2023 Ford Maverick vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2023 Ford Maverick retained its distinctive design, showcasing a strong family resemblance to other Ford trucks with its side and rear styling. The blocky front end and headlights set it apart, especially in the Tremor variant, which added off-road capabilities and street cred with blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights. The Tremor package introduced unique features like Avalanche Gray color, Tremor Orange tow hooks, updated fender vents, and a new grille with orange accents. The optional Tremor Appearance Package further enhanced its sporty look with a Carbonized Gray roof, mirrors, and special 17-inch wheels. Inside, the Maverick's crew cab featured a lot of hard plastic, but the Black Onyx seats with a heathered look added a touch of style, despite concerns about their long-term appeal.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, though not a traditional pickup, offered a unique design as a unibody crossover with a small bed. Its intentional design elements, including the Tron-like grille and sharply raked C-pillar, made it stand out. The interior was neither luxurious nor sparse, with high-quality materials and a funky four-spoked steering wheel. The fit and finish were commendable, and the cohesive design was enhanced by a thin horizontal trim bar. The Santa Cruz's interior felt well-crafted, with plastics that felt good to the touch, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and practical vehicle.

The 2023 Ford Maverick was notable for its hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. It came with a CVT and FWD, but buyers could opt for a 2.0-liter, 250-hp EcoBoost engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD for an additional $2,200. The Tremor off-road package, available on XLT and Lariat trims, introduced Ford's "Advanced 4WD" system, enhancing off-road adaptability. The Tremor package also included Trail Control, special springs and shocks, steel skid plates, and a 1-inch lift for improved ground clearance and approach angles. However, the Tremor package reduced towing capacity to 2,000 lbs and payload to 1,200 lbs, while the EcoBoost engine with the 4K Tow Package could tow up to 4,000 lbs.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque or a turbocharged engine with 282 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided peppy performance and smooth shifts. The Santa Cruz excelled in ride quality, maneuverability, and city driving, making it a practical choice for urban environments. It also featured a center locking differential for better off-road performance, although its ground clearance and geometry were more suited for gravel roads. The Santa Cruz's towing capacity reached 5,000 pounds with AWD and a braked trailer, offering versatility for various hauling needs.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, with the Tremor package, was 1 inch longer than other Mavericks, but this didn't affect legroom. It offered 42.8 inches of front legroom and 36.9 inches in the second row with the gas engine, while the hybrid version had slightly less rear legroom at 35.9 inches. The Maverick's interior featured utilitarian plastic materials, but upgrades were available, including heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and power-adjustable seats through the Luxury Package. The Maverick's headroom was nearly identical to the Santa Cruz, with 40.3 inches in the front and 39.6 inches in the second row.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, despite not being a traditional pickup, offered impressive utility. Its bed measured 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, with lockable underfloor storage and multiple tie-down points. The Santa Cruz's payload capacity was 1,411 pounds across all trims, and it featured a sliding and locking tonneau cover for added security. Inside, the rear seats folded up for taller items, but rear legroom was limited to 36.5 inches. The Santa Cruz's heated front seats were notably effective, with three levels of adjustability, and ventilated seats were available on the top Limited trim.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, as an entry-level truck, offered basic tech features. It came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Lariat trim added a 6.5-inch LED driver-information display, additional USB ports, and features like a power-sliding rear window and ambient lighting. The Lariat's Luxury Package included an eight-speaker B&O sound system, wireless charging, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Hyundai's BlueLink infotainment system on SE and SEL trims, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upper trims had a larger 10.25-inch display with wired smartphone compatibility. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the lack of a physical volume knob was a drawback. The Santa Cruz offered a Bose premium audio system, touch-sensitive buttons for various functions, and wireless charging on higher trims. However, USB-C ports were not available, and charging options were limited.

The 2023 Ford Maverick came with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 suite, including automatic high beams, pre-collision assist, and a rearview camera. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and blind-spot monitoring. The Maverick earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with some concerns about rollover resistance and passenger-side frontal crash performance. The IIHS rated it Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention but only Basic for vehicle-to-pedestrian at night.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a comprehensive set of driver-assistance systems, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and lane-keep assist. The Limited trim featured Hyundai's Highway Drive Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a blind-spot view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Cruz five stars in front crash tests and four stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not yet rated the 2024 model, but the 2023 version received high ratings in most categories, with improvements in headlamp performance for 2024.