FORD Maverick SWB Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Ford tried to get a piece of the European SUV market in the mid '90s. In 1993, it joined forces with Nissan and put a Ford-badged Nissan Terrano II on the market. The car was produced by Nissan in its factory in Spain.

The Maverick, like the Terrano II, was offered in two body styles. A three-door short-wheelbase and a five-door long-wheelbase. First it appeared in 1993 but in 1996 the Maverick received a facelift. A new front fascia with round headlights and more chrome made it look better for customers. For the long wheelbase a seven-seater option was available.

Another good upgrade was on the technical side, where the engines were updated. Even though it didn't receive the 3.0-liter unit like the Terrano II, it went well with the 2.7-liter turbodiesel, upgraded to 125 hp from the pre-facelifted variant, which only had 101 hp. The torque was increased to 278 Nm (205 lb-ft). The 2.4-liter gasoline unit lost some power and since 1996 had only 118 hp instead of 124 as before.

The 4x4 transmission system was via a transfer box with high and low gear. No center differential or locking differentials were offered. The Maverick had a front wheel independent suspension while the rear axle was rigid-type with coil springs and anti-roll bar.

Ford needed an SUV for the European market, and Nissan came with an offer it couldn't decline: to build one together in Spain.

While the Japanese brand named its model as the second generation for the Terrano, Ford used the name Maverick. Both vehicles were built on the same assembly line and were available with 3- or 5-door versions. Ford decided to use different package options for its models, to be differentiated, somehow, from its Japanese sibling.

When the car was launched, the era of wedge-shapes was already gone, but the Maverick still carried some reminiscences, which could have been seen on the square-looking headlights and rectangular radiator's grille. The ascending beltline was more obvious than on the model with five doors since the wheelbase was shorter.

Inside, the Maverick was available with five seats, the last row being installed over the rear axle. There was not too much legroom for the passengers and no trunk space either. The dashboard featured a car-like layout, with a center stack and a high-mounted audio system.

The vehicle was built on a body-on-frame platform, with a front independent suspension and a rear axle. It was powered either by a 2.4-liter gasoline engine or a 2.7-liter turbodiesel. All versions were part-time 4x4 with a low-range gear, and the standard transmission was a 5-speed manual. Depending on the market, an option for a 4-speed automatic was on the options list.