2025 Ford Maverick vs. 2025 Chevrolet Colorado Comparison

Pickup trucks like the compact Ford Maverick and midsize Chevrolet Colorado are great for anyone who wants pickup-level capability without a full-size model’s size, price, and fuel economy.

The smallest trucks for their respective manufacturers, the Maverick and Colorado, have routinely impressed us during many miles of road tests. The Maverick earned our Compact Truck Best Buy Award in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Chevy Colorado is a solid midsize truck that has the best towing capacity in its class.

How does the award-winning compact Maverick compare to the capable midsize Colorado?

2025 Ford Maverick

The 2025 Ford Maverick is based on the same platform used in the Ford Escape compact SUV. This construction translates to a smoother ride and more precise handling than expected in a hard-working truck. The truck carries over three trims from the previous year: XL, XLT, and Lariat.

This year, the Maverick receives a significant refresh. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available with the hybrid model for the first time, and the hybrid has a higher towing capacity. Ford also introduces the off-road-biased Tremor and the Lobo street truck versions for 2025. Styling was updated, most noticeably in the headlights and grille, and there are new and improved tech features in the cabin. There is a choice of a turbo gas engine or a hybrid. The hybrid comes standard, but the turbo only adds $125 to the bottom line in the base XL. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard; all-wheel drive is available. 

Ford Maverick Highlights

Maverick Tremor: The rugged Tremor trim level includes a tougher and higher-riding suspension, 4-wheel drive with an electronic locking rear differential, and 17-inch all-terrain tires. It also comes with Trail Control, a feature where all the driver needs to do is steer the Maverick around rough terrain. The system handles all gas, braking, and gear shifting.

Back-friendly cargo bed: Because it sits much lower to the ground than the Colorado, loading the cargo bed requires less of a stretch. Ford offers lockable compartments and a 110-volt outlet in the Maverick’s 4.5-foot-long cargo bed. The Lobo sits another inch or two lower than the others, dropping the lift-in bed height to 28.2 inches.

Hybrid efficiency: The 191-hp hybrid 4-cylinder has decent power and gets to speed with ease. The real party trick with this engine is fuel economy. It delivers an EPA-reported rating of 38 mpg combined average in city and highway driving. The Colorado doesn’t come anywhere close to matching this figure.

B&O audio: Standard in the Lariat and Tremor trims, this 8-speaker B&O sound system by Bang & Olufsen adds more auditory stimulation to your daily driving routine.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Maverick models for sale near you.

2025 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado starts at $33,595 and is available in six trims: WT, LT, Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2, as well as the ZR2 Bison Edition, a package available with the ZR2. Standard features on the WT trim include a digital instrument display, an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a pair of USB ports, automatic high beams, and satellite radio.

Chevrolet Colorado Highlights

User-friendly tech: The Colorado’s aforementioned 11.3-inch touchscreen and much-loved wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are easy to use, thanks to this infotainment system’s precise menus and quick responses. This system is one of our favorites among compact trucks. 

Rugged ZR2 and ZR2 Bison: The ZR2 and ZR2 Bison come with 4-wheel drive (4WD) and off-road gear like all-terrain tires, underbody skid plates, and front and rear locking differentials. The Bison adds a winch-capable steel front bumper, Multimatic dampers, 12.2 inches of ground clearance, and beadlock wheels. 

Safety features: Chevrolet made the Colorado safer with this latest generation. Every variant comes with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and rear seat reminder.   

TurboMax engine: For 2025, every Colorado now comes standard with a robust 310-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder TurboMax engine. It has strong acceleration and an impressive 7,700-pound towing capacity, which is best in class. The previously standard 237-hp engine has been dropped.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Colorado models for sale near you.

Similarities

These two trucks have more differences than similarities. However, they both have 4-cylinder engines, come exclusively in crew cab configurations, have the same warranty coverage, and are less bulky in tight confines than full-size trucks such as the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.

Specifications

Pricing

The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Ford Maverick vehicles and New 2025 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.

Conclusion

The Ford Maverick strikes us as a compact truck for anyone after a more car-like driving experience, but who still wants to be able to tow and haul. Highly maneuverable and amazing in terms of gas mileage, the Maverick is an excellent choice for truck shoppers who don’t need the last word in towing and rock-crawling capability.

The more traditional Chevy Colorado is the more truck-like of the pair. The ZR2 and ZR2 Bison trims are as tenacious as mountain goats traversing rough terrain. And it’s bigger, too. The Chevy is longer, wider, and about 10 inches taller than the Ford. It also tows and hauls far more thanks to its much stronger standard engine and construction.