Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz
Two compact pickups side by side: price, power, towing, payload and where each is sold.
The short version
- Price: the Maverick starts lower, $28,000 against $29,000 (3% less).
- Towing: the Santa Cruz tows more, 2,270 kg against 1,810 kg (25% more).
- Payload: the Santa Cruz carries more, 795 kg against 680 kg (17% more).
- Power: the Santa Cruz peaks higher, 281 hp against 250 hp (12% more).
- Powertrains: Maverick: ICE, Hybrid. Santa Cruz: ICE.
Side by side
| Pickup | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $28,000Best | $29,000 |
| Max power | 250 hp | 281 hpBest |
| Max towing | 1,810 kg | 2,270 kgBest |
| Max payload | 680 kg | 795 kgBest |
| Length | 5,075 mm | 4,976 mm |
| Bed length | 1,382 mmBest | 1,229 mm |
| Fuel use, combined | 6.2 L/100 km EPA | 9.4 L/100 km EPA |
| Safety ratings | — | IIHS: Top Safety Pick NHTSA: 5 stars |
| Powertrain | ICEHybrid | ICE |
| Class | Compact | Compact (unibody) |
| Drivetrain | FWD / AWD | FWD / AWD |
| Engines / motors | 2.5L hybrid, 2.0L EcoBoost | 2.5L I4, 2.5L turbo I4 |
| Main markets | North America, Latin America | North America |
| Maker | Ford United States | Hyundai South Korea |
Ford
HyundaiBest = lowest starting price; highest power, towing and payload. Approximate starting price in USD; specs are best-case maximums across trims.
Tests of the two together
Comparison · 2025 · United States · with Hyundai Santa Cruz · Watch on YouTube
Independent coverage chosen by the editors. Pickup Atlas isn’t affiliated with these publishers. Videos play from YouTube when you press play.
Where each is sold
- Both are sold in United States.
- Only the Maverick: Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru.
Availability is compiled from makers’ public information as of November 2026. Launches and withdrawals can take a while to show up here, and trims differ by country. Prices are approximate starting prices converted to US dollars, not local list prices.