Ready or not, the compact truck segment is back. We are definitely ready.

And we’ve got the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz side by side to compare how they stack up.


First, let’s talk about perhaps the most important part of a truck’s functionality, the bed. The Maverick’s FlexBed might only be 4.5-feet, but they’re cramming a ton of features into it. There are tie-downs and D-rings to secure your gear. The tailgate is adjustable if you’re hauling sheets of plywood or drywall.

There are molded cutouts to create your own bike racks or storage systems as well as prewired outlets for you to plug in accessories or power tools. Best of all, the load floor is low, so throwing things in and getting them out is easy. Ford will also help you construct your own storage solutions when you use this QR code.


The Santa Cruz’s bed is only 4-feet but gets a bit fancier when it comes to the features and includes a damped tailgate, three-step options for getting up in it, and some significant under-bed storage with a drain so you can use this as a cooler. They’ve also got a 115v outlet, and a rail and cleat system to tie down gear.


Seems like we’re pretty neck and neck so far on these two

Let’s head inside to see how these small trucks handle interior space.


Ford packs a big punch into this interior. Great under seat storage, though you do lose some with the hybrid battery placement. The fit and finish materials feel like they’re well thought out with different textures and colors, stylish, like me, of course.

and this 8-inch touchscreen comes standard across all trim levels and includes CarPlay and Android Auto as well as wifi for 10 phones to connect. You can’t even fit that many people in here.


The interior of the Santa Cruz is filled with good tech as well. Wireless Android auto and apple carplay come standard, along with an 8-inch touchscreen. Coincidentally, the limited trim has a 10.25 touchscreen with navigation… but there’s only wired apple carplay and android auto.

That’s a bummer, but it gets solid under-seat storage and you don’t have that hybrid battery to contend with in the Maverick.

It also gets a deep center console and a rear sliding window all making the interior of the Santa Cruz tough to beat.



Fuel Economy numbers are pretty comparable, though we do not have numbers yet on the Maverick’s got an EPA number of 42 combined number. That’s major.


Pricing might be where the Maverick charges ahead of the Santa Cruz. Starting price on the hybrid Ford is $19,995. For the Santa Cruz you’re going to pay a bit more out of the gate.

At the high end they match up a bit better with both fully loaded coming in around $40,000.


When it comes to styling, beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder.

The Santa Cruz just looks like a disruptor, almost like the old Subaru Baja or even the Izuzu Vehicross. It’s different!


But the Maverick sports to the tried and true truck look and might fit expectations a bit more for someone looking to buy in the category.


So, both the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz have excellent functionality in the interior and the bed, and solid styling, but to us, the Maverick takes a bit of a lead in price and fuel economy with that hybrid,


But the most important opinion if you’re in the small truck market is yours, so put them on your list!

00:00 Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz
0:25 Exterior/Truck Bed
1:27 Interior
2:30 Fuel economy
3:02 Pricing