Description
Ford introduced the Maverick lineup in Europe in 1993 as a rebadged Nissan Terrano II, which the Japanese automaker produced in its Spanish factory in Barcelona.
The American brand saw the increased demand for 4x4 vehicles and SUVs in Europe, but it couldn’t produce one in a short period of time. As a result, the blue-oval brand joined forces with Nissan to make one, and the result was the 1993 Ford Maverick, which was available in short or long-wheelbase versions with three and five doors, respectively. The former was lighter, shorter, and more maneuverable on the narrow streets of the Old Continent’s cities but with significant limitations regarding cabin space. However, it was more than enough for those who needed mostly two seats and better off-roading performance.
While both cars, the Ford Maverick and the Nissan Terrano II shared the same assembly lines, they looked almost identical. However, the American automaker created a unique front fascia for its blue-oval badged versions. These featured rectangular headlights that flanked a narrow grille adorned on the upper side by the automaker’s oval logo. On the lower side, a wrapped-around plastic bumper enhanced the rugged appearance of the vehicle, and a set of rectangular fog lamps was available in the lower area. Furthermore, customers could order the vehicle with a bullbar, which protected the bodywork against bushes or support for a winch.
Up to the B-post, the 1993 Ford Maverick 3 Doors had the same body panels and glass areas as its five-door sibling. Surprisingly, even the doors were the same size, which didn’t help too much when someone had to climb to the rear seats. Like its long-wheelbase brother, the SUV had an ascending beltline behind the rear B-pillars, which looked more abrupt than on the five-door version. The automaker installed pop-out windows for those seated in the back, which slightly opened outwards.
Since the short-wheelbase version of the 1993 Ford Maverick 3 Doors shared the same parts at the front as its five-door stablemate, the automaker decided to offer it with the same features. As a result, there was plenty of legroom and headroom for those seated in the front. The dashboard looked more car-like, and the instrument cluster that fronted the driver had a simple layout, with large dials for the speedometer and tachometer. Between them, in the upper area, the automaker placed the gauges for the fuel level and the temperature. In the back, the split-folding (50/50) bench seat could accommodate three passengers, although legroom was limited.
The 1993 Ford Maverick SWB had the same drivetrains as its five-door sibling, featuring a 2.4-liter or a 2.7-liter engine. The former was a naturally aspirated gasoline unit, while the latter was a turbodiesel. Both versions were paired with a five-speed manual transmission, while a four-speed automatic was available. The SUV featured a standard part-time 4x4 system with a high and low-gear transfer box.
