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Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz - Which New Compact Pickup is a Better Buy?

9.9K views 31 replies 13 participants last post by  Oddball  
#1 ·
Truck King on YouTube does a side by side review of the Maverick and Santa Cruz

 
#8 ·
That's a trick question.
Both are great and just depends on what YOU want from a pickup.
So true. I purchased a Santa Cruz because I had a failing 16 year old RAV 4 and could not wait any longer for Ford to get it's act together. The only problem my wife fell in love with the Cruz and relieved me of it and gave me her 2016 Rav 4. I still want a hybrid and now I can wait on Ford to deliver one or any other manufacturer that brings one to market.

Now, the Santa Cruz is a kick ass SUV with more towing and carrying capacity than the Maverick. Yes if towing you need to get towing package installed but most people won't be towing trailers. It can carry grills, dryers, plywood, 4 wheelers and anything the Maverick can carry and more weight.

You can buy the Santa Cruz off the lot or order one and you'll have it in less than 3 weeks.

If your a handyman or construction guy or gal the Maverick is the way to go. If your wife doesn't want you to buy a truck, let her drive a Santa Cruz. You get a truck bed and she gets a upscale SUV with poor gas mileage.
 
#11 ·
I'm not try to change anybody's mind about buying a Maverick. I'm getting one sometime next year.

To each his own on vehicle looks.

This price thing keeps coming up. If you want a low cost work vehicle buy a Maverick XL and put it to work. If you take a Maverick XL or XLT and add all the standard equipment on the Santa Cruz you have a 30k Truck.

Here is my Santa Cruz,

Image


Image
 
#9 ·
The Cruz has a better interior and rides better, but for me it came down to looks, and I think the Cruz looks ugly. Others may find it good looking and that fine, but for me that was a deciding factor when deciding between the two.
I originally wanted to buy a base Honda Ridgeline, but the wait time was very long-something in the 6 month range and I had the chance to buy a Lariat Maverick right away, so I went with the Maverick and so far I'm very happy with my purchase.
 
#32 ·
I just hit 1000 miles on my Santa Cruz SEL Premium, AWD 2.5T.

21-22 in town, 27 highway for mpg.

The 277hp/311tq is instant power when I hit the gas. I also test drove a 2.5 non-turbo, got back to the dealership, handed the salesman the keys and said, no thanks.

I paid more than what I would have paid for a Lariat and a lot more than the hybrid XLT that I ordered.

I like the rollup locking hard cover, the backseat has more usable room, at a sacrifice of a smaller bed, 5/60k bumper to bumper warranty, 3 years free oil changes, standard on every new Hyundai. No BCM's in a Hyundai, make whatever mods you want. Lots of storage. I have my emergency road kit in the trunk under the bed. tool kit, jumper cables, jack, bungees, racquet straps, receiver. All out of sight but under lock and key if I need them. Self leveling rear suspension. 245/60/18 tires are an inch taller than the Mavericks 225/65/17 tires. Steps in the rear bumper, I'm not as spry as I used to be.

What I like better about Fords: The software is better, The SC has some funky quirks on door locks, The SC has no brake controller. Better mpg's,