Maverick vs. Santa Cruz: Which Compact Truck Is Better for Daily Drivers?

September 20th, 2024 by

A silver and a blue 2023 Ford Maverick are shown driving on a city street after looking at trucks for sale.

More drivers these days are realizing that pickup trucks are outstanding daily travelers. They’re more capable than sedans and SUVs, and they offer impressive space and features to elevate the feel of any journey. For drivers who aren’t quite comfortable with the idea of handling a full-size or midsize truck, many compact models are emerging to appeal to this demographic. Compact trucks offer the capabilities of a pickup truck with the comfortable handling of an SUV, making them ideal for today’s busy urban and suburban travelers.

Two models that have a prominent presence on the streets are the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. When you’re searching for trucks for sale, you’ll want to pay careful attention to these industry leaders. However, one truck clearly outperforms the other. Here at The Ford Store San Leandro, we want to help our area travelers find the best match for their needs. When it comes to the 2024 Maverick vs. the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, although both trucks have plenty of offer drivers, one just does everything better.
Ready for the Commute

Your commute may consist of honking horns and grid-locked traffic or just take you down the street. No matter what, you want a vehicle that can handle the daily drive wherever you need to go. Not having to take time out of your busy day to stop by the gas station means everything for today’s travelers, as does saving money, especially with the rising cost of gas. This is where the Maverick really impresses, offering an available hybrid powertrain to allow you to take advantage of an EPA-estimated 42 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway, making even the most daunting commutes easier. Even its standard 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged I-4 provides you with excellent fuel economy ratings, getting up to 30 MPG on the highway. What’s more, the Maverick is a blast to drive, with lively acceleration and an all-around smooth ride. This creates a comfortable, confident driving experience, making your commute better in every way.

Unfortunately, the Hyundai Santa Cruz isn’t able to live up to the high standards set by the Maverick. Although its powertrains are quite peppy, fuel efficiency isn’t exactly in line with what daily drivers are looking for, with its standard 2.5L I-4 engine only getting 22 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. Drivers looking for added pep, as the Maverick provides, will pay the price at the pump, with the optional 2.5L turbocharged I-4 only able to get 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. This can be a dealbreaker for drivers who regularly take on hectic traffic situations. Despite its rather low fuel economy ratings, the Santa Cruz is reported to be easy to handle and agile on the road.

A person is shown using the touch screen in a 2024 Ford Maverick.

Urban Style

For those concerned about style, you’ll quickly realize that these two trucks couldn’t be more different. The Maverick showcases pickup truck vibes throughout, with clean lines and sculpted bodywork, making for one good-looking truck. From 18-inch machined-face aluminum wheels to LED accent lighting and bed lighting, the Maverick easily stands out in a crowd. Inside, it’s simplistic yet modern, with ActiveX trimmed seats, an available power moonroof, and premium appointments surrounding you, especially in higher-level trims. Plus, with a variety of storage solutions dotted throughout its comfortable cabin, there’s a place for all your travel belongings as you take on any type of daily drive imaginable.

On the other end of the spectrum lies the Santa Cruz, which showcases a body style that isn’t for everyone, nor is it what you think of when you envision a pickup truck. The Santa Cruz seems to be having an identity crisis, and not quite sure if it wants to be a sporty SUV or a capable truck. If you can move past its unique styling, the Santa Cruz offers plenty of its own design elements to make a statement on the road, including a dark chrome grille and lower fascias, an open bed design, and a bold stance. Inside, the Santa Cruz emits cozy vibes with elegant appointments and loads of tech, which appeals to today’s urban travelers.

Flexible Cargo Solutions

Drivers are drawn to compact trucks because they can take on more cargo in a vehicle that they can easily handle. Compact trucks, like the Maverick and Santa Cruz, make this effortless through a multitude of flexible cargo features designed to help you handle everything from groceries to camping gear without issue. Take the 2024 Maverick, for example, which showcases an exceptionally functional bed with 10 tie-downs and an available cargo management system to keep you organized while in transit. If you need to accommodate a longer item, the Maverick can do this without fuss, with a Bed Extender that adds up to two feet of extra space to your bed.

You’ll also find plenty of other storage features dotted throughout, including pocket doors, dividers, under-seat storage, and more to handle anything you bring along for the ride. Perhaps what’s even more appreciated by drivers is the fact that the Maverick features a standard Multi-Position Tailgate, which can be closed halfway to haul cumbersome items home or opened fully to act as a work surface on the go. The Santa Cruz also showcases flexibility with its bed, which includes an underfloor storage bin and drain to act as a cooler. However, at only four feet, the bed is smaller than the Maverick’s, which can really limit your cargo-hauling potential.

Off-Road Capable

Maybe you’re looking to head out to the campsite for the weekend to get away from it all. This is where the Maverick outperforms its rivals here, especially when you arm it with the Tremor Off-Road Package. With an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, and more durable features, there’s no competition with the Maverick when the terrain becomes challenging. The Maverick also offers the FX4 Off-Road Package, which adds all-terrain tires, skid plates, and specialized drive modes to take on daunting environments confidently. The Santa Cruz just can’t compete here with no off-road-oriented trims or packages in its lineup, which is a serious disadvantage for this compact truck.

Affordable for Today’s Travelers

Everyone has money on their mind, and when it comes to buying a new vehicle, price matters now more than ever. The 2024 Ford Maverick has a wonderfully affordable starting price of $23,920, allowing cost-conscious travelers to drive a truck that’s capable, versatile, and ultimately stylish, filled with all the features they need to revitalize the ride.[a] The Hyundai Santa Cruz has a starting price of approximately $28,500, which is a substantial jump from the Maverick.[a] With lower fuel economy ratings, a quirky design, and a lack of any off-road options in its lineup, this price may seem a bit steep for many drivers.

People are shown near an orange 2022 Ford Maverick FX4.

2024 Ford Maverick: The Better Choice

Whether you’re heading to work or seeking to get out into nature, running errands, or hauling materials home for a project, the 2024 Ford Maverick is the top choice for today’s busy travelers. It showcases unbeatable efficiency to make any commute easier on the wallet and beautiful yet functional styling to appeal to any type of driver around. Plus, it showcases an assortment of off-road packages to allow you to travel on any surface with assurance. All of this for a starting price under $24,000 means that the Maverick is an all-around winner for drivers concerned about the daily journey.[a] If you want to elevate your time on the road while enjoying the capabilities that only a pickup truck can offer, the Maverick will meet your demands and exceed your expectations.


[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.
Posted in Trucks for Sale