Two Small Trucks, Two Very Different Ideas of Useful
The Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz matchup takes two different approaches to compact-truck utility.
The 2026 Maverick offers a larger bed, up to 1,500 pounds of payload, available 4,000-pound towing, and a standard hybrid on XL, XLT, and Lariat. Santa Cruz counters with stronger available turbo power, a shorter overall body, and up to 5,000 pounds of towing on properly equipped XRT and Limited models.
Around Auburn, Maverick stands out for efficiency, bed space, payload, and its mix of hybrid, street-focused, and off-road configurations. In Santa Cruz vs. Maverick, Santa Cruz may appeal more if maximum towing or a more crossover-like feel matters most.
Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz Specs at a Glance
The Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz comparison comes down to different strengths in efficiency, bed utility, towing, power, and everyday usability.
2026 Compact Pickup | Ford Maverick | Hyundai Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 | 5 |
Overall length | 199.8 in. on most trims | 195.7-195.9 in. |
Bed length | 54.4 in. | 52.1 in. at bed floor |
Bed volume | 33.3 cu. ft. | 27.0 cu. ft. |
Maximum payload | Up to 1,500 lbs. | Up to 1,411 lbs. |
Maximum towing | 4,000 lbs. | 5,000 lbs. |
Hybrid available | Yes | No |
Available gas output | 250 hp / 280 lb-ft | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft |
AWD/4WD availability | Available | Available |
Off-road-focused model | Tremor | XRT |
The Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz specs don’t point to one universal winner. Santa Cruz has the higher maximum towing figure and stronger available turbo engine, while Maverick provides more bed volume, a higher maximum payload rating, and a hybrid option Santa Cruz doesn’t offer.
Maverick Gives Its Extra Inches to the Bed
Maverick is slightly longer overall, but more of that length goes to the bed.
Most Maverick trims measure 199.8 inches long, compared with 195.7 inches for most Santa Cruz trims. Maverick is also narrower at 72.6 inches versus 75 inches for Santa Cruz.
The bigger Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz difference is behind the cab. Maverick’s FLEXBED measures 54.4 inches long with 33.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, while Santa Cruz offers 52.1 inches of bed-floor length and 27 cubic feet.
Santa Cruz counters with integrated storage features, including available tonneau coverage, sidewall storage, a locking under-bed compartment, cargo tracks, and an available 115-volt outlet.
In Santa Cruz vs. Maverick, Maverick gives you more open bed space, while Santa Cruz leans harder into built-in cargo organization.
Payload Is Another Quiet Maverick Advantage
Maximum towing tends to get more attention, but payload matters every time you put something directly into the truck.
The 2026 Maverick can carry up to 1,500 pounds of payload when properly configured. Santa Cruz lists a maximum vehicle capacity weight of 1,411 pounds.
That difference can matter when the bed is handling landscaping supplies, home-improvement materials, camping equipment, bikes, or other heavier cargo.
For Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz, Maverick’s combination of a larger bed and higher available payload gives shoppers a practical reason to choose it even before towing enters the conversation.
The Standard Hybrid Changes the Daily-Driving Equation
Hybrid availability creates one of the clearest differences in Santa Cruz vs. Maverick, especially for commuters around Auburn, Kent, and Federal Way.
Ford Maverick Hybrid
A 2.5L hybrid is standard on Maverick XL, XLT, and Lariat, with front-wheel-drive models EPA-estimated at 42 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined. All-wheel drive is also available.
Maverick combines pickup-bed utility with hybrid fuel economy, giving Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz a meaningful difference when weekday driving outweighs weekend hauling.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz doesn’t offer a hybrid. SE, SEL, and SEL Activity use a 2.5L four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, with front-wheel drive standard and HTRAC all-wheel drive available.
Santa Cruz sticks with conventional gasoline power, making hybrid availability a meaningful distinction between the two trucks.
Gas Power Tells a Different Story
Once you move beyond the hybrid, Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz shifts toward horsepower and torque.
Ford Maverick EcoBoost
Maverick’s available 2.0L EcoBoost produces 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It powers specialized models like the street-focused Lobo and off-road-oriented Tremor.
Maverick’s advantage is variety, with hybrid efficiency on one end and distinct EcoBoost performance models on the other.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Turbo
Santa Cruz XRT and Limited use a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque.
In the Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz specs, Santa Cruz has the higher peak horsepower and torque, making it the stronger choice if maximum gas-engine output is the priority.
Santa Cruz Takes the Maximum Towing Number
In Santa Cruz vs. Maverick, Santa Cruz has the higher towing ceiling.
Maverick can tow 2,000 pounds standard and up to 4,000 pounds with the available 4K Tow Package when properly configured.
Santa Cruz reaches 3,500 pounds on SE, SEL, and SEL Activity models with trailer brakes, while turbocharged XRT and Limited models can tow up to 5,000 pounds with the proper equipment.
If maximum trailer weight drives your Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz choice, Santa Cruz has the advantage. If 4,000 pounds already covers your needs, Maverick still offers useful towing alongside its hybrid and payload strengths.
Always confirm the specific truck and trailer setup before towing.
Tremor Gives Maverick a Different Kind of Weekend
AWD is available on both trucks, but Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz takes a more rugged turn with Maverick Tremor, which goes beyond wet-weather traction with dedicated off-road hardware.
Ford Maverick Tremor
Maverick Tremor pairs its 250-horsepower EcoBoost with Advanced 4WD, a twin-clutch rear drive unit, off-road-tuned suspension, 9.1 inches of ground clearance, and Trail Control with Trail 1-Pedal Drive.
It’s built for shoppers who want a compact pickup that can handle rougher access roads, muddy trails, campsites, and other situations where extra traction and clearance matter.
Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT
Santa Cruz XRT uses the 281-horsepower turbo engine, standard HTRAC AWD, Terrain Mode Select, and rugged exterior equipment.
The Santa Cruz vs. Maverick off-road distinction comes down to approach. XRT emphasizes turbo power and all-weather traction, while Maverick Tremor puts greater focus on dedicated off-road suspension and drivetrain hardware.
Lobo Shows Maverick Doesn’t Only Look Toward the Trail
Maverick also takes the compact-pickup idea somewhere Santa Cruz doesn’t directly follow.
The Maverick Lobo uses the 250-horsepower 2.0L EcoBoost, Advanced 4WD, a seven-speed quick-shift transmission, torque-vectoring capability, Lobo Mode, and a lowered ride height.
Instead of adding clearance and off-road suspension, it turns Maverick toward pavement.
That gives Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz another dimension. Maverick buyers can choose a hybrid daily driver, a conventional EcoBoost truck, the street-focused Lobo, or the trail-ready Tremor without leaving the same compact-pickup lineup.
Both Cabins Understand That These Are Daily Drivers
Technology is another area where Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz stays competitive.
Maverick comes standard with a 13.2-inch center display and SYNC 4. Available Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 can add features such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane Centering, Predictive Speed Assist, Intersection Assist, and a 360-Degree Camera depending on configuration.
Santa Cruz uses a 12.3-inch touchscreen and offers features including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist. XRT and Limited add technology such as Highway Driving Assist and Blind-Spot View Monitor.
The Santa Cruz vs. Maverick technology comparison is close. Maverick leans more toward truck-focused versatility, while Santa Cruz keeps a more crossover-inspired feel.
Financing Your Compact Pickup
After comparing Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz, our finance team at Way Scarff Ford can help you review payment options, trade-in value, and available financing for the Maverick models you’re considering.
Which Compact Pickup Fits Life Around Auburn?
Think about what happens during an ordinary week, not just the biggest job you might tackle once a year.
If your routine includes commuting toward Seattle or Tacoma, errands around Auburn or Kent, home projects, bikes in the bed, and weekend trips toward the mountains, Maverick’s standard hybrid and larger cargo box can be useful far more often than a maximum specification you rarely reach.
Santa Cruz makes a strong case if you want a slightly shorter body, more maximum turbo output, or towing capacity up to 5,000 pounds.
The heart of Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz is versatility. Santa Cruz pushes harder toward a sporty, crossover-like truck experience. Maverick gives shoppers more ways to configure a compact pickup around efficiency, payload, pavement performance, or off-road use.
Put Maverick’s Practical Side to Work at Way Scarff Ford
Numbers can tell you the bed is bigger. Loading gear into it shows you whether that extra room actually matters.
At Way Scarff Ford in Auburn, our team can help you move from the Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz comparison to the right Maverick by exploring current models, hybrid and EcoBoost configurations, towing equipment, drivetrains, and bed utility.
Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz FAQs
Still working through Santa Cruz vs. Maverick? These quick answers cover towing, reliability, utility, and the biggest differences between the two compact pickups.