The Ford Maverick is better than most modern pickups, but still misses the mark. As you mentioned, the bed is significantly smaller than a 1990 Ranger despite being 6 inches longer[1]. Honestly the biggest issue I have with these vehicles is their height, which is a known hazard to pedestrians[2]. The Maverick doesn't fix that issue.
[1] https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a36651899/sizing-up-the-20...
[2] https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2022/03/pedestrians-incr...
