Maverick vs Santa Cruz
For compact pickup shoppers, the Maverick from Ford and the Santa Cruz from Hyundai are two of the obvious candidates. If you only read one line, make it this: the Maverick takes 2 of 5 compared areas, and the fuel economy & range gap is the one to look at first.
At a glance
- Engine & Performance Santa Cruz wins
- Fuel Economy & Range Maverick wins
- Space & Practicality Tie
- Off-road & Towing Maverick wins
- Safety & Tech Tie
- Fuel Economy & Range10.0
- Off-road & Towing10.0
- Fuel Economy & Range0.0
- Off-road & Towing3.3
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Maverick has better fuel economy
Big gap, real consequences. The Maverick’s 38 mpg versus the Santa Cruz’s 25 mpg changes how the two compare in daily use. Better combined fuel economy lowers your running costs every week, and the savings add up over years of ownership.
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The Santa Cruz has 26 lb-ft more torque
The Maverick is clearly behind on torque (155 lb-ft against 181 lb-ft), and that’s one of its biggest weak spots in this matchup. More torque means stronger pulling from low speeds, which you feel when accelerating from a stop or climbing grades.
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The Maverick has better city fuel economy
On this line of the spec sheet, the Maverick is in a different league: 42 mpg, next to 22 mpg for the Santa Cruz. In town, driving style has a big effect, but the Maverick starts from a better baseline.
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The Maverick has better highway fuel economy
For fuel economy (highway), the Maverick leads by a wide margin: 35 mpg versus 30 mpg. Highway fuel economy matters if you cover long distances at steady speeds.
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The Maverick has 500 lb more towing capacity
The Maverick gets a small bonus on max towing, with 4,000 lb against the Santa Cruz’s 3,500 lb. Towing ratings depend on configuration and equipment, so check the exact trim you’re looking at.
Design & Size
- Maverick 199.7 in × 72.6 in × 68.7 in
- Santa Cruz 195.7 in × 75 in × 66.7 in
Size is a tie. Anywhere the Maverick fits, the Santa Cruz should fit too, and vice versa.
Dimensions
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 199.7 in | 195.7 in |
| Width (no mirrors) | 72.6 in | 75 in |
| Height | 68.7 in | 66.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 121.1 in | 118.3 in |
Engine & Performance
Santa Cruz leads
The Santa Cruz wins the engine & performance section decisively. The Santa Cruz brings 26 lb-ft more torque. The Santa Cruz’s extra torque makes it more relaxed when fully loaded or towing. That makes the Santa Cruz the natural choice for buyers focused on engine & performance.
Torque
Maverick: 155 lb-ft Santa Cruz: 181 lb-ft Electrified powertrains deliver torque instantly, so compare torque figures alongside the powertrain type.
Fuel Economy & Range
Maverick leads
The Maverick dominates the fuel economy & range section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Maverick answers with better fuel economy. The Maverick uses less fuel on the standard combined cycle, which matters most if you drive a lot. Net result: the Maverick leads this part of the comparison.
Fuel economy (combined)
Maverick: 38 mpg Santa Cruz: 25 mpg Official figures rarely match real-world driving exactly, but the ranking between two cars tends to hold.
Fuel economy (city)
Maverick: 42 mpg Santa Cruz: 22 mpg Hybrids often shine in the city, and the Maverick has the better rating here.
Space & Practicality
Too close to call
Evenly matched is the fairest summary of the space & practicality section. If space & practicality was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Off-road & Towing
Maverick leads
The Maverick does a little better in the off-road & towing section, though nothing here is a deal-breaker for the Santa Cruz. The Maverick scores with 500 lb more towing capacity. A higher towing capacity lets you pull bigger trailers, boats and campers. In short, the Maverick is the better-equipped car for off-road & towing.
Max towing
Maverick: 4,000 lb Santa Cruz: 3,500 lb If you tow regularly, the Maverick’s higher rating gives you more margin.
Safety & Tech
Too close to call
If safety & tech matters most to you, this section won’t make the decision for you: they’re level. Bottom line for safety & tech: it’s a wash.
Full Specifications
Engine & Performance
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | Hybrid | Gas |
| Engine | 2.5L I4 hybrid | 2.5L I4 |
| Total system output | 191 hp | 191 hp |
| Torque | 155 lb-ft | 181 lb-ft (winner) |
| Transmission | eCVT | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | FWD (AWD available) | FWD (AWD available) |
Fuel Economy & Range
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy (combined)EPA estimate where available | 38 mpg (winner) | 25 mpg |
| Fuel economy (city) | 42 mpg (winner) | 22 mpg |
| Fuel economy (highway) | 35 mpg (winner) | 30 mpg |
| Fuel tank | 13.8 gal | 17.7 gal |
Space & Practicality
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Off-road & Towing
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 8.30 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Max towing | 4,000 lb (winner) | 3,500 lb |
| AWD / 4WD available | Yes | Yes |
Safety & Tech
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Largest touchscreen | 13.2 in | 12.3 in |
| Apple CarPlay / Android Auto | Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | N/A (not specified) |
| Driver-assist suite | Ford Co-Pilot360 | Hyundai SmartSense |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
Dimensions
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 199.7 in | 195.7 in |
| Width (no mirrors) | 72.6 in | 75 in |
| Height | 68.7 in | 66.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 121.1 in | 118.3 in |
Price
| Spec | Maverick | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $28,145 | N/A (not specified) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Maverick if…
- you want better combined fuel economy (38 mpg vs 25 mpg)
- you want better city fuel economy (42 mpg vs 22 mpg)
- you want better highway fuel economy (35 mpg vs 30 mpg)
- you tow a camper, boat or trailer (4,000 lb vs 3,500 lb)
Choose the Santa Cruz if…
- you often drive loaded up or with a trailer (181 lb-ft vs 155 lb-ft of torque)
- you already use other Hyundai products
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Maverick or the Santa Cruz?
The Maverick wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless having 26 lb-ft more torque matters more to you than the rest.
Which is larger, the Maverick or the Santa Cruz?
Neither by much. The Maverick and the Santa Cruz have nearly identical dimensions.
Executive Summary
Here’s my honest read on a classic rivalry: Ford’s Maverick against Hyundai’s Santa Cruz. It’s hard to argue with better fuel economy, which is exactly what the Maverick brings. A second point goes to the Maverick for better highway fuel economy. Still, if you care most about 26 lb-ft more torque, the Santa Cruz deserves a look.
I’d match them like this: fuel economy & range to the Maverick, engine & performance to the Santa Cruz.
My pick: the Maverick; the one scenario where I’d reach for the Santa Cruz is if you care more about 26 lb-ft more torque than anything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.