2026 Ford Maverick vs. 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
A quick bit of online research reveals a wide selection of heavy-duty trucks, all featuring a traditional cab-on-chassis build, available to the American buying public. This is great for construction contractors and cattle ranchers, but a bit of overkill for the average Joe who just needs a pickup for its versatility.
The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz compact trucks, however, fit the bill perfectly for these folks, thanks to their FWD/SUV-platform builds, respectively, which offer greater fuel efficiency, more car-like comfort, and better maneuverability in suburban areas.
Our article of interest today takes a closer look at these two contenders as we compare the 2026 Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Which Is Better, Hyundai Santa Cruz or Ford Maverick?
At a glance, the 2026 Ford Maverick is the better choice for budget-conscious buyers. The Ford Maverick's hybrid powertrain offers better fuel efficiency and is ideal for those seeking greater load capacity.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the better pick for shoppers who prioritize premium styling, a more upscale car-like experience, more powerful performance from the Santa Cruz's turbocharged engines, plus better towing capacity.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick Exterior
Let's compare the exteriors of the Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick. As we've already learned, both the Santa Cruz and Maverick are built on FWD/SUV-type platforms that feature unibody construction for a more comfortable ride, which also, to a degree, influences their exterior styling, particularly the Santa Cruz.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The refined 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz "Sport Adventure Vehicle" is, to quote Hyundai, "a Truck/SUV Mash-up," with styling heavily borrowed from the Tucson compact SUV, with which it shares a platform. Not a bad thing at all!
The latest 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz four-door truck is a carryover from the 2025 styling refresh and retains its modern and bold design.
The front end of the Hyundai Santa Cruz is all squares with sharp lines and features projector Bi-LED headlights with auto on/off and high beam assist, plus LED daytime running lights.
Depending on the trim level, the front grille offers differing bright accents. Side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, heated side mirrors, and roof rails are standard.
The rear of the Santa Cruz shines with standout features, like:
- Rear sliding glass window
- Rear privacy glass
- LED taillights
- Integrated bed lighting
- Integrated tonneau cover with T-slot utility tracks
- Lockable under-bed storage compartment
- Sidewall bed storage compartments
- Dual C-channel utility tracks
- Heavy-duty cargo D-rings
- 115V power outlet in the sidewall storage
- Remote release tailgate
- Multi-functional tailgate with assisted open/close
- Integrated rear bumper steps
All trim levels are fitted with 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels.
The Santa Cruz is 195.7 inches in length and has a wheelbase of 118.3 inches, is 75 inches wide and 66.7 inches high, and offers 8.6 inches of ground clearance.
The cargo bed offers 27 cubic feet of volume and a maximum load capacity of 1,411 pounds.
2026 Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick, also a four-door model, is built on an FWD platform with more traditional pickup truck upright styling.
Like the Hyundai, the Maverick lineup received a styling update in 2025. The Ford's bold exterior style features a large square front grille and signature inverted L-shaped LED headlamps with auto on/off, including automatic high-beam control.
The Ford is fitted with a 4.5-foot FLEXBED load bed with a cargo volume of 33.3 cubic feet, offering a maximum payload capacity of 1,500 pounds.
The rear of the Maverick includes handy cargo loading features like:
- Cubby storage in bed passenger side
- 10 tie-downs
- LED bed lighting
- 400W in-bed power
Ford buyers can choose from a lineup of up to 9 exterior colors, and 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels are standard.
The 2026 Ford Maverick is approximately 199.7-199.8 inches long, 72.6 inches wide without mirrors, and 68.7-68.8 inches tall riding on a 121.1-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.1 to 8.6 inches.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick Interior
Appealing to a different buyer, both the Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick offer a more SUV-like cabin experience than your traditional pickup truck.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The 2026 Santa Cruz offers the same modern and comfy cabin as the Tucson, with a generous 101.8 cubic feet of passenger volume and seating for five.
Hyundai's designers have made the interior of the Santa Cruz as spacious and harmonious as possible with an available panoramic curved display that seamlessly integrates the standard hi-res 12.3-inch infotainment system touchscreen with an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Physical knobs are standard for both climate and audio controls, and the interior includes storage solutions for daily items, such as the center console, door pockets, and in-cabin spaces to help keep essentials within reach.
The rear seating and cabin layout offer flexible storage for bags, tools, or gear when rear passenger space is not needed.
Some of the further key interior appointments include:
- Power windows with front auto-down/up
- Power tilt-and-slide sunroof
- Dual automatic temperature controls with auto defogger
- Multi-Air Mode with capacitive touch HVAC controls
- Floor console-mounted rear A/C vents
- Wireless device charging
Seating is H-Tex Leatherette, Black H-Tex Leatherette, or leather-trimmed, depending on trim. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen in all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluelink connected services, and over-the-air update capability
2026 Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick's cabin offers 100.3 cubic feet of passenger space for up to five passengers.
The Maverick's comfortable interior may not be the ultimate in luxury, but the Ford offers standard niceties such as a tilting and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats.
Upper trims will meet the needs of more demanding buyers with additional features, including dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and power front seats.
All Ford Maverick trims are fitted with a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot.
Performance and Handling
Both the Maverick vs. Santa Cruz offer buyers sensible, usable power outputs and drivetrain options of FWD or AWD.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The latest Hyundai Santa Cruz lineup is powered by either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower paired with an 8-speed automatic in FWD or AWD, or a 281-horsepower turbocharged version paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard AWD.
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz with the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive offers a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, and those trims with the standard 2.5-liter engine are rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.
2026 Ford Maverick
The Ford's base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 238 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Buyers can opt for a hybrid powertrain featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 191 horsepower.
The hybrid option is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all models are FWD, with available AWD.
The Maverick has a maximum towing capacity of 4,000 pounds when powered by the 2.0L EcoBoost engine.
Which Has More Fuel Efficiency, Santa Cruz or Maverick?
Let's take a look at the all-important fuel economy ratings of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. 2026 Ford Maverick.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
FWD Santa Cruz trims with the base 2.5-liter engine and FWD offer estimates of 22/30/25 mpg for City/Highway/Combined, and AWD trims offer 21/29/24 mpg.
Turbocharged models with standard AWD offer fuel economy ratings of 18/25/20 mpg for City/Highway/Combined.
2026 Ford Maverick
The 2026 Ford Maverick with the 2.5-liter hybrid engine and FWD reaches up to 42/35/38 mpg City/Highway/Combined, while the AWD hybrid provides 40/34 mpg city/highway.
The optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost gas engine offers approximately 23/30/27 mpg City/Highway/Combined.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick Safety
Both the Santa Cruz vs. Maverick offer up-to-date safety and driver-assistance technologies.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The latest 2026 Santa Cruz is an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK thanks to its generous safety equipment list, which also includes Hyundai SmartSense, featuring Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Attention Warning.
2026 Ford Maverick
The Ford Maverick's up-to-date safety and driver assistance features include:
- Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
- Driver and passenger front airbags
- Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags
- Co-Pilot 360 Technology, such as Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick Pricing
Let's compare the base pricing of the Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick. However, for more details, we recommend contacting Hyundai of Saco.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz is available in five primary trims for 2026, with starting MSRP as follows.
| SE (FWD) | SEL (FWD) | SEL Activity (FWD) | XRT (AWD) | Limited (AWD) |
| $29,750 | $31,400 | $34,450 | $41,350 | $43,700 |
2026 Ford Maverick
The 2026 Ford Maverick is available in three trim levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat, and two additional special editions, the Tremor and Lobo, with pricing ranging from $28,145 to $40,465 MSRP.
Get Your Hyundai Santa Cruz at Hyundai of Saco
Get your 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz "Sport Adventure Vehicle" from Hyundai of Saco in Saco, ME.
Experience peace of mind knowing our dealership team has the expertise and tools to deliver an amazing buying experience, whether you're looking for a new or certified pre-owned Hyundai.
