What's the Difference: Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz

 

Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz in Corpus Christi, TX

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center and Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History are great ways to explore the beauty and history of our great city. And, from a miniature Japanese garden to a scale model of the Corpus Christi harbor, it seems that sometimes bigger isn't always better.

Thanks to leaps and bounds in vehicle engineering and technology, the same holds true for an American classic: the truck. Today, a new class of vehicles offers all the capabilities and versatility of a full-size pickup truck in a smaller, but still powerful, package. As these compact pickup trucks increase in popularity, manufacturers are racing to produce small pickup trucks with big potential.

The Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier have been around for a while. But here, we've chosen to compare the Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz, two of the newer and more modern additions to the vehicle category.

Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz

Features Ford Maverick Hyundai Santa Cruz
MPG 22 city / 29 hwy 19 city / 26 hwy
Engines
  • 2.5L FHEV (Hybrid)
  • 2.0L EcoBoost
  • 2.5L Turbocharged
  • 2.5L
Drivetrain FWD or AWD FWD or AWD
Bed Length 53.3 in 52.1 in
Towing Capacity 2,000 - 4,000 lbs 3,500 - 5,000 lbs

What's the Difference: Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz

Both compact trucks are a four-door crew cab style with two rows of seating for up to five passengers and ample interior storage space. Both trucks are built on a unibody platform and feature standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and available all-wheel drive (AWD).

While both the Maverick and Santa Cruz offer an available four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the base engines are one of the major differences between the two trucks. With that in mind, we begin our Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz comparison by looking at performance and efficiency.

Reliability and Quality

A consumer insights company, J.D. Power analyzes consumer feedback and data from real-world experiences to create vehicle ratings. The unbiased information from independent VIN-verified car buyers determines a predicted reliability score for new vehicles. Scores between 91 and 100 are "Best," between 81 and 90 are "Great," between 70 and 80 are "Average," and scores from 0 to 69 are considered below average and given a rating of "Fair."

The 2023 Ford Explorer has an overall score of 82 with a score of 81 in the Quality and Reliability category.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz received an overall rating of 80 with a score of 83 for Quality and Reliability.

Performance and Efficiency

When Ford released the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick, they set new standards for the compact truck class by debuting a hybrid engine. The XL, XLT, and LARIAT come standard with a class-leading 2.5-liter four-cylinder full hybrid engine that produces 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain features a continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission paired with FWD.

The Maverick also offers a 2.0-liter EcoBoost® four-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of producing 250 horsepower. When equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission, AWD, and the available 4K Tow Package, the Maverick offers a max towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds*.

The Maverick's hybrid engine tops the charts, offering the best fuel economy in the segment by far (even better than some compact sedans). Expect an EPA-estimated fuel rating of 42 city mpg** and 33 highway mpg**.

Although not as fuel efficient as its hybrid sibling, the EcoBoost® engine still puts out some impressive numbers. With 22 / 29 mpg** (city / highway), the Maverick is more fuel efficient than the Hyundai Santa Cruz and even beats rivals such as the Honda Ridgeline and Toyota Tacoma.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz doesn't offer a hybrid powertrain. It has a standard 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (SE, SEL, and Night trims). Although not very powerful, the base engine has impressive fuel economy ratings: 19 city / 26 highway mpg**. The SEL Premium and Limited Santa Cruz trims feature a 281-horsepower four-cylinder turbo engine, standard AWD, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

When properly equipped, the Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 3,500 pounds* with FWD and up to 5,000 pounds* when fitted with AWD. The maximum payload capacity for the Santa Cruz is 1,600 pounds while the Maverick can haul up to 1,500 pounds.

Now we'll check in on how the two compact trucks help keep drivers in control on the road and all passengers safe, whether cruising South Padre Island Drive or a Nueces County backroad.

Safety and Driving Assistance

Standard on the Ford Maverick, you get safety features like:
  • Auto LED High-Beam
  • Auto On/Off LED Headlamps
  • Pre-Collision Assist With Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Rear View Camera

Ford Co-Pilot360â„¢ features available with the Ford Maverick LARIAT include:
  • Adaptive Cruise Control With Stop-and-Go And Lane Centering
  • BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Lane-Keeping Aid
  • Lane-Centering
  • Hill Descent Control
  • Rear Parking Sensors
  • Evasive Steering

Hyundai SmartSenseâ„¢ includes features like Smart Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Attention Warning. Additional safety and driver assist features standard on the Hyundai Santa Cruz include:
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
  • Lane Following Assist
  • High Beam Assist
  • Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (SEL trim and above)

A Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Curve Control is only available on the Santa Cruz Limited trim.

For our next Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz comparison, let's see how the two match up in comfort, convenience, and modern tech.

Infotainment and Technology

Both trucks come equipped at the base trim with an eight-inch touchscreen display, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth®*** connectivity, wireless Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay®,

Ford Maverick infotainment and technology highlights:
  • FordPass Connectâ„¢
  • Remote keyless entry
  • 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen
  • Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Two front USB ports

The available SYNC® 3 infotainment system offers voice control for hands-free connectivity.

With two available 400-watt 110V outlets (one in the cab, one in the truck bed), you have power wherever your off-road travels take you whenever you need it. This feature works while the truck is running and when the engine is off with the key in the accessory position.

Hyundai Santa Cruz infotainment and technology highlights:
  • Front dual USB ports
  • HD Radioâ„¢ technology
  • Bluelink® Connected Car Service
  • Wireless device charging (Night trim and higher)
  • Remote release tailgate

An infotainment system with voice recognition capabilities is standard equipment for the SEL Premium and Limited trims.

For an additional $3,270 you can add the Hyundai Activity Package which includes:
  • Integrated tonneau cover
  • Conventional sunroof
  • Roof side rails
  • Rear sliding glass with defroster
  • 115V AC power inverter in bed
  • Dual C-channel utility tracks on the inside rail system with cleats for each side
  • LED bed lighting
  • LED map lights
  • 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster
  • Wireless device charging

Shop Ford Maverick Near Corpus Christi, TX

One final difference that makes the Ford Maverick an excellent value is that the starting MSRP is lower than any of the competitors in the compact pickup truck class. For exact pricing and for more information comparing the Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz, contact AutoNation Ford Corpus Christi. We have one of the most exceptional selections of new vehicles in the San Antonio, McAllen, Victoria, Rockport, and Robstown areas.

When you step inside our dealership showroom, you'll immediately realize why families in the San Antonio, McAllen, Victoria, Rockport, and Robstown communities choose AutoNation Ford Corpus Christi for all their Ford needs. From our friendly and knowledgeable team members to our advanced service center, we aim to make your car-buying and owning experience the best you've ever had.

With competitive rates, flexible terms, and exclusive lease specials, our finance department can create a finance package that meets your financial goals.

Still undecided about which vehicle is right for you? At AutoNation Ford Corpus Christi, our inventory features the finest new Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs plus top-quality Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles. Our used car inventory is stocked with the ever-popular Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Ranger as well as used vehicles from other brands. Of course, the best way to find the vehicle that fits all your needs is to come by our dealership for a test drive.

*Before towing, confirm your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up, and loaded properly and that you have any necessary additional equipment. The maximum you can tow depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment.

**Preliminary EPA-estimated figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on speed, driving habits, trip length and driving conditions; actual mileage may be lower. Note for MPGe: All data are provisional and subject to official confirmation. The provisional power consumption figures have been calculated based on the ECE test cycle.

***Bluetooth® is a registered mark Bluetooth SIG, INC.