The Hyundai Santa Cruz Claims the Ford Maverick Can’t Compete
Shots fired, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz said that the 2022 Ford Maverick doesn’t stand a chance. Apparently, the Hyundai Santa Cruz wins over the Ford Maverick every time. These are some big words from a little truck.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz dissed the 2022 Ford Maverick
The battle between the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the 2022 Ford Maverick just got more intense. The Santa Cruz released an ad that details what the Santa Crus has, and the Ford Ford Maverick doesn’t.
Apparently, the Santa Cruz has America’s best warranty, the ability to tow up to 5,000 lbs, and a blind spot view monitor. But before the Santa Cruz flexes too hard, keep in mind that the Maverick has a few advantages as well.
The Maverick can tow up to 4,000 lbs, which is an entire 1,000 lbs less than the Santa Cruz. With the Maverick, the limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz’s limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles. Plus, complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. the Ford Maverick
We would say that the 2022 Ford Maverick has a price advantage over the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. It does start at $20,0000, but that’s for the hybrid model, and those are all sold out. You’ll have to pay between $23,000 to $25,000 for the non-hybrid models.
You can get started with the Hyundai Santa Cruz for about $23,900. These prices are the MSRPs, so they don’t include the destination fee or dealership markups.
The Ford Maverick Hybrid does have a better fuel economy. It gets an EPA-estimated 40 mpg. The gas-powered model gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 30 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz only gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and up to 27 mpg on the highway.
According to Edmunds, the Maverick has vague steering and a bumpy ride quality. However, it does have a peppy acceleration. The Santa Cruz has more responsive handling and a smooth ride. The dual-clutch automatic transmission increases the fun.
While the Santa Cruz does have AWD and an 8.6-inch ground clearance, the Ford Maverick offers the optional FX4 package. It can go a bit further while off-roading.
Does the Maverick or Santa Cruz have better features?
Both the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and 2022 Ford Maverick have a cramped second row. But the Santa Cruz has more space in the front row with more adjustment controls to find the perfect driving position.
The Maverick and Santa Cruz come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and you can upgrade to a 10.3-inch unit with the Santa Cruz. Also, the Santa Cruz offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with Amazon Alexa connectivity.
Standard automatic emergency braking comes with both trucks. However, the Santa Cruz also has standard forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.
So, while the Maverick has a cheaper starting price, better fuel economy, and more off-roading capability, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has a better ride quality, more standard features, and more tech. We wouldn’t say it wins every time, but it does provide additional value.
