2022 Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz Comparison
The Maverick and Santa Cruz are bringing back the compact pickup in a big way.
Return of the Compact Pickup
After years of absence, the compact pickup is returning to the North American market in a big way with the recent introductions of the 2022 Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. There are quite a few folks out there seeking a smaller, more affordable, and efficient truck of some sort, so the market for both figures to be rather robust. Thus, we're going to take a closer look at both of these new, small pickups to see how they stack up before they battle each other in the showroom later this year.
Photos: Ford
Pricing
One of the first things compact pickup truck buyers look at its price, and in that regard, the Maverick is a rather enticing product. With a starting MSRP of $19,995 (minus a $1,495 destination and delivery charge), Ford's FWD pickup is a true bargain. Of course, options can tack several thousands of dollars onto this price tag, and these trucks can cost as much as $35k fully loaded. Regardless, those that want to spend far less won't be penalized much for doing so.
Photos: Hyundai
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Going Higher
Meanwhile, Santa Cruz pricing ranges from $23,990 to $39,720 starting out, not including a $1,185 destination charge. That's quite a bit more than the Maverick, though still a bit less than the various mid-size trucks already on sale today. Incredibly, options can push Hyundai's Tuscon-based pickup well into the $40k range, which is a bit rich for an entry-level product.
Photos: Ford
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Fuel Economy
Compact pickups also traditionally offer better fuel economy than larger ones, and that's certainly the case with the base Maverick hybrid, which Ford estimates will return an incredible 40 miles-per-gallon in the city. The best the Santa Cruz can muster, meanwhile, is a mere 21 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 mpg combined, which obviously puts it at a huge disadvantage when compared to the Maverick.
Photos: Hyundai
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Powertrains
The Maverick is available with one of two powertrains - a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 94-kilowatt electric motor to produce 162 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque mated to a CVT, or Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4, which makes 250 hp and 277 lb-ft and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz is available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 hp and 181 lb-ft with an 8-speed automatic transmission, or a turbocharged 2.5-liter that produces 281 hp and 311 lb-ft, which is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Photos: Ford
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Other Notable Stats.
Both of these vehicles are offered exclusively in crew cab configuration with seating for five and a bed, which is 4.5 feet long in the Maverick and 4.3 feet in the Santa Cruz. Both come in a standard front-wheel-drive configuration, with all-wheel-drive available as an option. The Maverick has a max payload rating of 1,500 pounds versus the Santa Cruz's rating of 1,600 pounds but can tow up to 4,000 pounds, while the Hyundai maxes out at 5,000 pounds,
Photos: Hyundai
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Power of Choice
While the Maverick is slightly less capable than the Santa Cruz, it's a pretty obvious winner in every other regard. That includes styling, which is subjective, but we imagine more buyers will prefer Ford's traditional truck look over the Santa Cruz's funky lines, especially given the big difference in price and efficiency. Regardless, most will just be happy to have more than one option when it comes to compact pickups, something that we haven't seen in many years.
Photos: Ford
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