Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: A Model-to-Model Comparison
We break down all the major differences between the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz when it comes to performance, pricing, appearance, fuel economy, and more.
The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are clear competitors on the market, offering compact pick-up truck designs and remaining as some of the only of their kind in the industry. It might be tricky to pick between them, which is where we come in. There are many areas to consider when pondering the Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Whether you’re interested in a compact pick-up truck for practical reasons or because they look cool, the Maverick and Santa Cruz are unique investments. The more you know before buying, the better. Keep reading to learn more about how they differ in performance, interior, safety, price point, and other valuable spots.
Performance
Performance is the first section to consider with the Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz. The more power a vehicle can provide, the better - especially with a truck. These machines need to kick it on the road with a heavier load.
According to autoblog.com, there are some differences between the Maverick and Santa Cruz. In the base engine department, the Maverick is the winner with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged system. However, the Santa Cruz is the winner in acceleration, beating the Maverick’s 250 horsepower by 31 in the upgraded selection.
The winner here depends on what you want. The Maverick is the winner in power, but the Santa Cruz emerges victorious in acceleration.
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Interior Comfort and Style
Another valuable aspect to consider in the Maverick versus the Santa Cruz is the interior. Of course, the exterior of both cars is something anyone will love - what do both offer when considering what’s on the inside?
When looking purely from an interior appearance standpoint, there’s little competition. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a premium appearance and high-quality materials that only add to the value. On the other hand, you will find hard plastic used in many places in the Maverick, which can be unfortunate coming from an aesthetic perspective in your investment.
Hyundai also offers better infotainment and more cargo room. It’s slightly smaller in capacity but has other functionality features like an underfloor storage area that make it better for those needing more space.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the winner here. It’s made to accommodate the average driver with ease.
Price and Value
Of course, most investors in a vehicle want to make the most of their money. Thus, it’s vital to examine the price point of a machine before making a final choice. You’d be surprised at how much these trucks differ in this arena.
The Ford Maverick is an affordable selection on the market, especially for a truck. You can find the base trim for a starting price of $23,815 with an available hybrid upgrade. If you decide to push to the higher trim levels, you will find them for a starting price of $34,855. Again, the price will only rise as you add more features.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the more expensive selection. The base trim has a starting price of $26,900, which is lower than average but still higher than the Ford Maverick. For the higher trim levels, you can expect to see a starting price of $41,320. The priciest Santa Cruz is far more than the Maverick.
The Ford Maverick is the winner here. It’s much better for those on a budget.
FORD MAVERICK PROS & CONS
If you’re interested in this vehicle, it’s vital to know what you’re getting yourself into. One of the best ways to determine if a car is ideal is to check out the Ford Maverick pros and cons.
Safety
Families and individuals who drive their loved ones will make safety a primary consideration in their selection. Luckily, both these trucks take that into account in their unique designs.
Both the Maverick and Santa Cruz come with ample safety features, though the Santa Cruz selections are slightly better. The Maverick earns “Acceptable” ratings in crash tests, while the Santa Cruz nabs slightly better ratings.
The compact trucks are very close in this arena, but we would give the safety trophy to the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The overall score and evaluation of the vehicle were better, so drivers can feel more confident in their choice.
Fuel Economy
If you want to save money and spend more time on the road, consideration of the fuel economy is a must. This feature is particularly vital when examining a truck, as many have infamously terrible fuel economy.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz provides a fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which leaves a little left to be desired. On the other hand, the Ford Maverick brings 33 mpg on the highway and 37 mpg in the city.
The Ford Maverick is the winner by leaps and bounds in this section. It’s the much better choice to stretch every dollar to its maximum.
Trims
Our final consideration with the Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz is the available trims for the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick. The more choices you have the better, as everyone wants the opportunity to upgrade their system to their liking.
The Ford Maverick provides three different trim selections, with hybrid as an available option on all of them. The higher the trim, the more technology and features you’ll find built into the system.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz comes in five trim levels, which means you have even more options. It’s slightly more versatile than the Maverick.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the winner in trims. There are more options to land on the compact truck selection of your dreams.
HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ MPG: WHAT TO KNOW
If you’re interested in this vehicle for a work commute or moving your family around, you probably want to be able to drive for a long time before pulling over to fill up. What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz MPG?
Which Car Comes Out On Top?
We’ve talked about the Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz, examining everything from the performance of the compact trucks to the trims available for purchase. Each has areas where it shines and areas where it falls flat. We have one final question to answer - should you get the Santa Cruz or the Maverick?
If you want to save money and need a much better fuel economy, we recommend the Ford Maverick. However, if you want a more luxurious and functional ride with multiple trim options, the Santa Cruz is the winner. Ultimately, the truck selection comes down to your taste in vehicles.
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