Ford Maverick vs Subaru Outback
What's the difference?

Ford Maverick

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2024 price

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Subaru Outback

$48,990 - $62,690

2026 price

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Summary

2024 Ford Maverick

2026 Subaru Outback

By Stephen Ottley

By Byron Mathioudakis

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Flat 4, 2.5L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

8.1L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Looks like a ute
Drives like an SUV
More practical than an SUV

Brilliant packaging
Dynamic sophistication
Ease, comfort and fun

Dislikes

Not available in right-hand drive
Light on back seat amenities
Thirsty for a small vehicle

Average warranty
Divisive design
No manual option

2024 Ford Maverick Summary

Is this the car Ford Australia is crying out for?

It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves from afar ever since the Maverick first appeared in the USA in 2021. In simple terms this is an SUV disguised as a ute, or if you prefer to look at it another way, a ute designed for the urban environment.

Why does Ford Australia need it? Because utes are what it does best and SUVs are what it struggles with. The Ranger is, by some margin, its best-selling model and the F-150 is coming to a showroom near you soon, while the Escape SUV has been dropped due to consistently low sales.

The Maverick isn’t quite a true replacement for the Falcon ute, but it’s arguably closer in concept than the more rugged Ranger.

It’s the kind of vehicle that should pacify people calling for Subaru to bring back the Brumby. In other words, this is a vehicle that has the potential (key word) to appeal to a broad audience; even more so than the niche Bronco off-roader.

There's a significant catch, though. Ford doesn’t make it in right-hand drive.

Fortunately for CarsGuide we were recently given the opportunity to sample the Maverick in the USA getting behind the wheel of the XLT Tremor variant in Los Angeles, California.

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2026 Subaru Outback Summary

It’s 2026 and over 30 years and through six generations the Subaru Outback as we knew it… is gone.

Gone is the defiantly wagon-esque crossover style that was one of the first, as well as likely the most-successful, for the boxy beast you see here.

RIP, original Subaru Outback.

But, don’t worry, folks, because, except for a couple of issues, things only get better by and large, with the big new seventh-gen model.

And, in the most important ways, the 2026 Outback is a true Subaru at heart, so let’s dive straight in!

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Ford Maverick 2026 Subaru Outback

Verdict

Potential is the key word when it comes to the Maverick. It has loads of potential to be a sales hit in Australia, provided Ford can get it in at the right price and specification level. In many ways, for all the success the Ranger has had for the company, the Maverick is the closest thing Ford has built to the Falcon Ute since its demise.

There’s obviously no guarantees in the automotive business, but if Ford could add the Maverick as a would-be Escape replacement it clearly has the potential (there’s that word again) to do a much better job for a brand known for its adventurous models. Whereas the Escape struggled to attract attention in a crowded SUV market alongside the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and others, that wouldn’t be the case for the Maverick.

It’s been a hit for the Blue Oval in the US, with more than 22,000 examples sold in the first three months of 2023 and the company hiring more workers to try and keep up with demand. Which will only delay any plans to bring it to Australia, as the US market clearly has priority.

Which is a shame, because it would appeal to the large number of Australians who live in urban centres but have an active lifestyle. Especially the hybrid model, which would be ideal for weekday use while allowing owners to chuck their mountain bike or surfboard in the tray and head for adventure on the weekends.

Maybe that’s an idealistic view, but the Maverick left a strong impression and would fit so neatly into Ford Australia’s line-up it would be a waste if it never made its way Down Under.

Verdict

Over 30 years and seven generations of Outback in Australia, the latest might just be the best.

It's great to drive, even better to sit in, very easy to live and willing to go further than most equivalent large SUVs at its price point.

The styling is definitely divisive, with purists unhappy that the long, crossover wagon silhouette is now gone, but what we have instead is a family-friendly vehicle that pleases on so many fronts.

We’d go as far as saying the latest Outback might be the most-rounded Subaru currently available, and great value to boot. And the base AWD is all the SUV most people will ever need.

That’s not bad for something this square!

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Ford Maverick vs Subaru Outback What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Ford Maverick vs Subaru Outback
What's the difference?