2025 Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz

Remixed courtesy of Kevauto under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

There have never been more truck options on the market, and many people find themselves choosing between the 2025 Ford Maverick and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. When comparing the two, the Ford Maverick tends to use lower-end materials and offers less performance across its trims, but it does start at a lower MSRP. The Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick is a classic comparison that this post aims to finally solve. Stick around as we dive deeper into these two popular pickups!

2025 Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz: Head to Head

Looking at the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick, you have two similarly-sized trucks that offer excellent reliability, value, and customization. We will detail each respective pickup below, highlighting everything from price to performance and safety.

Price Comparison

Price-wise, the Ford Maverick is cheaper than the Hyundai Santa Cruz, but that comes at a cost: less luxury and performance. Here is how they stack up in MSRP across their trims in 2025.

2025 Ford Maverick Pricing

• XL - $26,995
• XLT - $29,495
• Lobo - $35,255
• Lariat - $37,290
• Tremor - $40,350

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pricing

• SE - $28,750
• SEL - $30,450
• SEL Activity - $33,350
• XRT - $40,250
• Limited - $42,750

Performance and Engine Options

The performance and engine options between the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick are also noteworthy. With the Santa Cruz, you have two engine options, one being turbocharged and the other being the standard engine in the SE and SEL. The Maverick has two engines as well, with a hybrid standard.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Engine Options

• Standard engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque
• Upgraded engine: turbocharged 2.5-liter four with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet

2025 Ford Maverick Engine Options

• Standard engine: 2.5-liter hybrid engine making 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque
• Optional engine: 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine with 238 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque.

2025 Ford Maverick Performance

The 2025 Maverick is built on performance, with its base hybrid engine being peppy at 191 horsepower. If you go with the optional non-hybrid engine, you see an even better 238 horsepower, which is something to remember. When tested to 60 MPH, the Maverick hit this speed in 5.9 seconds.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Performance

The all-new 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz does better in overall performance than the Ford Maverick, with standard horsepower of 191 and turbocharged figures of 281 ponies. In 0-60 MPH tests, the Santa Cruz achieved this speed in 6.0 seconds.

Interior Features and Comfort

Looking inside the Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. the Ford Maverick this year, the interiors are both modern and spacious, although you can expect more standard features in the Santa Cruz overall.

2025 Ford Maverick Interior

The 2025 Maverick has a recently refreshed interior, which boasts things like a standard 13.2-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a new 8-inch digital instrument cluster, connected navigation, available ActiveX™-trimmed seats, under-seat storage and door pockets, and up to 100.3 cubic feet of passenger volume.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Interior

The newest release, the Santa Cruz, has everything from available leather upholstery to heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic curved display, a standard 12.3-inch screen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote start, navigation, and wireless device charging, as well as passenger volume of 101.8 cubic feet.

Exterior Design and Dimensions

The exterior design and dimensions of the Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick are close to call, although you can expect a slightly bigger vehicle with the Maverick by Ford. Body-wise, the Santa Cruz has a sportier, more luxurious feel, while the Maverick feels more adventurous and off-road-ready.

2025 Ford Maverick Design

The 2025 Ford Maverick has a modern, rounded body with LED lights and detailing, looking nice following its refresh. Dimensions for it are 200-201″ L x 73″ W x 69-70″ H, making it a compact-size pickup.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Design

The Santa Cruz follows a more sporty design than the Maverick, with sharp LED lighting, a can't-miss grille, dramatic wheels, and colors that draw the eye. It measures 196″ L x 75″ W x 67″ H, putting it just behind the Maverick.

Technology and Safety Features

Tech and safety in the 2025 Ford Maverick and 2025 Santa Cruz have never been better, with each pickup truck having much to offer.

2025 Ford Maverick Technology

Here are some standard technologies you get in this year's Ford Maverick:

• 13.2-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
• A rearview camera
• Lane-keeping assist
• Ford SYNC® 4
• Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Technology

Here are some things to expect as standard in the all-new Santa Cruz:

• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bluelink+ Connected Car Technology
• Multiple USB-C ports for charging
• Over-the-air (OTA) software and firmware updates
• Hyundai SmartSense
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist

Towing Capacity and Utility

Towing and general utility of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick will be competitive, with the Santa Cruz beating the Maverick in standard and available towing.

2025 Ford Maverick Towing

Towing-wise, the Maverick can tow up to 2,000 pounds standard and 4,000 pounds with the available 4K Tow Package. Your payload capacity is around 1,500 pounds.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Towing

For towing in the 2025 Santa Cruz, you have up to 3,500 pounds with the base engine and up to 5,000 pounds with the optional turbocharged engine, outmatching the Maverick. The payload for this pickup truck sits at approximately 1,500-1,750 pounds.

Fuel Economy

The fuel ratings for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick are also worth mentioning, with the Maverick achieving higher city/highway/combined estimates due to its hybrid powertrain.

2025 Ford Maverick Fuel Efficiency

The 2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid has up to 42 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway, while the non-hybrid version is rated for up to 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway (25 combined).

• MPG: Up to 42 city / 35 highway

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Fuel Efficiency

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz has up to 22 city/30 highway/25 combined MPG in FWD configurations, while your AWD and turbocharged engine see up to 21 city MPG and 29 highway MPG.

• MPG: Up to 22 city / 30 highway

Off-Road Capabilities

Between the all-new Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, you have off-road options in both. That said, the Maverick was created to get dirty across all trims, while the Santa Cruz remains more luxurious outside of its off-road-specific XRT trim.

2025 Ford Maverick Off-Roading

Generally, the Ford Maverick is off-road capable, with its Tremor variant being the most equipped. It features off-road-tuned suspension, added ground clearance, and Trail Control, while the FX4 package also enhances off-road performance for the lineup.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Off-Roading

The 2025 Santa Cruz from Hyundai is ready for everything, with its XRT trim being the most off-road prepared. It boasts 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, HTRAC all-wheel drive, a rugged aesthetic, and uses Hyundai's HTRAC all-wheel drive system.

Choosing the Right Pickup for You

Finding a pickup truck that fits your needs, style, and budget is not as complicated as you'd think, especially with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. When stacked against the competition, this compact pickup has everything from luxurious finishes and materials to high-performance and turbocharged engine options, all for a starting price of $28,750. The best way to know what you like is to test drive the truck you're interested in, which the team at Granite Hyundai is more than ready to assist with.

Get Your Hyundai Santa Cruz at Granite Hyundai

Now that we have compared the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick, it is time to visit your local sales team at Granite Hyundai in Somersworth, NH, to test the all-new Santa Cruz pickup truck. We are here daily and can help hand you a set of keys, so don't wait to visit. Drive safe!