If you wanted a midsize truck 10 years ago, your choices included an aging Toyota Tacoma or an even older Nissan Frontier ...

Great mileage, a pragmatic size, and an affordable sticker all explain why, even loaded, the Maverick is a hot seller.

The Maverick’s 1,500-pound payload capacity — fuel, passengers and bed weight combined — edges out the Santa Cruz’s rating of 1,411 pounds, and the Ford’s slightly longer bed improves ...

It can tow more than the Ford, but it lacks the heavy hauling strength. The best one for buyers really comes down to intended use. Both the Maverick and Santa Cruz start with four-cylinder engines ...