2025 Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz
The 2025 Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are the only compact pickup trucks on the market. If you want a capable vehicle offering as much seating as a compact SUV with the added functionality of exterior storage, these are just what you're looking for. Both have compelling features and robust capabilities but distinct engine differences and unique interiors. To help find the right compact truck for your family, our Chalmers Ford team in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, has put together this car model comparison.
Design and Exterior Features
The 2025 Ford Maverick compact pickup offers the functionality of a truck with the efficiency and convenience of a smaller vehicle. Despite its size, the Maverick's powerful front grille and commanding stance establish it as a functional truck. It has 17-inch wheels, upgrading to 19-inch wheels in the Lobo and Lariat trims.
Hyundai markets the Santa Cruz as “part pickup truck, part SUV.” This unique approach is evident in its spacious cabin paired with a compact 4-foot truck bed. The grille and front bumper mimic the TUCSON SUV, contributing to the aesthetics of this pickup. For a rugged appearance, you can opt for the XRT trim that includes 18-inch alloy wheels and bold red front tow hooks.
While both trucks have cornered the compact market, the Maverick offers more load functionality with its FLEXBED storage system featuring a multi-position tailgate for flexible loading. The cargo bed measures 54.4 inches long and 53.3 inches wide, with 42.6 inches between the wheel wells, giving you 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The Santa Cruz offers a smaller bed measuring 52.1 inches long and 53.9 inches wide, with 42.7 inches between the wheel wells, offering 27 cubic feet of cargo space.
Interior Comfort and Technology
The Maverick's 13.2-inch center touch screen is the largest in its class and includes wireless SYNC 4 capability for hands-free access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and others. Available perks such as a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging pad, and 360-degree camera in the higher trims enhance the truck's functionality. A standard 8-inch productivity screen offers digital access to your instrument cluster.
The Santa Cruz features a 12.3-inch infotainment screen in the SE and SEL, upgrading to a digital display comprised of two 12.3-inch screens in a single curved panel in the higher trims. Hyundai Pay is incorporated into the system, which may seem a security weakness until you consider the integrated fingerprint scanner. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included.
The interior dimensions are similar, with both trucks having seating for five. The Maverick has an extra 1.4 inches of front legroom with nearly half an inch more legroom in the rear. The Santa Cruz does better with standard comforts, adding heated front seating in the SEL and up. Heated seats are optional in all but the base-level Maverick and standard in the Lariat and above. Dual-zone temperature controls aren't available for the Maverick until the Lobo trim, while the Santa Cruz has this feature in the SEL.
Performance and Capability
The Ford Maverick is a winner for high-efficiency performance. It comes standard with a hybrid powertrain comprising a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor producing 191 horsepower combined. If you prefer a traditional engine, you can opt for a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas-powered engine generating 250 horsepower.
The Santa Cruz SE, SEL, and SEL Activity come standard with a 191-horsepower four-cylinder engine, and higher trims have a 2.5-liter turbo engine producing 281 horsepower. While the Maverick offers a respectable 4,000-pound towing capacity when properly equipped, the Santa Cruz XRT and Limited tow up to 5,000 pounds with their robust engines.
The hybrid Maverick gets an EPA-estimated 42 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive hybrid delivers 40 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The nonhybrid engine gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The Santa Cruz can't compete, with an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined with the front-wheel-drive base engine and 22 mpg combined with the all-wheel-drive turbocharged engine.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Ford Maverick comes standard with automated emergency braking and lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist. Ford Co-Pilot360 is available in the Maverick, offering:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Connected navigation
- Speed sign recognition
- Intersection assist
- Evasive steering assist
Standard features on the Santa Cruz are more robust, with forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Santa Cruz also offers a driver-attention warning system.
Trim Levels and Pricing
Despite its efficient engine and lower fuel costs, the Maverick is still a cheaper purchase, with the following models’ MSRPs starting at:
- Maverick XL: $26,995
- Maverick XLT: $29,495
- Maverick Lobo: $35,255
- Maverick Lariat: $37,290
- Maverick Tremor: $40,350
The Santa Cruz trim levels’ starting MSRPs are as follows:
- SE: $28,750
- SEL: $30,450
- SEL Activity: $33,450
- XRT: $40,250
- Limited: $42,750
Experience the Ford Maverick Firsthand at Chalmers Ford
When you compare car features, the Ford Maverick wins on most fronts. Not only is the upfront price lower, but its hybrid efficiency helps keep fuel costs low throughout its life span. The spacious and capable Maverick is available for a test drive at Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. We can help you streamline your new truck purchase, from financing to selecting the ideal trim for you and your family. Come in and explore our showroom today.