2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2023 Ford Maverick

Back in 2023, the Ford Maverick remained visually consistent with its innovative debut model. It maintained the Ford truck family heritage with its side and rear styling, while its blocky front end and headlights set it apart. The Maverick Tremor edition introduced a rugged, off-road persona, accentuated by blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights. The exclusive Avalanche Gray color further enhanced its appeal, offering a lighter, subdued shade compared to competitors. The Tremor also sported distinct “Tremor Orange” accents on tow hooks, fender vents, and the grille. For a bolder look, the $1,495 Tremor Appearance Package added a Carbonized Gray roof, mirrors, black side graphics, and special 17-inch wheels with a Tremor Orange outline.

Standard trim variations ranged from the base XL's 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted steelies to the XLT's 17-inch Carbonized Gray aluminum wheels and Lariat's 18-inch Bright aluminum wheels. The FX4 package on XLT and Lariat trims included 17-inch Ebony-painted aluminum wheels.

Inside, the Maverick crew cab was functional but not plush. Hard plastics dominated, though the Black Onyx seats with a heathered look added some visual interest. Despite the plasticky feel, the design exuded a surprisingly upscale aura.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss exuded an off-road-ready vibe with its factory suspension lift, box-flared fenders with charcoal gray trim, and deeply sculpted hood. The Radiant Red model with its blacked-out aesthetics looked aggressive and purposeful. Colorado’s interior borrowed cues from the Camaro, evident in the dashboard toggle switches and round outboard air vents.

However, lower trims like the Work Truck (WT) and Trail Boss had a noticeably less impressive interior, characterized by a drab gray front fascia and an abundance of cheap plastic. The Trail Boss's redeeming features included a purposeful front skid plate and the new ZR2's higher-end finish. The monotony was slightly alleviated in other trims with body color paint on the noses and upgraded interiors.

The Ford Maverick, with its hybrid powertrain, was a pioneer as the first standard full-hybrid pickup truck. It combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid setup came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). Buyers opting for the 2.0-liter 250-hp EcoBoost engine received an eight-speed automatic transmission and the option for all-wheel drive (AWD), standard on the Lariat trim and included in both off-road packages.

The 2023 model introduced the Tremor off-road package available on XLT and Lariat trims, featuring Ford’s “Advanced 4WD” system capable of maximizing rear axle torque distribution. The Tremor package added a specialized suspension setup, steel skid plates, a heavy-duty transmission cooler, and a 1-inch lift, achieving a ground clearance of 9.4 inches and enhanced approach and departure angles. While rugged, the Tremor's towing capacity dropped to 2,000 lbs, eliminating the appeal for buyers needing higher hauling power supplied by the EcoBoost engine, which could tow up to 4,000 lbs with the 4K Tow Package.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado had a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all trims. The engine variants were tuned differently per trim, with WT and LT making 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. In the Trail Boss and Z71, it delivered 310 horsepower and 391 lb-ft, while the ZR2 pushed torque up to 430 lb-ft. The Colorado boasted an eight-speed automatic transmission and various four-wheel-drive options based on trim levels.

Trail Boss featured a 2-inch lift, and the ZR2 had a 3-inch suspension lift. The latter also included Multimatic DSSV dampers, significantly improving off-road performance. Trail Boss and Z71 models came with all-terrain tires, while the ZR2 offered mud-terrain tires. Additionally, Chevy endowed the Colorado with multiple driving modes, including Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and the ZR2-exclusive Baja.

The Trail Boss excelled off-road, handling rugged terrains efficiently with minimal wheel slip and maintaining momentum thanks to its factory lift and all-terrain tires. On-road performance shone through with remarkable quietness and structural rigidity, although fuel economy was a downside, clocking an average of 17 mpg against an EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, irrespective of the trim, offered practical interior space. The Tremor package made the truck an inch longer without affecting the legroom. Gas-powered Mavericks offered 42.8 inches of legroom in the front and 36.9 inches in the back. However, models with the hybrid powertrain saw a slight reduction in rear legroom to 35.9 inches. With 39.6 inches of headroom in the second row, it stood on par with competitors. The interior, though largely plastic, could be upgraded via packages offering heated and power-adjustable seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and improved tech.

On the practicality front, the Ford Maverick excelled with its versatile bed and thoughtful storage solutions. Its payload capacity stood at 1,200 lbs with the Tremor package due to off-road enhancements but could be increased to 1,500 lbs without these additions. Towing capacity maxed at 4,000 lbs with the EcoBoost engine and 4K Tow Package.

In comparison, the Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss offered a mixed bag of interior functionality. Seating was comfortable for four adults, though pet hair was a nuisance on the standard cloth upholstery. Wider individuals found the front seats pinching at the hips over long drives. The back seat's legroom was adequate but got cramped for taller occupants.

Storage within the Colorado was adequate but not exceptional, featuring small door trays, a useful transmission shifter tray, a sizable glove compartment, and a deep but narrow center armrest bin. The truck bed was a strong point, boasting 41.9 cubic feet of cargo space and innovative features like the EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate with the StowFlex storage panel and Mid-Position tailgate support.

In 2023, the Ford Maverick's tech suite was modest, reflecting its positioning as an affordable entry-level truck. Standard features included an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with basic but functional graphics reminiscent of older computer systems. Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with a six-speaker sound system. The Lariat trim upgraded to a 6.5-inch driver-information display, adding rear USB ports, ambient lighting, push-button start, and advanced tech with the Luxury Package, encompassing an upgraded sound system, wireless charging, satellite radio, and more.

Conversely, Chevrolet equipped the Colorado with more advanced technology, featuring digital instrumentation and an 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in technology. Even the base WT variant enjoyed these features. The Google integration provided natural voice recognition, updated navigation through Google Maps, and access to apps via Google Play. Additionally, the infotainment system supported Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM, OnStar services, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Wireless charging was also available, and higher trims like the ZR2 benefitted from a premium seven-speaker Bose audio system.

Nonetheless, Google's experience took some getting used to, posing an initial challenge for users accustomed to Chevrolet’s previous system.

Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite was standard on the 2023 Maverick, including essentials like automatic high beams, pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Enhanced features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring were available.

The Maverick earned a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, losing points for rollover resistance and the passenger's side in frontal crash tests, with the IIHS awarding high marks for most safety features but noting shortcomings in nighttime pedestrian collision prevention.

Chevrolet matched Ford’s safety focus, standardizing its Chevy Safety Assist suite, which incorporated forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with active steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and rear parking sensors were optional.

The Colorado’s safety technology faced criticism for overly sensitive forward-collision warnings, which required fine-tuning to avoid frequent false alerts. Though Chevy provided adjustments, the issue persisted enough to cause user frustration.