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.