Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Which Compact Pickup Fits You?

The Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz are the two compact pickups most shoppers compare. The Maverick costs less to start, comes standard with a hybrid that the EPA rates at 42 mpg in the city, and has a slightly longer bed. The Santa Cruz tows more and offers a more powerful turbo engine on its top trim, and it carries Hyundai’s longer warranty. If your truck is mainly a daily driver that hauls on weekends, the Maverick is usually the better fit. If you tow a boat or camper close to 5,000 pounds, look hard at the Santa Cruz XRT.

Blue 2026 Ford Maverick XLT in front of Jim Taylor Ford in Ruston, Louisiana

This guide compares the 2026 Ford Maverick, the model year on our lot at Jim Taylor Ford in Ruston, with the 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz, the model Hyundai is currently selling. Every figure comes from Ford, Hyundai or the EPA, and we note where we had to make an assumption.

Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz at a glance

2026 Ford Maverick 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Starting MSRP $28,145 (XL Hybrid) $30,300 (SE)
Standard engine 2.5L hybrid, 191 hp combined 2.5L four-cylinder, 191 hp
Most powerful engine 2.0L EcoBoost, 250 hp 2.5L turbo, 281 hp (XRT)
EPA city / hwy / combined, base FWD 42 / 35 / 38 mpg 22 / 30 / 25 mpg
Max towing 4,000 lb (2,000 lb standard) 5,000 lb XRT (3,500 lb standard)
Max payload 1,500 lb Varies by trim
Bed length 54.4 in. (4.5 ft) 52.1 in.
All-wheel drive Available, including with the hybrid $1,500 option; standard on XRT
Powertrain warranty 5 yr / 60,000 mi; hybrid parts 8 yr / 100,000 mi 10 yr / 100,000 mi (original owner)

MSRPs exclude destination, tax, title, license, dealer fees and options. Santa Cruz fuel economy is the EPA rating for the 2026 model with the same powertrain.

Price: the Maverick starts about $2,155 lower

Here is how the lineups line up by starting MSRP before destination.

  • Maverick XL Hybrid $28,145 vs. Santa Cruz SE $30,300
  • Maverick XLT Hybrid $30,645 vs. Santa Cruz SEL Activity $34,700
  • Maverick Lobo $35,930, Lariat $38,090 and Tremor $40,645 vs. Santa Cruz XRT $42,775

On a 60-month loan at 7% APR, every $1,000 financed adds roughly $19.80 to the payment, so the $2,155 gap at the bottom of each lineup is about $43 a month. Your rate depends on your credit, the term and current offers, and both brands run incentives that change monthly. To see real numbers, you can apply for financing online.

Fuel economy: where the Maverick pulls away

The standard Maverick hybrid is rated at 42 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined with front-wheel drive. The base Santa Cruz is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined, and the turbocharged XRT at 18, 25 and 20.

At 12,000 miles a year, a front-drive Maverick Hybrid uses about 316 gallons and a front-drive Santa Cruz about 480. At an assumed $2.75 a gallon, that is roughly $450 a year in the Maverick’s favor, and the gap is widest in stop-and-go driving around Ruston and on campus traffic during Louisiana Tech game days. On a steady I-20 run to Monroe or Shreveport the difference narrows but does not disappear.

Towing and hauling: the Santa Cruz tows more

This is the Santa Cruz’s clearest advantage. The base Santa Cruz tows up to 3,500 pounds and the XRT up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Maverick tows 2,000 pounds as standard and up to 4,000 pounds with the available 4K Tow Package.

For hauling in the bed, the Maverick’s bed is about two inches longer at 54.4 inches, and it is rated for up to 1,500 pounds of payload. Its FLEXBED system has slots and tie-downs designed for building your own dividers and racks. The Santa Cruz bed is 52.1 inches long.

Bottom line: a jon boat, a utility trailer, or a pair of ATVs on a light trailer is well within the Maverick’s range with the tow package. A heavier bass boat or a small camper approaching 5,000 pounds points to the Santa Cruz XRT, or to a midsize Ford Ranger.

Power and driving feel

Both base engines make 191 horsepower. The Maverick’s comes from a hybrid system with a continuously variable transmission. The Santa Cruz uses a conventional four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic.

Step up and the choices split. The Maverick’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost makes 250 horsepower and is standard on the Lobo, a lowered street-style truck, and the Tremor, which is built for off-road trails with an advanced four-wheel-drive system and a rear drive unit lock. The Santa Cruz XRT’s turbo makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, the most of any truck in this comparison.

Warranty: Hyundai covers more

Hyundai’s warranty is longer: 5 years or 60,000 miles of basic coverage and 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain for the original owner. Ford covers 3 years or 36,000 miles bumper to bumper and 5 years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain, with hybrid components covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. If you keep a truck past 60,000 miles, that difference is worth weighing.

What’s changing for 2027

Hyundai trimmed the 2027 Santa Cruz lineup to three trims, the SE, SEL Activity and XRT, and dropped the Limited. Industry reports, including a February 2026 Kelley Blue Book report citing Automotive News, have said Hyundai may end Santa Cruz production. Hyundai has continued to sell it for 2027, and the warranty is the same either way.

Published reports on 2027 Maverick ordering point to changes in pricing and engine availability by trim. Ask us which model year we have for the trim you want, since a 2026 already on the lot may be the better deal.

Which one should you buy?

  • Choose the Ford Maverick if you want the lowest starting price, much better fuel economy, a slightly longer bed, and enough towing for most weekend jobs.
  • Choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz if you regularly tow more than 4,000 pounds, want the most horsepower in a compact pickup, or put a high value on a 10-year powertrain warranty.

The best way to decide is to drive one. See the full lineup on our 2026 Ford Maverick page.

See Ford Maverick inventory at Jim Taylor Ford · Value your trade · Sell us your car

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz cheaper?

The Ford Maverick. The 2026 Maverick XL Hybrid starts at $28,145 MSRP and the 2027 Santa Cruz SE at $30,300, a difference of $2,155 before destination, tax, fees and options.

Which gets better gas mileage, the Maverick or the Santa Cruz?

The Maverick Hybrid, rated by the EPA at 42 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined with front-wheel drive. The base front-drive Santa Cruz is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined.

Can the Hyundai Santa Cruz tow more than the Ford Maverick?

Yes. The Santa Cruz tows up to 3,500 pounds with its base engine and 5,000 pounds with the turbocharged XRT. The Maverick tows 2,000 pounds as standard and up to 4,000 pounds with the 4K Tow Package.

Which has the bigger bed?

The Maverick’s bed is slightly longer at 54.4 inches, compared with 52.1 inches in the Santa Cruz.

Can you get a Ford Maverick Hybrid with all-wheel drive?

Yes. Ford offers all-wheel drive with the Maverick Hybrid. The EcoBoost engine is also available with all-wheel drive and is standard on the Lobo and Tremor.

Written by Sarah Pesek, Director of Sales and Marketing at Jim Taylor Auto Group. Sarah oversees marketing across Jim Taylor Chevrolet in Rayville, Jim Taylor Buick GMC in Monroe and Jim Taylor Ford in Ruston, and chairs the NADA INT1 20 Group for dealership marketing leaders.

Sources

Payment examples are illustrations, not offers of credit. Prices and specifications reflect manufacturer information published as of October 2026 and can change. Towing and payload require proper equipment; see the manufacturer’s guide for your configuration.