The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are both four-door compact pickups with unibody construction and small open beds, which makes them natural rivals for buyers who want a truck bed without a full-size truck's price or thirst. This comparison uses the newest model year each automaker has priced. Hyundai published 2027 Santa Cruz pricing effective July 20, 2026. Ford.com still lists the 2026 Maverick, and Ford has not released official 2027 details.
Hyundai trimmed its lineup for 2027 to three versions: SE, SEL Activity and XRT. The 2026 SEL and Limited trims don't appear on the 2027 price sheet.
Maverick vs. Santa Cruz at a glance
| Metric | 2026 Ford Maverick | 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $28,145 (XL hybrid, FWD) | $30,300 (SE, FWD) |
| Engines | 2.5L hybrid; 2.0L turbo, 250 hp | 2.5L, 191 hp; 2.5L turbo, 281 hp (XRT) |
| Best EPA combined | 38 mpg (hybrid FWD) | 25 mpg (2.5L FWD) |
| Max towing | 4,000 lb (4K Tow Package) | 5,000 lb (XRT); 3,500 lb (2.5L) |
| Max payload | 1,500 lb | 1,411 lb (max vehicle load limit) |
| Bed | 54.4 in long at floor, 33.3 cu ft | 52.1 in long at floor, 27.0 cu ft |
| NHTSA | Overall not rated; 5-star frontal | 5 stars overall |
| IIHS | No award | Top Safety Pick (2026) |
| Basic / powertrain warranty | 3 yr/36k / 5 yr/60k | 5 yr/60k / 10 yr/100k |
Prices exclude destination (Hyundai freight: $1,650). EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov; NHTSA and IIHS results as published in early October 2026.
Price and value
The Maverick lineup starts with the XL at $28,145 and the XLT at $30,645, both with the hybrid and front-wheel drive as standard. The Lariat ($38,090) comes standard with a hybrid and AWD, while the Lobo street truck ($35,930) and Tremor off-roader ($40,645) use the 2.0-liter EcoBoost with AWD. The 2027 Santa Cruz starts at $30,300 for an SE FWD ($31,800 AWD), then the SEL Activity at $34,700 ($36,200 AWD) and the turbocharged XRT at $42,775, all plus $1,650 freight.
Ford's 2027 prices could shift that math. Hagerty, citing a CarsDirect report based on dealer order-guide data, says the 2027 XL stays at $28,145 and becomes hybrid-only along with the Lariat, the cheapest EcoBoost model becomes an XLT AWD at $30,745, and the Lobo and Tremor drop to $32,155 and $37,155. Ford hasn't confirmed those figures.
Efficiency and capability
Fuel economy is the biggest difference between them. The EPA rates the Maverick Hybrid at 42 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined with FWD, 40/34/37 with AWD and 39/32/36 for the Lariat hybrid AWD. The EcoBoost versions are rated 23/32/26 (FWD), 22/30/25 (AWD), 21/30/24 (Lobo) and 21/27/23 (Tremor). The Santa Cruz's 2.5-liter is rated 22/30/25 with FWD and 21/29/24 with AWD, and the turbocharged XRT 18/25/20. At 38 mpg combined against 25, a Maverick Hybrid uses about a third less fuel than the most efficient Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz is stronger on towing and power. Its 2.5-liter makes 191 hp and 181 lb-ft and tows 3,500 pounds, and the XRT's turbo makes 281 hp and 311 lb-ft and tows 5,000. The Maverick is rated for 2,000 pounds as standard and 4,000 pounds with the 4K Tow Package, and Ford's 2.0-liter EcoBoost makes 250 hp and 280 lb-ft. The Lobo is limited to 2,000 pounds. The Maverick carries more: Ford rates it for up to 1,500 pounds of payload, against a 1,411-pound maximum vehicle load limit for the Santa Cruz. Its bed is also bigger, at 54.4 inches long at the floor and 33.3 cubic feet against 52.1 inches and 27.0 cubic feet. The Santa Cruz adds a standard lockable under-bed storage compartment, and the SEL Activity adds an integrated tonneau cover and a 115-volt outlet in the bed.
Tech, safety and ownership
Technology
Every Maverick gets a 13.2-inch center display running SYNC 4, and the XL has an 8-inch digital cluster. Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, is listed on the Lariat. Every Santa Cruz has a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the SEL Activity and XRT add a 12.3-inch digital cluster. Hyundai's standard safety equipment is more generous: blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane following assist and safe exit warning are standard on the SE, while the IIHS lists blind-spot detection as optional on the Maverick.
Safety
The Santa Cruz has the stronger record. NHTSA rates the 2027 model five stars overall, with five stars for frontal and side crashes and four for rollover. The IIHS named the 2026 Santa Cruz a Top Safety Pick, with Good ratings in the small overlap and updated side tests and for headlights, an Acceptable in the updated moderate overlap test and a Marginal for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. NHTSA hasn't issued an overall rating for the 2026 Maverick, but it does give the truck five stars for frontal crashes and four for rollover. The IIHS rates the 2026 Maverick Good in the small overlap and updated side tests, Marginal in the updated moderate overlap test, Acceptable for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and Good for pedestrian front crash prevention, with Good or Acceptable headlights depending on trim. That is not enough for an award.
Recalls and ownership
Maverick shoppers, especially those buying used, should check two recent campaigns. NHTSA campaign 26V340000, filed May 27, 2026, covers 4,653 Mavericks (2022–2026) and Bronco Sports (2021–2026) whose front lower control-arm ball joints may have been installed or repaired incorrectly at the plant. Ford advises owners not to drive affected vehicles until dealers inspect and repair them. Campaign 26V550000, filed Aug. 25, 2026, covers 23 2026 Mavericks, F-150s and Bronco Sports with joints that may be improperly tightened. Run any VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. On warranty, Hyundai's 5-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage beats Ford's 3-year/36,000-mile and 5-year/60,000-mile terms.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Ford Maverick Hybrid. It is cheaper, uses far less fuel, carries more and has the bigger bed. Those are the qualities that matter most in daily use. The XLT hybrid at $30,645 is our pick, and the 4K Tow Package is worth adding if you plan to pull a small camper or boat.
The Santa Cruz is the better choice if you tow more than 4,000 pounds, want turbocharged performance from the XRT, value standard blind-spot monitoring and a longer warranty, or put crash-test results first.
How we rated it: this comparison is based on manufacturer specifications and pricing from Ford and Hyundai, EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov, NHTSA recall and crash-test data and IIHS results available in October 2026. Drive Edition has not road-tested these vehicles.