How Does the 2022 Ford Maverick Stack Up to the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

2022 Ford Maverick vs. 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz at a Glance

2022 Ford Maverick vs. 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz at a Glance

It’s an exciting time to be in the market for a compact pickup truck. Both Ford and Hyundai have managed to crank out compelling alternatives to the midsize and full-size trucks that often seem to saturate the industry.
At a glance, both vehicles offer a lot of similar value. Both come with functional cargo beds and the option to upgrade to a turbocharged engine. They have a similar starting price point, and both excel in driving performance. However, a deeper analysis reveals that these trucks differ in fundamental ways. So let’s explore which truck comes out on top.

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Engine and Fuel Economy

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Engine and Fuel Economy

When comparing these vehicles, you’ll notice that both come with the option for an upgraded powertrain. They have similar stats overall in terms of their max horsepower. Both trucks also come with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission.

Here is a quick breakdown of they stack up against one another:

Compact Truck Ford Maverick Hyundai Santa Cruz
Standard Powertrain 2.5L full hybrid 2.5L four-cylinder
Available Powertrain 2.0L EcoBoost 2.5L Turbocharged
Horsepower 191/250 191/281
Transmission 8-speed automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Fuel Economy (MPG) 42 city/33 hwy 21 city/ 26 highway

The 2022 Ford Maverick shines in terms of fuel economy. So whether you’re primarily driving to work or prefer using your truck for long road trips, you’ll end up stopping at the pump far less in the Maverick. For this reason, we give the 2022 Maverick the slight edge in this category.

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Final Considerations

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Price Comparison

We believe it makes sense to look at all the available trims each vehicle offers when comparing prices. The 2022 Ford Maverick comes in three trims, while the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has four options.

Ford Maverick trims and starting MSRP:

  • Ford Maverick XL: $19,995
  • Ford Maverick XLT: $22,360
  • Ford Maverick Lariat: $25,860

Hyundai Santa Cruz trims and starting MSRP:

  • Hyundai Santa Cruz SE: $23,990
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL: $27,190
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium: $35,680
  • Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited: $39,720

While the Santa Cruz brings a lot to the table, it gets pretty pricey for anything above the standard trim. So if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, the Maverick dominates in this category.

Stop by Ford of Homewood to discuss pricing options for the 2022 Ford Maverick!

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Final Considerations

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Final Considerations

If you’re looking to take your compact truck offroad, the 2022 Ford Maverick has an available FX4 offroad package. No offroad package exists for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. When comparing truck bed lengths, the Ford Maverick offers 54.4 inches compared to 48.4 inches on the Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s worth noting that the Santa Cruz has a greater max towing capacity at 5,000 lbs compared to 4,000 lbs for the Maverick. Overall, these are both fantastic vehicles. However, we recommend choosing the 2022 Ford Maverick if you want a better fuel economy, excellent price point, and robust offroading capabilities.

Sources:
https://www.ford.com/trucks/maverick/
https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/santa-cruz