2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2025 Ford Maverick

The Hyundai Santa Cruz and the Ford Maverick in Phoenix have redefined the compact pickup truck segment, offering car-like handling and impressive utility in surprisingly stylish packages. But while both trucks may seem similar at first glance, they cater to different priorities. Are you seeking a casual workhorse or a refined daily driver with premium features and a sportier edge?

This updated guide dives deep into the Santa Cruz vs. Maverick debate, exploring key differences in performance, capability, design, and technology. Whether you're a casual buyer or a truck enthusiast, you’ll find the insights you need to make an informed decision.  

Which Truck Has the More Stylish Design?

While both the Maverick and Santa Cruz bring a fresh perspective to truck styling, the Santa Cruz truly elevates the segment with its sophisticated design. Inside, the Maverick features a functional, somewhat basic cabin. In contrast, the Santa Cruz boasts a refined interior with premium materials and an upscale ambiance more akin to a luxury SUV than a traditional pickup.

This design-forward approach extends to the exterior. The Maverick opts for a conventional, boxy truck profile. The Santa Cruz, however, makes a bolder statement with its sleek, aerodynamic lines and sculpted bodywork, drawing inspiration from Hyundai's award-winning SUV lineup.  

For 2025, Hyundai has refined the truck’s exterior even further. With its style and capability, this truck impressed automotive journalists, earning the Compact Truck of Texas Award.  

Which Compact Truck Offers More Passenger Space?

When it comes to passenger comfort, the Santa Cruz provides a more spacious and accommodating cabin, especially when compared to the Maverick Hybrid. Both rows offer generous headroom and legroom, ensuring a comfortable ride for all occupants.

Specifically, the Santa Cruz surpasses the Maverick Hybrid in rear legroom, and it boasts superior headroom compared to both the hybrid and turbocharged Maverick models. This makes the Santa Cruz the clear choice for those who prioritize passenger space and comfort.  

Which Small Truck Offers More Versatile and Functional Cargo Space?

While the Maverick might have a slightly longer bed, the Santa Cruz offers significantly greater versatility and functionality, making it a more practical choice for a wider range of cargo needs.

One key advantage of the Santa Cruz is its available retractable tonneau cover. This hard-rolling cover provides secure, weatherproof storage, effectively transforming the bed into a large, lockable trunk. This convenient feature isn't available on the Maverick.  

Furthermore, the Santa Cruz offers a unique in-bed trunk with a drain plug. This lockable compartment can be used as a cooler for beverages and perishable items, or as a convenient storage space for muddy gear or wet clothes.  

Accessing the bed is also easier in the Santa Cruz, thanks to the convenient bed steps integrated into the rear bumper. This thoughtful feature is not available on the Maverick.  

Both trucks offer in-bed storage compartments along the sidewalls, but in the Maverick, these are only available on higher trim levels. The Santa Cruz also comes standard with a utility track system, allowing you to easily adjust the tie-down points to accommodate different cargo sizes and shapes.  

Despite its slightly shorter bed, the Santa Cruz boasts a higher payload capacity than the Maverick. This means you can carry more weight in the Santa Cruz, making it a more capable workhorse.  

When it comes to towing, the Santa Cruz again has the edge. The hybrid Maverick can tow up to 2,000 pounds, while the turbo Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds. However, the Santa Cruz offers a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, making it the clear choice for towing larger trailers or heavier loads.  

In summary, the Santa Cruz provides a more versatile and functional cargo space with its innovative features, secure storage options, higher payload capacity, and superior towing capabilities. Visit your Avondale Hyundai dealer to explore the latest financing options for the Santa Cruz truck.  

Which Small Truck Offers the Best Value?

While the Maverick may initially appear more budget-friendly with its lower starting price, the Santa Cruz ultimately delivers superior value. The Santa Cruz justifies its slightly higher cost by offering a more comprehensive package, starting with a standard powerful engine and impressive towing capacity.

Beyond the basics, the Santa Cruz provides a significantly more refined and upscale interior experience. It also boasts a generous array of standard driver-assistance features that are often optional or unavailable on the Maverick, even on higher trim levels like the XLT. For buyers who value performance, sophistication, and a comprehensive set of features, the Santa Cruz presents a compelling value proposition.  

Although the Maverick Hybrid offers the best fuel economy, you’ll still find that Kelley Blue Book rates the Santa Cruz as the best among compact trucks. They have named it #1 among fuel efficient trucks for 2025.  

Which Small Truck Offers a More Advanced Driving Experience?

The Santa Cruz takes the lead in driver-assistance technology, offering a more sophisticated and comprehensive suite of features than the Maverick, especially on its higher trim levels.

One standout example is Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist, a semi-autonomous driving feature available on the Santa Cruz Limited. This system combines lane following assist and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, making highway driving more relaxing and convenient. While Ford offers a similar system on the Maverick, it requires a yearly subscription, adding to the overall cost of ownership.  

Furthermore, the Santa Cruz's adaptive cruise control system includes an advanced feature called Curve Control, which automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed when approaching curves based on navigation data. This enhances both safety and driver confidence on winding roads, and it's not available on the Maverick.  

The Santa Cruz also excels in parking assistance. While the Maverick offers basic rear parking sensors, the Santa Cruz provides a Surround View Monitor, giving you a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the vehicle's surroundings. This makes parking in tight spaces a breeze.  

Another exclusive feature on the Santa Cruz is the Blind View Monitor. This innovative system displays a live video feed of your blind spot directly within the instrument cluster, providing an added layer of awareness and safety when changing lanes.  

Overall, the Santa Cruz elevates the driving experience with its advanced suite of driver-assistance technologies, enhancing convenience, safety, and confidence on the road.  

Which Small Truck Provides Greater Peace of Mind?

Hyundai demonstrates unwavering confidence in the Santa Cruz with its exceptional warranty coverage, surpassing Ford's standard offerings. Ford's limited warranty covers the Maverick for 3 years/36,000 miles, with a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

In stark contrast, the Santa Cruz boasts a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and an outstanding 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This comprehensive coverage provides Santa Cruz owners with long-term peace of mind and protection against unexpected repair costs. Hyundai's commitment to quality and durability is clearly reflected in its exceptional warranty program.  

Conclusion

Conclusion: The Santa Cruz Raises the Bar

The Hyundai Santa Cruz proves that a compact truck can deliver more than just basic utility. With its powerful performance, refined comfort, versatile cargo solutions, advanced technology, and comprehensive safety features, the Santa Cruz presents a compelling package that's hard to beat.

Whether you're seeking a stylish daily driver, a capable weekend adventurer, or a reliable work partner, the Santa Cruz exceeds expectations on all fronts. Its unique blend of car-like comfort and truck-like utility makes it a truly versatile vehicle that adapts seamlessly to your lifestyle. 

Ready to experience the difference? Visit your local Hyundai dealer and discover how the impressive Santa Cruz can elevate your driving experience. Schedule a test drive today!