Compare the2026 Jeep GladiatorVS 2026 Ford Maverick

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Gladiator. But it costs extra on the Maverick.

Compared to metal, the Gladiator’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Ford Maverick has a metal gas tank.

Both the Gladiator and the Maverick have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Jeep Gladiator weighs 805 to 1506 pounds more than the Ford Maverick. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Gladiator is safer than the Ford Maverick:

	Gladiator	Maverick
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	180	202
Neck Injury Risk	30.1%	51%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Gladiator is much safer than the Maverick:

	Gladiator	Maverick
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	MARGINAL

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Jeep Gladiator is safer than the Maverick:

	Gladiator	Maverick
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	31	146
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	357 lbs.
Neck Compression	-45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.59 in	.67 in
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.1 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	535 lbs.	1272 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	173	295
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Neck Compression	-22 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	2.2 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	580 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.51 in	1.81 in
Torso Deflection Rate	3 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Gladiator has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Maverick AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Gladiator has a standard 240-amp alternator. The Maverick’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Gladiator first among midsize pickups in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Maverick isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

The Gladiator’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 94 more horsepower (285 vs. 191) than the Maverick’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 35 more horsepower (285 vs. 250) than the Maverick’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Gladiator is faster than the Ford Maverick 4 cyl. hybrid gas:

	Gladiator	Maverick
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	7.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.6 sec	7.8 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.5 sec	3.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	15.9 sec

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Gladiator uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Maverick requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Gladiator has 8.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maverick Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (22 vs. 13.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Gladiator has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank (22 vs. 16.5 gallons).

The Gladiator’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Maverick are solid, not vented.

The Gladiator stops much shorter than the Maverick:

	Gladiator	Maverick
70 to 0 MPH	185 feet	188 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	137 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	144 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Gladiator has larger standard tires than the Maverick (245/75R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Maverick (285/70R17 vs. 235/65R17).

The Gladiator has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Maverick doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Gladiator has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Maverick. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Gladiator Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Maverick doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Gladiator’s wheelbase is 16.2 inches longer than on the Maverick (137.3 inches vs. 121.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Gladiator is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Maverick.

The Gladiator’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.8% to 47.2%) than the Maverick’s (58% to 42%). This gives the Gladiator more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Gladiator Sport has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Maverick Lobo (10 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Gladiator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Gladiator Mojave’s minimum ground clearance is 2.5 inches higher than on the Maverick Tremor (11.6 vs. 9.1 inches).

The Gladiator has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Maverick (102.9 vs. 100.3).

The Gladiator has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maverick.

The Gladiator has a much larger cargo box than the Maverick shortbed (35.5 vs. 33.3 cubic feet).

The Gladiator’s cargo box is larger than the Maverick’s in almost every dimension:

	Gladiator	Maverick
Length (short/long)	60.3”	54.4”
Max Width	56.8”	53.3”
Min Width	44.8”	42.6”
Height	17.7”	20.3”

The Gladiator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Maverick’s (4500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Maverick is only 4000 pounds. The Gladiator offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

All models of the Gladiator can be flat towed on all four wheels, allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Gladiator can be unhitched and driven around locally. Only the Maverick Hybrid can be dinghy towed.

The Gladiator has a much higher optional payload capacity than the Maverick (1720 vs. 1500 lbs.).

The engine in the Gladiator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Maverick. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Gladiator’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Maverick does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Gladiator’s front power windows lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Maverick’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Gladiator has a standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from pocket or purse. Only the Maverick XLT/Lariat/Lobo/Tremor offers an Intelligent Access.

The Gladiator’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Maverick doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Both the Gladiator and the Maverick offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Gladiator has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Maverick doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Ford Maverick, the Jeep Gladiator eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the driver’s visor.

Compared to traditional radio, the Jeep Gladiator’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Maverick.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Jeep Gladiator retains 64.62% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 63.11% resale value of the 2026 Ford Maverick after five years, which can save the Jeep’s owner.