power, the ZR2's acceleration was considered acceptable due to its weight, and it returned 16.3 mpg over 130 miles of mixed driving. The ZR2's suspension, featuring a 2-inch lift, 33-inch mud-terrain tires, and Multimatic 40mm DSSV dampers, provided excellent damping and stability on various terrains. The ZR2 excelled in off-road conditions, with features like electronic locking front and rear differentials, a front camera for improved visibility, and a high approach angle. The truck's ride quality was smooth on both rough roads and highways, with minimal noise from the tires and engine. However, the ZR2's handling on curvy roads required caution due to the tires' grip limitations.

The 2022 Ford Maverick was available exclusively as a four-door crew cab, offering more legroom than the larger Toyota Tacoma and slightly more front legroom than the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Maverick excelled in interior storage, with numerous cubbies, under-seat storage, and an open door-card design for large water bottles. The FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) allowed for customizable accessories, and the 4.5-foot bed offered 1,500 pounds of payload capacity. The FlexBed system included tiedown cleats, indents for dividers, and a multi-position tailgate for securing large items. The Maverick's towing capacity was 4,000 pounds (2,000 pounds for the hybrid), providing useful capability despite being less than some crossover SUVs.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 required effort to enter and exit due to its suspension lift and oversized tires, but robust grab handles and optional side steps aided access. The interior featured 10-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, with ample legroom, headroom, and foot room in the rear. The Silverado's interior saw significant improvements, with a modern design, digital instrumentation, and a 13.4-inch touchscreen display. Storage was plentiful, with hidden compartments and generous in-cab space. The deep cargo box and MultiFlex tailgate enhanced functionality, and the spray-in bedliner protected against damage.

The 2022 Ford Maverick featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system's graphics and functions were basic, but it included essential features like a large slot for phones and available wireless charging. Hybrids had a brake-coaching feature to optimize regenerative braking.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500's new 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L, and Google Built-in features. However, the new system was slower to respond and less intuitive than the previous version. The seven-speaker Bose sound system saw significant improvements, and the rear camera mirror and 15-inch head-up display enhanced visibility and convenience. The Silverado's tech setup, including the digital gauge cluster and infotainment display, was user-friendly and intuitive.

The 2022 Ford Maverick's safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist. Crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included essential driver-assistance features, except for blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which were optional on lower trims. The High Country trim offered Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system for approved highways. The ZR2 test truck had advanced driving assistance systems that worked accurately and refinedly. Crash-test data for the updated 2022 Silverado was unavailable, but the 2022 Silverado Limited (LTD) received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and unimpressive IIHS results.