2025 Ford Maverick vs 2026 Nissan Frontier

The 2025 Ford Maverick presented a fresh yet familiar design, maintaining its chunky styling and large wheel arches reminiscent of larger Ford trucks like the Ranger and F-150. The removal of the cross bar that previously bisected the headlights gave it a more conventional look, opening up the grille with various designs depending on the trim level. The Maverick offered several trim levels, including the base XL, XLT, and Lariat, along with specialty models like the Tremor and Lobo. The Tremor was an off-road model with dedicated suspension tuning, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a twin-clutch rear drive unit for its AWD system. Meanwhile, the Lobo paid tribute to the street truck trend with a cleaner front fascia, painted rear bumper, side skirts, and 19-inch wheels, emphasized by a lowered suspension.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier, available in Canada in Pro-4X and Pro-4X Luxury trims, showcased a rugged appearance with its black nose, bold wheels, and big overfenders. Red recovery hooks and an aluminum front skid plate highlighted its off-road capabilities. Inside, the Frontier featured a mix of red accents, gloss-black detailing, and purposeful grab handles, emphasizing its off-road prowess. The dashboard had a traditional control layout with large knobs and buttons, making it easy to use even with gloves. Modern tech was integrated where necessary, including a new control cluster for Terrain modes, a 7-inch digital driver display, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2025 Ford Maverick offered two powertrain options, with notable changes to drivetrain configurations. The standard hybrid powertrain, available with FWD or AWD, combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and CVT, producing 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged engine delivered 238 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for most trims, while the Lobo used a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Lobo's lowered suspension, dual-piston front brake calipers, upgraded cooling system, and track-focused drive mode emphasized handling, making it unique among pickup trucks. The basic Maverick hybrid offered a passenger-car-like ride, with the 2.0-litre turbo-four providing a power upgrade for those seeking more performance.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier stood out with its 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission. This V6 provided a stout response and a powerful feel in daily driving. The Frontier Pro-4X Luxury averaged 12.9 litres per 100 kilometres on a test loop, proving more fuel-efficient than some competitors. While its towing capacity of 3,240 kilograms fell short of some rivals, it still surpassed the Tacoma's maximum rating. The Frontier's standard 4WD, all-terrain tires, Bilstein off-road shocks, and electronic locking rear differential enhanced its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Frontier absorbed speed humps well but exhibited structural shudders over speed bumps and felt skittish on imperfect pavement. Its hydraulic power steering required some muscle, but the Frontier performed better than expected on twisty roads, with good grip from its all-terrain tires and effective brakes.

The 2025 Ford Maverick had a base towing capacity of 907 kilograms, which could be increased to 1,814 kilograms with the optional 4K Towing Package, except for the Lobo and Tremor models. Its payload capacity varied, with hybrids offering up to 680 kilograms with FWD. The Maverick's 4.5-foot bed featured innovative cargo solutions, including molded pockets for cargo dividers and a tailgate that could lock at an angle to accommodate larger items. Inside, Ford optimized space with intricately molded in-door cubbies and mounting points for 3D-printed accessories. The Maverick's unibody platform provided similar headroom and legroom to the larger Ford Ranger, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard from the Lariat trim.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier's standard equipment included dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, remote engine starting, and a power sunroof. The driver's seat offered good support for long drives, but the back seat was cramped with an uncomfortable backrest angle. Front-seat storage was ample, with various compartments and a wireless smartphone charger. The rear seat flipped up for underseat storage or folded down for a level loading area. The Frontier's bed came with a spray-on bedliner, adjustable cargo tie-down system, LED lighting, and a 120-volt power outlet, along with a hitch and wiring harness for towing.

The 2025 Ford Maverick upgraded its tech with the Sync 4 system and a standard 13.2-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous eight-inch screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, along with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. The Maverick also borrowed towing tech from Ford's larger trucks, with features like Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist available on the Lariat trim. However, the reliance on touchscreen controls for temperature and seat heaters was a drawback.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier featured a 7-inch digital driver display between analog gauges, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and NissanConnect services. A wireless smartphone charger was standard, while the Luxury trim added navigation and a 10-speaker Fender audio system. The Fender system impressed, but the infotainment's digital voice assistant was less reliable, leading users to prefer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2025 Ford Maverick offered standard forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams on the base XL, with optional blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. A 360-degree camera system was a new option for 2025. The NHTSA gave the Maverick a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests. The IIHS rated it "Good" in the updated side crash test but "Marginal" in the moderate overlap front test.

The 2026 Nissan Frontier included standard features like automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and more. A surround-view camera system with moving object detection and off-road mode was also standard. The Frontier received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with a concerning three-star front-crash rating. The IIHS provided a mix of "Good" and "Acceptable" ratings, though results for the small overlap frontal-impact test were pending.