Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz: Battle of the Compacts
The compact pickup segment died long ago, but the Maverick and the Santa Cruz are bringing it back in a big way.
Reviving an Old Segment
The Ford Maverick has only been on sale for a few months now, but it's already a huge hit. Ford stopped taking orders for the 2022 model year just a couple of weeks ago, and it's virtually impossible to find one on a dealer lot, at least without some huge markup applied to it. However, the Maverick does have one competitor in this space - the Hyundai Santa Cruz - which means that it's worth seeing how these two brand new pickups stack up.
Photos: Ford
Pricing
Getting right to the point, the Maverick is cheaper than the Santa Cruz across the board, by a long shot. With a base price just south of $20k, the Maverick is far cheaper than the $24k Hyundai pickup, and that also applies to every trim level and configuration. While the base Santa Cruz is better equipped, it's also crazy expensive to get AWD - which requires a higher trim level that costs $36k, versus the Maverick at $23k.
Photos: Hyundai
Powertrains
The Maverick can be had with either the base hybrid that makes 191 hp and 155 pound-feet of torque or the optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4, which cranks out 250 hp and 277 lb-ft, both of which are paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Cruz is offered with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, or a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft, both of which are also mated to an 8-speed automatic.
Photos: Ford
Fuel Economy
Though the Santa Cruz offers more power in certain configurations, it also returns far worse fuel economy than the Maverick. Ford's hybrid pickup features an amazing EPA rating of 42 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway, while the EcoBoost also offers an impressive 23/30 rating. The Santa Cruz, on the other hand, returns 21/26 and 19/27 for the base and turbo versions, respectively.
Photos: Hyundai
Size and Styling
Styling can be very subjective, but it's worth noting that the Maverick looks more like a traditional pickup, in spite of its passenger car-derived platform. The Santa Cruz, on the other hand, looks like a crossover with a bed tacked on, because it basically is just that. However, some are sure to enjoy the Hyundai's funky styling, while others will want to go a more traditional route with the Maverick. Either way, both trucks are virtually the same size, as the Santa Cruz is four inches shorter but a little over three inches wider.
Photos: Ford
Towing and Payload
While neither of these trucks will tow or haul nearly as much as their larger brethren, both are still plenty capable for most folks. The Maverick has a max payload capacity of 1,500 and 2,000 pounds for the hybrid and EcoBoost and can tow up to 4,000 pounds with the 4K Tow Package and latter powerplant. The Santa Cruz has a max payload of 1,500-1,900 pounds but can tow up to 3,500 or 5,000 pounds with the N/A and turbo fours.
Photos: Hyundai
Winner?
As for which is better, well, it's clear that the Santa Cruz is a bit more powerful in some guises, as well as more capable. But for most, it's hard to get past the huge price difference, as well as the styling of both trucks. In that regard, it's also difficult not to declare the Maverick as the winner, unless you just absolutely have to tow something that weighs more than 4,000 pounds, and in that case, you can always just buy a bigger truck.
Photos: Ford
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