2022 Ford Maverick vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Claus: How They Compare

The USA is reintroducing compact pickups.

We now have a new pickup truck category in America. Once upon a while, the small Ford Rangers fought with smaller Chevrolet S-10s and smaller Nissan Frontier. These two Japanese rigs now compete with larger, mid-sized Ranger trucks and Chevy Colorado trucks, making the small-truck market a lonely and quiet place. Until now.

The Ford Maverick has been steadily in development. Our comprehensive Maverick debut article contains all details about this unibody truck. It’s the second such machine to debutin the segment. Hyundai was beaten by Ford by almost two months. Santa Cruz is another unibody pickup, with a shorter bed and seating for five people, and a desire not to be outdone by full-size truck culture.

Comparisons with the Santa Cruz will be inevitable now that the Maverick has been exposed. Although some details about the pickups are not yet known, we have enough information to compare these minitrucks. This is what you need to know about this new rival in the automotive world.

A truck’s ability to transport stuff is its most important characteristic, even if it is small. It may seem like Ford has the advantage, but it is not. The Maverick’s bed measures 4.5 feet, while the Santa Cruz has a shorter bed measuring 4.3 feet. The Ford’s bed measures 4.5 feet, regardless of whether you are at the top or bottom. This is in contrast to the Santa Cruz’s bed which measures just under 4 feet at its top, thanks to its tonneau covering.

Hyundai has a higher payload capacity at 1,748 pounds (789 kgs). Although the Maverick weighs in at 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), Ford boasts a trick tailgate which can be slid into multiple positions. This allows people to transport bulky cargo like plywood sheets 4×8 feet long. While the Maverick has multiple power points, the Santa Cruz also has some unique tricks. The floor has enough storage space to store two large duffel bags. Adjustable tie-downs on the bed allow for loads to be secured.

Both the Santa Cruz and Maverick are very similar. There are two options for engines, with the Maverick starting with a 2.5-liter four cylinder. Ford uses a hybrid setup to produce a curious 191 horsepower (142kilowatts) in its base Maverick. We use curious to refer to Hyundai’s base 2.5-liter engine. Other than the fact that it will produce over 190 horsepower, Ford has its own figure of 191 ponies. Both cars turn the front wheels in base trim. However, Ford has a CVT and Santa Cruz an eight-speed auto.

The up-spec Hyundai engine is a 2.5-liter four pot, but it’s turbocharged to produce more than 275 horsepower (205 kW). Ford’s Maverick also features turbo, but the engine is the 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 250 horsepower (186 kW). Ford has dropped the CVT at this point and offers its own eight-speed auto with a DCT with paddle shifters. Hyundai, however, offers an eight speed DCT with paddle shifters. To help manage power, both trucks can have all-wheel drive.

Hyundai claims that the standard truck can tow 3,500 pounds (1.588 kg) of weight. Ford’s EcoBoost engine is 500 pounds more for 4,000 pounds (1.814 kg), but this only applies to trucks equipped with the 4K Tow Package. The Santa Cruz’s tow rating is 5,000 pounds higher than the Maverick base model, but only if the EcoBoost engine is used. Maverick is now second in towing, regardless of engine configuration.

The Maverick does not yet have official mileage ratings so this is a difficult comparison. Ford claims that the Maverick’s hybrid engine will get 40 mpg in the capital. It’s an estimate and Ford doesn’t want to discuss it. However, even though it is close, it should be more than Hyundai. The standard Santa Cruz 2.5-liter engine gets 23 mpg combined. It only gets 21 in the city and 26 highway. The turbo model is 22 mpg combined with 19 mpg on the highway and 20 in the city.

Both unibody pickups have room for five adults, despite their aesthetics. The Maverick is slightly larger overall. We will test that in future reviews and first drives. The Maverick has a 121.1-inch wheelbase, whereas the Santa Cruz has 118.3. It also has a shorter wheelbase. This advantage can be seen in the Ford’s larger bed. The Santa Cruz is slightly wider and has a tiny bit more ground clearance. The interior space is slightly larger at 101.9 cubic yards compared to 100.3 for the Ford.

Technology-wise, both trucks are equipped with a limited number of driver-assist technologies including pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. While Hyundai includes lane-keep assistance to its standard list, both trucks also offer advanced systems. Both trucks come with standard 8-inch touchscreens that are compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The most important point-to-point comparison between these trucks is one that we don’t yet have the ability to make. Ford has told us that the entry-level Maverick XL will cost just $20,000 and that only will retail at $19,995. We know that this is a very attention-grabbing figure, but it’s also very rare for buyers to choose the no-option model. Prices are mentioned for the XLT and Lariat trims. Hyundai has not released any pricing information regarding Santa Cruz. It’s likely that both trucks will be priced competitively with the most desirable models starting at around $25,000