Compared to the VAST majority of online video reviews that you have to watch these days, this one is absolutely incredible. The guy gives us all the details, from all aspects. But for me the standout feature is that compared to most of the online reviewers these days, he's not about his own ego, his attitude/personality don't have to dominate the piece - he's not trying to push his own schtick. He's all about conveying info about the vehicles. Well done.
16:03 This graphic is wrong. The Santa Cruz is on 20" wheels as you mentioned before. Moreover, even with the 18" wheels on lower trims of the Santa Cruz, those are the 245mm wide ones, and the Ford is the one with 225mm narrower tires.
Great video- informative and engaging. To answer the question between these two platforms, I like the Santa Cruz. As my back gets older, I’m less inclined to suffer like I did with my previous Nissan hardbody (yikes that was 25 years ago!) or frontier (15 years ago). So if the Santa Cruz can offer similar performance without killing my back while getting decent MPG, I’ll look in that direction.
My little brother just ordered a base Maverick in white, just added a spray in bed liner, but it comes with all you need. Just wanted a base, simple truck. The killer price and gas mileage make it a unique value. About 22k out the door…unbeatable.
22k out the door? How did u guys do it? Was the process hard? I’m trying to buy one too. I want a pick up truck but they’re big asf so I want a lil one.
@@PackinStackinthat was the price when these came out. You could even order one back then too. Now the most basic Maverick starts at $25k (but realistically most start at around $30k all around me)
I think that the Maverick Hybrid is really where it's at honestly. It's a shame that they didn't offer a 4X4 Hybrid version of it, because I feel like this would have been the best option.
It really would be I don’t doubt that Ford could make the Maverick with a hybrid 4x4 option as the platform it’s on is very very modular i think the only reason we don’t have this option is because it’ll cannibalize sales from the escape hybrid and possibly the ranger.
The Santa Cruz, all week long and twice on Sunday. I own one and it is so smooth and just what I was looking for to do my diamond hunting and camping. The ride is un-truck-like!
Nice comparison. That is no small price difference. I like the simplicity of the Maverick and the hybrid efficiency is sensible choice for me and 95% of my driving. If was looking for an over $40K pickup, most likely would move up in size to the Ridgeline
The 24k Santa base model is equipped much better than the 22k base Mav and will tow 1500 lbs more...it's a lot more vehicle for the cash and also has a 10yr 100k mile warranty that Ford won't match.
@@glamdring0007 ford has a solid hybrid warranty and people needing to do real towing just aren't even in this market share to begin with. The SC looks dated, the MPG is unimpressive, and to get a clear edge over the Mav it is wayyyyy more expensive (a nonsensical purchase at that price, just buy a midsize)
You know what’s weird I’ve never before thought I could get a Ford or get a Hyundai and found them comparable. I also never thought either way I’d be making a good decision with little drawbacks.
Its inaccurate as while the Maverick can be had much cheaper, a loaded Maverick with the same features as say an SEL Premium Santa Cruz cost about the same. The SC in Limited trim does offer things that don't exist on the Maverick like real leather, vented seats, 360o camera, 20" wheels, black chrome package, and so forth, and costs a bit more accordingly. In short, Maverick offers a MUCH more barebones version than is available in the Santa Cruz, as even the SE is more like an XLT Maverick.
I actually got it. He's using it as a number line, you just read it left to right, but he circles the data points, showing two overlapping circles. I don't think it actually is literally a venn diagram because a venn diagram labels each region, whereas in this case it's just "price of available configs dotted out and then circled by model".
Correct, the Mav starts lower and SC ends higher but they overlap in pricing in 80% of configurations. To get a Mav to equal the $40k SC you need to check lots of boxes and now your pushing $36k but still stuck with that $20k cheap interior.
When you start off saying the Maverick is similar in price to the Santa Cruz you automatically lose all credibility. For comparable trim levels the Maverick is consistently $4-$5k cheaper and that’s a huge price difference to normal consumers. Will not be watching videos with this guy again.
I specced a maverick lariat awd fx4 with tow package tonneau cover and premium package came out to almost 39k then went with Santa cruz sel premium which has has tonneau cover already hitch was $600 came to$ 37870 so very similar plus hyundai tows more better warranty and is made in Alabama vs maverick made in Mexico
Better gass, lower price point for me. Both these vehicles look pretty cool. Having something that looks comfortable and plush is an easy thing to sacrifice. Im not poor but 5-10 is still a lot of money for me. Im pretty confident that the maverick is my next vehicle. He'll my personal plan is just xl maverick. Spending only 25k and getting a 4 door, all weel drive 250hp and 4000lb of towing. Is a great price.
@@Ichibuns It isn't really a factor because awd maverick gets 25 mpg combined to santa cruz's 23 mpg combined. The ford wins by just a hair on paper and even tested worse than the santa cruz here. Plus you don't have to get the 40k version of the santa cruze, they are pretty comparable at lower trims. Although it will be more pricy to get the more powerful engine on the santa cruz but I really dont want a turbo wet dual clutch.
As a owner of a XLT Maverick it is a rather comfortable vehicle, and I tend to get 28MPG mixed use and I don’t have a light foot either. I also have the FX4 package that lacks eco mode and has AT tires on it, I wouldn’t be surprised if you get 1-2 more MPG than I get.
@@rkerver3 it's a lot of little things that add up. Yeah a base AWD Santa Cruz and base AWD maverick are really close. But the maverick is still a little cheaper, a little better gass mileage, slightly bigger bed. And when were talking base, which for me 25k is my budget. The maverick has the better power and towing.
This guy's review contradicts almost every other reviewer on TH-cam regarding the Maverick. Most reviewer love the interior on the Maverick, comfort, and roominess.
Have you sat in one? The interior does look cool, but it is noticeably small, borderline cramped - and that's just the front seats. The back seats aren't for humans...
Liking Travis's videos. He is pretty on point between the two.. I got the Maverick Hybrid for the gas mileage. I just need it to go to point A to point B. I did get the XLT luxury package though. It'll serve me well as I just want a truck bed to throw dirty shovels, PVC fittings, occasional dirt/plants, gas, etc in. Very light stuff. Price played a big role because all those nice features in the Santa Cruz is 35k.. I can't justify spending another $10,000. Both are great little trucks at the end of the day.
Someone pointed out that the reason the Santa Cruz has higher payload and towing is it's the only truck-like vehicle they have. Need something bigger? Go with a different brand. Ford, on the other hand, if you need more than the Maverick can handle, there's always the Ranger.
BED pay load, however, is only like 600lbs on the SC, whereas you can put the entirely of the 1500lbs payload (minus driver, of course) on the Mavs bed, should you feel the need.
@@nicholaslasky3754 The info was released by Hyundai. They have since pulled the info, but have not and will not confirm that that is no longer the case. This info is literally all in this video, as well as elsewhere.
Reeks of bias, the guy has a snarky attitude towards the Maverick from the beginning. No mention that the FX4 package has a uniquely tuned suspension in addition to the all terrain tires (which he does mention), which would make a huge difference.
I've had a Maverick XL since October 8th. Love the thing! Buy what ya want. But just about everyone at work wants one it seems! I bet FORD sells a million of them
@@adioo890 Hyundai has been writing big checks lately. Same with Genesis, every reviewer is falling over themselves gushing about how great they are and how beautiful they look. It's getting harder to take TH-cam reviewers seriously, they are becoming just like the car magazines used to be.
@@daveaffolter9697 dang man, going from f150 to fwd hybrid for better mpg? F150 was Def an overkill for you unless things have changed in your life. Gonna envy the mpg though lol. Use my truck too much for hauling and a little towing. Can't get away from large interior space either.
Maverick w/ turbo charged engine starts at $23K in a stripper "fleet vehicle" type of model, with steel wheels, cheap tires, not even basic features like cruise control, and with a cheap twistbeam suspension like you find in minivans. Santa Cruz with a turbo starts with a self-leveling multilink rear suspension, fully digital instrument panel, sunroof, retractable tonneau cover, 18" alloy wheels, fob opening tailgate, LED brake lights, and you're comparing a cheap direct injected 2.0 250hp engine on 93 octane to a direct and port injected 2.5 281hp engine on 87 octane that tows 3K pounds more than a $23K Maverick turbo. A chip isn't going to get much more out of that 2.0, but it certainly can on the 2.5T that not only starts off more powerful but with 93 octane will have more overhead. Its like asking why anyone would buy a Mercedes GLC when they can buy a stripper Ford Escape turbo, as if they are an apples to apples comparison on features and interior quality and fit and finish.
@Travis Langness I'm sure you evaluated each truck the same way. Your bias comes through in how you describe each one. For example, yes payload is higher on the SC, but the Mav has more freedom in how that weight is distributed. Clearly a Mav win. Also, bed size. The Mav is objectively bigger by more than a half inch as you describe, but 6 inches longer. Clearly, not a tie, but a Mav win. The in bed trunk on the SC is rad, but the small item category? Bed Utility should have been a category, which is another Mav win. The ride quality aspect too is way off. I've test driven both these and not once did I feel the Mav was bouncy or truck like. Yes, the SC felt smoother, but the Mav wasn't as you describe. The SC is a small SUV with the back chopped off for a bed. The Mav is a small truck on a unibody frame. Lastly, by the upvotes of my original comment and comments others have made, you should reflect on how you reviewed these vehicles. I've enjoyed other reviews you've done, but this one has many mistakes and a clear bias.
Most aren’t buying these things to hit the trails. They’ll likely be used for their intended purpose as compact pickups, hauling household items, bikes, kayaks, john boats, gardening supplies etc. Maybe a small camper.
@Travis Langness I've liked your reviews in the past but this was not even close to fair. I was picking apart your arguments as I watched the video. That price difference is mammoth on your testers and you acted like it was irrelevant. The Maverick will outsell the Santa Cruz easily and I'm not spending over $40k on a Hyundai CUV, but I'd spend $30k on a Maverick. C'mon bro!
The lack of a volume knob and all the piano black in the Santa Cruz are kinda deal breakers for me. The lack of a split folding rear bench in the Maverick is also frustrating, but I'd likely interact with the rear under seat storage much less frequently than I would with the volume and infotainment, so slight win for the Ford for me, though I likely wouldn't buy either tbh...
@@th003g really don’t want my wife reaching over to the steering wheel every time she wants to adjust the volume. Especially if I’m driving. And the lack of a volume knob would bug her even more than it does me. Just because something isn’t a problem for you doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem you know?
It's worth noting that only the highest trims of the Cruz lack volume knobs. The 8" touchscreen comes with less piano black and has physical buttons and knobs instead of the haptic ones on the bigger touchscreen-equipped Santa Cruzs.
Interesting. He likes the $40K vehicle over the $32K vehicle even though they are tied in most aspects. The Santa Cruz isn't worth a 25% premium over the Maverick.
People who shop this segment are doing it on price. A few may go high end but if they can swing 40K there are other truck options they can consider. The starting price of the Maverick is the sweet spot and 40MPG. That is what segment buyers want. And the sales are already proving it with Maverick outselling the Santa Cruz 2-1.
Spec the santa cruz to around 32k and it would still be a pretty similar outcome. Plus you get some beloved buttons back on lower trims of the santa cruz.
@@rkerver3 I don’t think people realize that the SEL Premium for the SC still compares pretty equally to a fully loaded Maverick. Honestly where Maverick wins is definitely it’s entry level offerings but everything sort of levels out at the higher end trims. But both cars still are trying to appeal to slightly different buyers. Ones trying to be a SUV/Crossover truck that is sporty and the other is trying to be more like a truck.
Thanks for your impressions. Interesting, though, how subjective something like 'ride' and 'handling' can be. In contrast to your review, Motor Trend says: "Body control isn't something pickups are known for, but the Maverick Hybrid shows a poise and sharpness that, frankly, raises the bar. Every turn of the wheel results in a deft, fluid weight transfer, with the truck settling down instantly. The damping is superb, with the Maverick Hybrid soaking up both large bumps and sharp, short-frequency ones with equal grace. Body roll is minimal, as is jostling of the occupants." I was lucky enough to get a short test drive (in the 2.0 turbo) and happen to agree with MT. Suggest anyone thinking of buying a Maverick do the same.
Yeah, I spend the whole video thinking, "Has this guy ever been in a pickup?!" lol. I test drove one this past weekend, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it drove NOTHING like a truck. It honestly felt like I was driving a slightly lifted accord or something.
Possible since he drove these two back to back his opinion on the suspension differences is more accurate. A vehicle by itself might feel one way until you drive the competition.
My hybrid Lariat Maverick cost $31k and gets 40mpg! The Santa Cruz packaged out cost $41k and gets 28mpg! $10k savings and 12 more mpg... I'll take the Maverick
Not really apples to apples... with the Santa Cruz at that level you're getting some things that you cant get with the Maverick, like a bigger touchscreen, a fully-digital gauge cluster, and leather seats to name just a few things. While the Hybrid Maverick has significantly better fuel economy the Santa Cruz has a significantly longer warranty, which has a value on its own as well.
Not possible if you compare apples to apples. You can buy an XL Maverick with turbo AWD and save a fortune, but that's nothing like a Santa Cruz Limited that has ventilated leather seats, sunroof, retractable tonneau, 20" wheels, 360o camera, fully digital instrument cluster, more advanced infotainment and audio system, etc.
@@darrelhundley8502 Nope, not for $22k. The cheapest Maverick XL is $21,490, including destination charges. Adding the turbo 4 and AWD option is $3,305, bringing the price for that XL to $24,795. Add dealer fees and taxes and you might get out the door for around $27k, if the dealer doesn't mark up the price due to scarcity.
This guy pretty much contradicts what other auto reviewers are saying about the Maverick, especially how it drives. I do appreciate different opinions, but I'll definitely reserve mine for after a test drive.
That center dash/console on the Santa Cruz turns me right off. I ABSOLUTELY HATE that there are no buttons or knobs. That means that if you want to do ANYTHING, you have to take your eyes off the road to do it. Sure, sure. A lot of people won't care about that. But those are the people that are a hazard on the road anyway. I don't want either one of these vehicles (I won't call them trucks). But, in making a choice, I would rather have the Maverick.
I thought the same but I got a Santa Cruz. The radio controls are duplicated on the steering wheel and the climate is Auto, even the defrost. I don't think I look away from the road more than my last car which was all manual knobs.
for 8k dollars less I'd get the Maverick all day long!! the nice trim of the santa cruz gets to 40k for that money you get a way better truck like the ridgeline !! maverick is gonna change all the market for the small trucks in America and they are selling it like hotcakes!!
I own the Santa Cruz and it is so much more vehicle than the Maverick when you put my SC limited against my brothers Park at the price difference is minimal. Too much plastic in the Maverick even with the Liarat upgrade
The reviewer comments about how the Maverick interior isn’t luxurious is the reason why all trucks are over priced. They stopped being utility vehicles and became luxury vehicles with a bed.
one thing to also keep in mind with the bed, is that on the santa cruz it has a built in tonneau cover that takes up a little bit of bed space. So if you're going to load up a dirt bike or two, that will take away from some of the space.
The tonneau cover assembly is somewhere between 20 and 40 lb on the Santa Cruz. The whole assembly apparently is held in by a six bolts altogether. The bolts are relatively easy to remove according to some owners. Though it's recommended that you have two people to lift it out since it's kind of awkward to do it alone. Though it could be done with one person if needed.
I'd rather have the Santa Cruz but I surf and paddleboard and the Maverick has the option to leave the keys inside and use the keypad to get in the truck. One feature sways my decision.
This is such an underrated Ford feature. I think because reviewers don’t live long-term with the vehicle, they don’t understand/use it. In real life, it’s fantastic.
@@samtripp5476 It went very well. Just the wife and I. Fuel mileage was better than expected, and the power when needed, WOW! About 800 miles round trip.
I don't think there's much point in Chevy bringing back the El Camino name honestly. The El Co was a 2 door, 2 (well 3) seater, which I know Chevy isn't going to do again after the SSR. Calling a truck similar to these an El Camino would just be a disgraceful cash grab. Completely agree with the Subaru Baja though.
Santa Cruz has more legroom??? Not the one I sat in. Maverick wins for driver legroom easily. I couldn’t even test drive the Santa Cruz, because I don’t fit,,
I’m 6’4; 275, and I didn’t fit. The issue is the middle console. The Santa Cruz is not the only vehicle I don’t fit in. Car manufacturers like making these consoles bigger and bigger. With a 34 inseam, I have to bend leg out to be comfortable. So, I need that space. I actually had to rent the Home Depot van (Ford Full size) this past week for work reasons ( 3 hrs each way). It was the most uncomfortable I’ve ever been a vehicle. I was constantly trying new things to get comfortable. Bubble wrap between my leg and console, trying to fit under the console, even using my left foot for stepping on the gas (no cruise control in it).. When it comes to the Maverick, for me, , it has room to bend the right leg and be comfortable. The Sant Cruz, and most Hyundai’s I dont’t fit
I have a fully loaded maverick lariat and I totally love it. I also own a 2019 FX4 F150 and a 2019 bullitt. And the Maverick is still fun to drive. Also you do get an upgraded gear ratio if you put the 4K tow package on the Maverick. I will be putting a video out on real world gas mileage and 0 to 60 times soon👍🏽👍🏽
I like the Maverick. I don’t really care about how techy the Hyundai is because I already expected that to have it. The Maverick seems like it will easily to get in and familiarize yourself and not be confused at where things are. And the fact that there is no nav isn’t really a issue because a many people have smart phone and because you have ACP/AA features in the Maverick, you can use their map feature that sometimes work better than the original nav system that come from the Manufacturer.
I have a full loaded velocity blue ford maverick on order. It's been two months so far and I haven't received a build date yet. I know it will be worth the wait.
@@drewski1441 Not really. If you spec out a Mav to have the same features (sunroof, leather, safety tech, etc), the Mav comes in around $35k. The RTL Ridgeline (sunroof, leather, etc) is around $39k. But the extra $4k gets you sooo much more. More room in the front seats, more room in the back seats, a much much much more functional bed. Plus, you get a Honda product vs a Ford product. - Granted, if you wanna go cheap cheap, and live with 4x2, a less powerful hybrid engine, a plastic interior, etc. you can spend a lot less money by going with a Mav. But you are getting what you pay for...
EPA is out so Ford can't use that hybrid delay excuse anymore. Deliveries supposed to be Jan. Early Jan 2 = months, end of Jan = almost 3 months you still have to wait! Maybe some problems with the hybrid Ford is not warning you about?
@@JamesD-HB James, we've had this debate on Long McArthur videos already. I have zero issues with waiting, won't be demanding people retract statements made weeks in advance of epa #'s coming out or implying a conspiracy occurred between Tim & Ford, etc etc! Now, just so you ARE AWARE for the 10th time James...50 State Emmission Certification is The " Delay" or holdup, blah blah blah! Go pester somebody else now git
@@txredkim867 Not pestering, just that the eco was shipped not long after EPA numbers. I would think you would not be happy them witholding your built hybrid and Ford not being really transparent about why. It's fine if it does not bother you to wait 2-3 more months without an explanation.
@@JamesD-HB FORD PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED (That's transparency) that the, 50 State Emmission Certification process is ongoing for the Hybrids and has caused a delay as a result! That's the reason HYBRIDS won't Ship till December! The reason is the Certificate isn't available, It is not available! And, no, I'm not mad about it James! Unlike many, who had unrealistic expectations of a perfect execution of the brand new never released Maverick I'm okay with delays! It doesn't bother me at all...In fact, the delay allows me more time to save...Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
I really understand why people get mad about this review saying that maverick is better buy for a buck but that’s why I like this channel - honest impressions of both vehicles. Great review.
My only gripe with this review is that the pricing is very vaguely discussed. The Maverick, when made to the top trim is close to $10,000 cheaper than the Santa Cruz. It does appear to show in interior quality and driving quality, but for almost $10,000, I’m sure most people would be taking those things largely into consideration.
This review feels more like its trying to be bias towards the hyundai. Every single review I've watched has highly praised the maverick on all the parts he criticized.
Yes. Ford's starting MSRP for the Mav is $19,995. Another thing is seating position and room is relative to the driver. Other reviews I've watched gave points to the Maverick because of the seating position as well as ease of getting in and out for taller drivers. I'm good with this guy preferring the SC...but it should have been made with a caveat that he is shorter than many drivers.
A fully priced Maverick is no more than 32k I think, idk where he got the idea that you can option it to 40k. That makes no sense, the Maverick is meant to be cheap.
@@chuckd7423 But is that really true? I am no expect but I do see time and again reviews on the Ranger saying it's quite bouncy to the point of making some passengers sick on less than optimal roads. They all recommend the off road package, which many seem to agree helps the ride considerably...
The FX4 package on the Maverick comes with much lower diff gearing. 3.81… makes a considerable difference for mild offroading and getting up to merging speed when towing!
Personally, I'd take a Mav any day over a fugly cruz. But just like the reviewer, my opinion is subjective so who really cares what other people think. Get what makes the most sense for you.😉
The gas mileage on the Santa Cruz is very bad I bought myself a maverick hybrid luxury package rear window moon roof 360 copilot package for 27,500+ tax Best part is 40 miles per gallon in the city
I ordered a Maverick because the price point when comparably equipped was $5k-10k less. It's hard to spend more than $35k for the Maverick while it's easy to get over $40k with the Santa Cruz. And frankly if I found myself spending more than $40k I'd be looking at a Tacoma, Ranger, or Ridgeline. For just over $30k, one can order a well equipped Maverick.
So far your review has been the best between these two vehicles! 🖖 I would go with the Santa Cruz, for the better ride and it’s roomier inside also, since the vehicle is wider. You can always get better off road tires. 🤙
Your criticism of the mav drive is like saying a F-150 drives like a truck. Ford builds trucks so that should be the driving experience. Hyundai looks ridiculous.
@@Whileweweresinners Not sure what Ford fan boy means Santa fan boy. I drive a Jeep. Most reviews I have seen on the Maverick say it drives great. With as hard as they are to find my guess is you have not even taken a test drive yet.
I’ve purchased hundreds and hundreds of Fords for my business for the past 40 years. My wife and I have downsized and I am retiring. I have a smaller garage. I bought the Santa Cruz Limited and absolutely love it. The ride is incredible. The handling is amazing. The seats are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever sat in. A self driving is next level. I mean this thing drove itself home the first day with very little interaction no bouncing off the lines just straight down the road around curves holding speed perfectly. Simply amazing! The utility and storage is all I would ever need for my tools to do handiwork for my grandkids. I was thinking about the Maverick but this thing completely blows it away.
I'm retired and have similar thoughts and concerns. We downsized to a home where you can't get a full-size Ford or Chevy truck inside the garage so consequently all the neighbors have mostly SUVs and the next door home lost a sale when a perspective buyer came back twice with his Ford 150 with trailer hitch on and then off. He still was 4" too long. I have a 2003 Subaru Baja so I like that concept. If I bought one of these new compact trucks I would opt for the more comfortable one. I would have to test drive both.
It doesn't matter what you think. The Maverick will outsell the Santa Cruz by 2 to 1 if not 3 to 1. Why? Just look at them side by side. Ford understands what people want when it comes to how these vehicles look and the image they present.
@@theRooster722 : It''s 4-1, not 5-1. Ford's monthly production capacity in Mexico is 8K whereas Hyundai's in Alabama is only about 2K. IThe Santa Cruz was the fastest selling car in August with only 8 average day to sell. The Maverick did the same in September, but both vehicles are selling like hot cakes. In October, Hyundai delivered 1,6K SC's; Ford 6,8K Mavericks.
Ive gone back and forth with this for a year now. I think it may come down to who has the better warranty and availability. Im leaning more towards the Santa cruz
You forget to say at the end. This video is sponsored by Hyundai Santa Cruz. The single point where Santa Cruz wins is tow, thats pretty much it. Price starts from 19, not from 22. You did not mentioned hybrid, which is 40mpg compare to 22 it pretty good difference. etc.
100% agree. The only advantage the Santa Cruz has is 1k pounds of towing, but a lot of states require a trailer brake when towing over 3k pounds and Hyundai forces you to go aftermarket for a trailer brake controller. Maverick wins all day.
I like the look of the Hyundai. The whole package is very well designed. Great vehicle for someone looking for utility in a more modern package. The Maverick feels like a throwback to when you could get bare bones, purpose built vehicles that just work. I like that most about the vehicle. And while the Hyundai is a very attractive package, I think the reviewer didn't give the Maverick enough credit on what it can do that the Hyundai just can't touch...deliver amazing fuel economy at an incredible price point. That'll be a bigger selling point than anything the Hyundai offers.
Depends on which engines you get. Edmunds real world testing showed that the turbo Cruz gets better gas mileage than the turbo Maverick. The Cruz's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is also something that buyers may pay attention to.
Thanks for proving what we all know, the Maverick is far superior to the Santa Cruz. BTW, you may want to measure those beds again, the difference is so significant the naked eye can pick it out.
Mav all day, got a hybrid XLT on order. 25k OTD with a 4% discount. Nice, simple, efficient, nothing fancy. I don't think the 30k Mav packages make sense, but I don't think the Santa Cruz makes sense period. On top of the awful lack of buttons, and bizarre design, it will look dated in 6 months while the Mav will always call pleasantly back to the budget compact trucks of years past. But to each their own.
I think the base Maverick is where the value is. But as soon as you spec out the Maverick, you end up with the same cheap non-plush interior but a higher price tag that competes with something like a tacoma/ridgeline: where both base has better interior. Don’t forget the Maverick is only an escape with the back chopped off, at $19-24k it’s a deal, anything more you’re just joking with yourself.
You get manual controls for those functions if you stay away fron the top trim level. I never use the dash controls for audio volume anyway, when there's a button for that function literally right under my fingers on the steering wheel, and with auto climate control, I very seldom change that setting either.
You’re comparing apples to oranges in the trim levels. When the Maverick is optioned to the same level as the Santa Cruz it is $3,500 less and addresses all the complaints your tester had. I’ve driven Hyundais and Fords and the Hyundai infotainment and camera systems trail Ford by a large margin. And there are options that are simply not available on the Hyundai like automatic braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. Fully optioned, the Maverick is the same price as the Santa Cruz and includes the 7 pin trailer connector, trailer brake controller, skid plates, heavy duty cooling and the list goes on. Most of your reviews are spot on but this is not one of them.
This is wrong. When the Maverick is optioned to the same level as the Santa Cruz, its roughly the same price. The advantage of the Maverick is that you can pick and choose what you want, whereas the Santa Cruz has very few trims and no customization. But if you build a Maverick Lariat turbo AWD with luxury package, 4K tow package, black painted wheels, bed toolbox, hard rollup tonneau, fullsize spare, moonroof, roof rails, to be like a $37K SEL Premium Santa Cruz it actually costs $39K. A lot of people building the Maverick forget to add all the options the Santa Cruz trims have standard, like sunroof and retractable tonneau cover and composite bed that is already protected like a liner would do.
@@BoopSnoot No. it isn't. I built the Maverick on Ford's website with all the options equaling the Hyundai and it is $3,500 less as stated before. Do your homework before calling someone out, I DID!
I have to agree that the Santa Cruz has the better interior but but the Maverick has a much better looking exterior design and the "small" ($8K) price differential you keep referring to is not small in my book. I priced out a Maverick with all the things I wanted/needed and it came in at just about $27K. That got me all wheel drive, the larger engine, tow package and a few other things. If my boat were a little lighter I would have gone base engine, taken advantage of the hybrid power plant and saved about $3K boot. My bet is the Maverick will outsell the Santa Cruz 3 to 1
I built and ordered Maverick but got impatient. Ended up buying a Santa Cruz SEL Premium. I’m overall happy with my choice but I think if I ended up getting the Ford I would have been completely happy with it as well. I’ve road tripped twice with the Santa Cruz and will say the ride and feel as well as the roll up cover is great to have. If I could change one thing I would have bought the Limited trim on the SC. 4 trims on the SC and basic options are missing unless it’s the top trim. Hyundai dropped the ball a bit on that. Both are great options, just get what makes you happy.
Base model hybrid Maverick for me. It will be quieter while driving, much better fuel economy, and cost far less; nearly $20k less than a loaded up Hyundai.
@@rkerver3 My car now has cruise control, and I never use it, so I don’t care. And Ford has available bedliners from the factory, both drop-in and spray-in. I’d go for the spray-in. oh, and the base Maverick starts at $21k with destination.
@@epa316 @epa316 don't use cruise control? Do you highway? You must be that guy! But with a spray in liner and destination it is 22k but I consider destination a wash so 24k for the santa cruz and 20.5k for the base mav with a spray in liner. It comes down to what you want I guess.
@@rkerver3 I do some highway driving, and Murphy’ Law, every time I set the cruise control, there’s a slowdown on the highway, and I have to take over. So I roll my eyes and say F it, I’ll do it myself!
Ford has said the payload is true payload that you can in fact put in the bed of the Maverick. This has been tested by a few reviewers loading 1500+ pounds into the bed of the maverick and driving it. While the SC may have a larger payload number, you can only place 660 pounds in the bed. I'm assuming due to the lid on the bed storage possibly collapsing. With that in mind, the Maverick would be the winner on payload in my opinion.
@@dave3682 they retracted the 667 pound listed capacity but have not released a new number or information on the bed capacity. Either way 667 pounds is a good amount of weight for a trunk lid and would be enough for anyone not using it for every day hauling.
A used Santa Cruz, Sub 10k milage is wayyyyy better deal then a Maverick....You can't compare the interior and quality of the santa cruz to a Maverick..The Ford looks and feels way to cheap. Hence the Santa Cruz with the Non Turbo will be my next car...
Both are selling pretty well. The SC was the fastest selling car in the US in August with ~8 average days to sell but their production capacity in Alabama is much smaller than Ford's in Mexico -- ~1,800 vs 6,755 in October.
This guy must own stock in Hyundai. The review was one-sided and kept complaining of rude quality and things of that nature. The Mav is a true to its roots, a truck. The SC is basically a CUV without the rear roof.
@@davidkelln9225 The Santa Cruz has more comfortable seats and is much quieter inside. It doesn't fatigue the driver in short order, either. If the capacity of the bed is that crucial for you, buy a midsize truck.
@@ronlheureux7623 the comment I was responding to was about handling. If I need to haul say 800 to 1000 pounds on a regular basis but don't need to tow anything or use 4WD, the Maverick makes sense. I don't know why I would spend an extra 6 grand if this fits the bill. the santa cruz seems like a nice vehicle, but come on. You know you are going to see little white mavericks all over the place with business names printed on the side. You can carry 1,000 pounds of cargo and get over 30 mpg? And you can get one for under 22k? The commercial market will eat this up. That said, you are right. The Santa Cruz is a better choice for most families or commuters. Because most truck owners never haul anything anyway.
So disappointed in this review. It's clear he prefers the Hyundai from the beginning and that is fine just state the facts. He talks about bed size and says they are equal but the Ford is 54.4 inches long to the Hyundai 48 inches, clearly a big difference. Driver seat adjustment, saying he sits too low in the ford and it's clear in the next video clip when he is driving the ford and his seat is obviously adjusted to a higher level.(the seat is adjustable). Next is price, please do your own comparison between the two, it's a big difference at least for me. I'm sure there are other details I'm missing. Very disappointed in Edmonds and I would never watch another review from this guy.
I think this is an excellent review, he goes through both cars completely and fairly, he gives the Maverick credit where it's due, but the Maverick is a cheaper, rougher-riding vehicle that's less enjoyable to drive. A big reason a lot of of buyers would buy a compact unibody 'truck' is because they want car-like performance and feel with a bed. It's completely fair to prefer the vehicle that does a better job of that. It's hardly like he shat all over the Maverick, he told it the way it is.
I looked at both trucks and went with the Maverick mainly for the much better value, but close second is that it looks a lot better. While I agree the Santa Cruz looks nicer interior wise, the exterior is kind of ugly. (The split back seat cubby access is a very good point though). But to say the Maverick is not comfortable to drive is just total B.S. And these are not equally optioned trucks either How does he compare a loaded out Santa Cruz to a mid level XLT with no upgrades other than AWD? I have the XLT FX4 and it is super smooth and very peppy on the highway. I have the tow package, lux package that includes heated seats and steering wheel, bed tie down system, Cyber Orange paint, and a bunch of other options. Paid 30800 for it. Maxed out Lariat is still about 3K cheaper than this limited.
The Maverick in the video is a Lariat, not an XLT. You can tell because of the silver grille-bar and the vinyl seats which you can only get in the Lariat.
I just got my Maverick delivered today. love everything about it. Hyundai was always a good second choice that I almost went with when my order was delayed.
Seemed biased against ford. The bottom line is maverick more truck like and cheaper and most people are getting over 40mpg combined in it. Hyundai more car-like, more expensive and less or way less mpg. They both have a place.
The Maverick looks like a Bronco Sport SUV with a bed and the Santa Cruz looks like a Tucson with a bed. Squares vs triangles really. At night, the Santa Cruz looks way more impressive, even in its base trim, whereas with the Maverick you have to step up to the Lariat just to get the most simple of daytime running lights strip on the headlights. And while the Santa Cruz has those really cool LED taillights that go into the tailgate, the Maverick again is super cheap and plain incandescent rear. Maverick wins zero points IMO on risk taking styling and cool points, but its also very non-polarizing since its such a generic simple truck shape.
In this comments section: a bunch of ford fans missing the entire point of the comparison of these two cars: the Maverick is a small truck, built like a truck, to do minor truck things. The Santa Cruz is a CUV with the trunk chopped to make a bed, not a truck ("sport adventure vehicle" lol). The Santa Cruz has more tech features and comfort, and standard power. The Maverick is cheaper and more utility focused, and the hybrid engine is a game changer. Which one you like more is entirely up to you, as they're hardly competing for the same consumers. If you want a small truck, get the Maverick. If you want a weird funky car/truck hybrid thing that drives like a car and can sometimes behave like a truck, get the Santa Cruz.
Exactly. I prefer a small truck to look just like a small truck and act like a small truck. There are plenty of suv`s that can haul a load or tow. I had several S-10s and I love the looks of the Maverick.
Both of these are based off of existing SUVs. The Maverick is no more or less truck than the Santa Cruz is, regardless of what their respective manufacturers call them. The Maverick is a Bronco Sport with a bed and the Santa Cruz is a Tucson with a bed. You are correct , though, they are both going after different consumers. The Santa Cruz is targeting people who would normally buy an SUV, like a Tucson, but would prefer the added utility and versatility of a truck bed. The Maverick is going two different consumers. The first is the entry-level buyer who is looking for something cheap and fuel efficient and who appreciates the Maverick's extra utility and versatility over something like a Honda Civic. The second is the person who thinks the current Ranger is too big (which is apparently a lot of people as that is the number one complaint that Ford dealers get about the Ranger).
Im going with the Maverick. The santa cruz is just too over the top style wise. And for the price, i get a turbo and awd for $26k that already has tuning capabilities in the aftermarket. Ill be able to raise or lower it with ease, tune the engine over 300hp with ease, and i like that the bed will actually handle the payload capacity and not just 600lbs of the max payload. The santa cruz may have the storage in the bed but because of the plastic lid, it limits what you can throw in the bed.
Hyundai is no longer quoting the 660lb bed number. They are now saying you can put the whole payload in the bed (minus occupants, of course). The bed of the Santa Cruz is not plastic, it is composite and will not dent or rust like the steel bed of the Maverick.
So, Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz? Let us know in the comments. Check out our full comparison write-up here: edmu.in/3nT6Qbv
Compared to the VAST majority of online video reviews that you have to watch these days, this one is absolutely incredible. The guy gives us all the details, from all aspects. But for me the standout feature is that compared to most of the online reviewers these days, he's not about his own ego, his attitude/personality don't have to dominate the piece - he's not trying to push his own schtick. He's all about conveying info about the vehicles. Well done.
3 words , dual clutch transmission. So santa cruz fails
16:03 This graphic is wrong. The Santa Cruz is on 20" wheels as you mentioned before. Moreover, even with the 18" wheels on lower trims of the Santa Cruz, those are the 245mm wide ones, and the Ford is the one with 225mm narrower tires.
Maverick
Great video- informative and engaging. To answer the question between these two platforms, I like the Santa Cruz. As my back gets older, I’m less inclined to suffer like I did with my previous Nissan hardbody (yikes that was 25 years ago!) or frontier (15 years ago). So if the Santa Cruz can offer similar performance without killing my back while getting decent MPG, I’ll look in that direction.
My little brother just ordered a base Maverick in white, just added a spray in bed liner, but it comes with all you need. Just wanted a base, simple truck. The killer price and gas mileage make it a unique value. About 22k out the door…unbeatable.
To me confusion is what exactly comes with base model.Ford websites not clear on it.
22k out the door? How did u guys do it? Was the process hard? I’m trying to buy one too. I want a pick up truck but they’re big asf so I want a lil one.
22k? These things are marked up by 15 percent at least.
@@PackinStackinthat was the price when these came out. You could even order one back then too. Now the most basic Maverick starts at $25k (but realistically most start at around $30k all around me)
Yes that is outstanding for 2024.
Thomas from Throttle House likes it better than the Santa Cruz.
I think that the Maverick Hybrid is really where it's at honestly. It's a shame that they didn't offer a 4X4 Hybrid version of it, because I feel like this would have been the best option.
It really would be
I don’t doubt that Ford could make the Maverick with a hybrid 4x4 option as the platform it’s on is very very modular
i think the only reason we don’t have this option is because it’ll cannibalize sales from the escape hybrid and possibly the ranger.
Can't imagine that Ford is not going to add a AWD Hybrid next year.
@@stevethomas760 They probably really wanted to push for 40mpg highway for ads before offering 4x4 which will knock that down a bit
Ordered a hybrid….would have preferred the all wheel drive but oh well
@@BarcelonaBlitzer yep
The Santa Cruz, all week long and twice on Sunday. I own one and it is so smooth and just what I was looking for to do my diamond hunting and camping. The ride is un-truck-like!
It's like the Sport Trac. Basically a SUV with a bed. 👍👍
It’s what fits you better and that’s all good with competition. Let’s hope the other car companies fall in and build these small trucks.
Nice comparison. That is no small price difference. I like the simplicity of the Maverick and the hybrid efficiency is sensible choice for me and 95% of my driving. If was looking for an over $40K pickup, most likely would move up in size to the Ridgeline
The 24k Santa base model is equipped much better than the 22k base Mav and will tow 1500 lbs more...it's a lot more vehicle for the cash and also has a 10yr 100k mile warranty that Ford won't match.
Ridgeline for the win.
@@glamdring0007 yeah but that base Santa Cruz engine is awful!!!
@@glamdring0007 ford has a solid hybrid warranty and people needing to do real towing just aren't even in this market share to begin with. The SC looks dated, the MPG is unimpressive, and to get a clear edge over the Mav it is wayyyyy more expensive (a nonsensical purchase at that price, just buy a midsize)
@@glamdring0007 yea but what's the mpg on it?
You know what’s weird I’ve never before thought I could get a Ford or get a Hyundai and found them comparable. I also never thought either way I’d be making a good decision with little drawbacks.
I prefer the look of the Maverick, it looks more like a truck.
I still don’t know why he made a Venn diagram for pricing
It was completely misleading and unhelpful
Its inaccurate as while the Maverick can be had much cheaper, a loaded Maverick with the same features as say an SEL Premium Santa Cruz cost about the same. The SC in Limited trim does offer things that don't exist on the Maverick like real leather, vented seats, 360o camera, 20" wheels, black chrome package, and so forth, and costs a bit more accordingly. In short, Maverick offers a MUCH more barebones version than is available in the Santa Cruz, as even the SE is more like an XLT Maverick.
@@BoopSnoot You forgot to add $2-3K to bump up the Ford to a 100K mile no-deductible warranty, which the Hyundai has standard.
I actually got it. He's using it as a number line, you just read it left to right, but he circles the data points, showing two overlapping circles. I don't think it actually is literally a venn diagram because a venn diagram labels each region, whereas in this case it's just "price of available configs dotted out and then circled by model".
Correct, the Mav starts lower and SC ends higher but they overlap in pricing in 80% of configurations. To get a Mav to equal the $40k SC you need to check lots of boxes and now your pushing $36k but still stuck with that $20k cheap interior.
When you start off saying the Maverick is similar in price to the Santa Cruz you automatically lose all credibility. For comparable trim levels the Maverick is consistently $4-$5k cheaper and that’s a huge price difference to normal consumers.
Will not be watching videos with this guy again.
You're not wrong. That was awful!
Same..
Obvious bias from the jump.
I specced a maverick lariat awd fx4 with tow package tonneau cover and premium package came out to almost 39k then went with Santa cruz sel premium which has has tonneau cover already hitch was $600 came to$ 37870 so very similar plus hyundai tows more better warranty and is made in Alabama vs maverick made in Mexico
Better gass, lower price point for me. Both these vehicles look pretty cool. Having something that looks comfortable and plush is an easy thing to sacrifice. Im not poor but 5-10 is still a lot of money for me. Im pretty confident that the maverick is my next vehicle. He'll my personal plan is just xl maverick. Spending only 25k and getting a 4 door, all weel drive 250hp and 4000lb of towing. Is a great price.
If you're getting awd then gas isn't really a factor
@@rkerver3 Of course it is
@@Ichibuns It isn't really a factor because awd maverick gets 25 mpg combined to santa cruz's 23 mpg combined. The ford wins by just a hair on paper and even tested worse than the santa cruz here. Plus you don't have to get the 40k version of the santa cruze, they are pretty comparable at lower trims. Although it will be more pricy to get the more powerful engine on the santa cruz but I really dont want a turbo wet dual clutch.
As a owner of a XLT Maverick it is a rather comfortable vehicle, and I tend to get 28MPG mixed use and I don’t have a light foot either. I also have the FX4 package that lacks eco mode and has AT tires on it, I wouldn’t be surprised if you get 1-2 more MPG than I get.
@@rkerver3 it's a lot of little things that add up. Yeah a base AWD Santa Cruz and base AWD maverick are really close. But the maverick is still a little cheaper, a little better gass mileage, slightly bigger bed. And when were talking base, which for me 25k is my budget. The maverick has the better power and towing.
This guy's review contradicts almost every other reviewer on TH-cam regarding the Maverick. Most reviewer love the interior on the Maverick, comfort, and roominess.
I already knew from the jump it was going to be a Santa Cruz add smh I'm like you most if not all other reviews was positive on the Ford
For real, I get a different opinion but this is just a night and day difference.
Have you sat in one? The interior does look cool, but it is noticeably small, borderline cramped - and that's just the front seats. The back seats aren't for humans...
It sure looks cheap in this video though.
@@bikebudha01 I actually have sat in one.🤣 That's how I can confidently say you're full of crap.
Liking Travis's videos. He is pretty on point between the two.. I got the Maverick Hybrid for the gas mileage. I just need it to go to point A to point B. I did get the XLT luxury package though. It'll serve me well as I just want a truck bed to throw dirty shovels, PVC fittings, occasional dirt/plants, gas, etc in. Very light stuff. Price played a big role because all those nice features in the Santa Cruz is 35k.. I can't justify spending another $10,000. Both are great little trucks at the end of the day.
totally agree and you did the right choice!
Someone pointed out that the reason the Santa Cruz has higher payload and towing is it's the only truck-like vehicle they have. Need something bigger? Go with a different brand. Ford, on the other hand, if you need more than the Maverick can handle, there's always the Ranger.
BED pay load, however, is only like 600lbs on the SC, whereas you can put the entirely of the 1500lbs payload (minus driver, of course) on the Mavs bed, should you feel the need.
@@nxdboi false, not sure where this came from but the payload can all go in the bed minus passenger weight
@@nicholaslasky3754 The info was released by Hyundai. They have since pulled the info, but have not and will not confirm that that is no longer the case. This info is literally all in this video, as well as elsewhere.
@@nicholaslasky3754 the 660lbs was for suspension and not for composite bed
@@nicholaslasky3754 it is straight in the Hyundai owners manual, you cannot exceed 660lb in the bed.
Hoping Maverick performs well so this pushes Toyota, Ram, and GM to make some competition. Then Ford can up the game by then too
The Maverick wins all day and sales are reflecting that.
If the maverick wins on looks and fuel efficiency then the Santa Cruz wins on towing power
40k for a Hyundai Santa Cruz?!?! No thanks! FX4 plus tow package XLT Mav with sticker of 29ish.
This aged poorly, just built my Lariat FX4 to the tune of 40k. I didn't even get to the dealer to see what the mark up was.
Got my 24 Lariat EB FX4 4k for 37,900 OTD with no tax or fees in NH.
Reeks of bias, the guy has a snarky attitude towards the Maverick from the beginning. No mention that the FX4 package has a uniquely tuned suspension in addition to the all terrain tires (which he does mention), which would make a huge difference.
Yea sounds like he's just been paid by Hyundai to trash the maverick. Dude doesn't know shit.
Exactly. He complained about the lack of comfort in the Ford many times, but also noted that the Ford lacked the comfort package.
I've had a Maverick XL since October 8th. Love the thing! Buy what ya want. But just about everyone at work wants one it seems! I bet FORD sells a million of them
@@rickmcneal1660 There is no such thing as a comfort package for the Maverick.
@@adioo890 Hyundai has been writing big checks lately. Same with Genesis, every reviewer is falling over themselves gushing about how great they are and how beautiful they look. It's getting harder to take TH-cam reviewers seriously, they are becoming just like the car magazines used to be.
The maverick is just a better buy and the sales reflect that.
Yes
Or… it’s because truck people overwhelmingly buy American perhaps?
@@IvanBosnjak89 I am replacing my F150 with a Maverick. I also have a Kia Sorento and Hyundai Elantra. The Maverick for mpg hybrid
@@IvanBosnjak89 or because it’s super cheap?
@@daveaffolter9697 dang man, going from f150 to fwd hybrid for better mpg? F150 was Def an overkill for you unless things have changed in your life. Gonna envy the mpg though lol. Use my truck too much for hauling and a little towing. Can't get away from large interior space either.
Maverick with turbo charged engine starts at $23k. Santa Cruz with the turbo engine starts at $36k. Ooooof
Go sit in each of the trucks you describe. I'm pretty sure you'll understand why one costs more than the other...
Maverick w/ turbo charged engine starts at $23K in a stripper "fleet vehicle" type of model, with steel wheels, cheap tires, not even basic features like cruise control, and with a cheap twistbeam suspension like you find in minivans. Santa Cruz with a turbo starts with a self-leveling multilink rear suspension, fully digital instrument panel, sunroof, retractable tonneau cover, 18" alloy wheels, fob opening tailgate, LED brake lights, and you're comparing a cheap direct injected 2.0 250hp engine on 93 octane to a direct and port injected 2.5 281hp engine on 87 octane that tows 3K pounds more than a $23K Maverick turbo. A chip isn't going to get much more out of that 2.0, but it certainly can on the 2.5T that not only starts off more powerful but with 93 octane will have more overhead. Its like asking why anyone would buy a Mercedes GLC when they can buy a stripper Ford Escape turbo, as if they are an apples to apples comparison on features and interior quality and fit and finish.
Used Santa Cruz is a great deal, a used maverick is a total scam 😂😂
Seems like you had your mind made up before you started the video.
I think he did.
Makes sense considering he had most likely already evaluated them before rolling tape..
@@johnragan7123 I meant before he did anything he had he mind made up...makes sense by the context of the comment.
@Travis Langness I enjoyed the review! it gave me enough information on both to help me decide on picking one over the other.
@Travis Langness I'm sure you evaluated each truck the same way. Your bias comes through in how you describe each one. For example, yes payload is higher on the SC, but the Mav has more freedom in how that weight is distributed. Clearly a Mav win. Also, bed size. The Mav is objectively bigger by more than a half inch as you describe, but 6 inches longer. Clearly, not a tie, but a Mav win. The in bed trunk on the SC is rad, but the small item category? Bed Utility should have been a category, which is another Mav win. The ride quality aspect too is way off. I've test driven both these and not once did I feel the Mav was bouncy or truck like. Yes, the SC felt smoother, but the Mav wasn't as you describe. The SC is a small SUV with the back chopped off for a bed. The Mav is a small truck on a unibody frame. Lastly, by the upvotes of my original comment and comments others have made, you should reflect on how you reviewed these vehicles. I've enjoyed other reviews you've done, but this one has many mistakes and a clear bias.
Most aren’t buying these things to hit the trails. They’ll likely be used for their intended purpose as compact pickups, hauling household items, bikes, kayaks, john boats, gardening supplies etc. Maybe a small camper.
So $31,665=32k and $41,540=40k. Either the host doesn't know basic math, or he's biased, or both.
@Travis Langness the delta is the same though. By that logic the Maverick should be “around” $30k or the Hyundai should be around 42.
Nailed it
@Travis Langness I've liked your reviews in the past but this was not even close to fair. I was picking apart your arguments as I watched the video. That price difference is mammoth on your testers and you acted like it was irrelevant. The Maverick will outsell the Santa Cruz easily and I'm not spending over $40k on a Hyundai CUV, but I'd spend $30k on a Maverick. C'mon bro!
@@marspike7 Thank you. That was exactly what I meant.
@@kclark8080 get into and drive them both. You'll realize why the price is different I promise.
The lack of a volume knob and all the piano black in the Santa Cruz are kinda deal breakers for me. The lack of a split folding rear bench in the Maverick is also frustrating, but I'd likely interact with the rear under seat storage much less frequently than I would with the volume and infotainment, so slight win for the Ford for me, though I likely wouldn't buy either tbh...
I can eventually see ford changing that backseat to a 60-40 split but luckily for me I don't have a kid in the car seat anymore
Lack of volume know is the biggest overblown complaint. I dont remember the last time I used a volume know in my cars. Use the steering wheel control.
@@th003g really don’t want my wife reaching over to the steering wheel every time she wants to adjust the volume. Especially if I’m driving. And the lack of a volume knob would bug her even more than it does me. Just because something isn’t a problem for you doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem you know?
It's worth noting that only the highest trims of the Cruz lack volume knobs. The 8" touchscreen comes with less piano black and has physical buttons and knobs instead of the haptic ones on the bigger touchscreen-equipped Santa Cruzs.
Actually the Santa Cruz does have a volume knob and a channel change knob. He was wrong about that.
Interesting. He likes the $40K vehicle over the $32K vehicle even though they are tied in most aspects. The Santa Cruz isn't worth a 25% premium over the Maverick.
People who shop this segment are doing it on price. A few may go high end but if they can swing 40K there are other truck options they can consider. The starting price of the Maverick is the sweet spot and 40MPG. That is what segment buyers want. And the sales are already proving it with Maverick outselling the Santa Cruz 2-1.
Worth mention that the Santa Cruz’s better ride quality is directly related to the payload capacity.
25%. Twenty five. Nuts that this was just ‚venn diagrammed‘ over. What nonsense.
Spec the santa cruz to around 32k and it would still be a pretty similar outcome. Plus you get some beloved buttons back on lower trims of the santa cruz.
@@rkerver3 I don’t think people realize that the SEL Premium for the SC still compares pretty equally to a fully loaded Maverick. Honestly where Maverick wins is definitely it’s entry level offerings but everything sort of levels out at the higher end trims. But both cars still are trying to appeal to slightly different buyers. Ones trying to be a SUV/Crossover truck that is sporty and the other is trying to be more like a truck.
As I get older comfort and safety features are higher on my list. Therefore I initially lean towards the Santa Cruz over the Maverick.
Oh wow, his knee touched the door 😂😂😂😂I bet his purse fell of the passenger seat too
Thanks for your impressions. Interesting, though, how subjective something like 'ride' and 'handling' can be. In contrast to your review, Motor Trend says: "Body control isn't something pickups are known for, but the Maverick Hybrid shows a poise and sharpness that, frankly, raises the bar. Every turn of the wheel results in a deft, fluid weight transfer, with the truck settling down instantly. The damping is superb, with the Maverick Hybrid soaking up both large bumps and sharp, short-frequency ones with equal grace. Body roll is minimal, as is jostling of the occupants." I was lucky enough to get a short test drive (in the 2.0 turbo) and happen to agree with MT. Suggest anyone thinking of buying a Maverick do the same.
Yeah, I spend the whole video thinking, "Has this guy ever been in a pickup?!" lol. I test drove one this past weekend, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it drove NOTHING like a truck. It honestly felt like I was driving a slightly lifted accord or something.
Did you drive a fwd or awd EcoBoost?
The fwd drive trucks have a different suspension than the awd.
Possible since he drove these two back to back his opinion on the suspension differences is more accurate. A vehicle by itself might feel one way until you drive the competition.
@@edsetnikar1008 oh does it really!? Hmm very interesting that probably plans a part in driving dynamics 🤔
@@macjoseph2375 yes. The fwd trucks have a torsion beam rear suspension, while the AWD has an independent multilink.
My hybrid Lariat Maverick cost $31k and gets 40mpg! The Santa Cruz packaged out cost $41k and gets 28mpg! $10k savings and 12 more mpg... I'll take the Maverick
Not really apples to apples... with the Santa Cruz at that level you're getting some things that you cant get with the Maverick, like a bigger touchscreen, a fully-digital gauge cluster, and leather seats to name just a few things. While the Hybrid Maverick has significantly better fuel economy the Santa Cruz has a significantly longer warranty, which has a value on its own as well.
Has it still been getting 40 mpg I seen someone say they get like 29 and I’d get the maverick I just wish it wasn’t so ugly😂
Right, when the hybrid system fails,and it will, you will pay more for the battery than you did for truck,,, good luck with that.
Great information! I'd rather save $10 K and still have better performance! That's why I ordered the Maverick! Thanks for confirming my decision!
Not possible if you compare apples to apples. You can buy an XL Maverick with turbo AWD and save a fortune, but that's nothing like a Santa Cruz Limited that has ventilated leather seats, sunroof, retractable tonneau, 20" wheels, 360o camera, fully digital instrument cluster, more advanced infotainment and audio system, etc.
@@BoopSnoot 40k Santa Cruz would just be embarrassing. Buy a 25k mav and get everything you need.
@@captured_agent5714 And for 22k, you can still go 0 to 60 in 6.4 seconds! Reminds me of the 87-93 Mustang LX 5.0's. More bang for your buck!
@@darrelhundley8502 Nope, not for $22k. The cheapest Maverick XL is $21,490, including destination charges. Adding the turbo 4 and AWD option is $3,305, bringing the price for that XL to $24,795. Add dealer fees and taxes and you might get out the door for around $27k, if the dealer doesn't mark up the price due to scarcity.
@@chuckd7423 Nope, no AWD. Just turbo. Take away that $3,300. Get back in the 22's. And that turbo hyundai is $37k. More bang for your buck with Ford!
This guy pretty much contradicts what other auto reviewers are saying about the Maverick, especially how it drives. I do appreciate different opinions, but I'll definitely reserve mine for after a test drive.
Clearly biased.
I agree with you
It could be the fact that he looks to be about 5' tall.
I noticed a bias as well
This guy clearly has his head in the clouds. This review was just awful on top of awful.
So, based on what I saw in this video, I would take the Santa Cruz ! I'm going to get myself a test ride in one as well.
That center dash/console on the Santa Cruz turns me right off. I ABSOLUTELY HATE that there are no buttons or knobs. That means that if you want to do ANYTHING, you have to take your eyes off the road to do it. Sure, sure. A lot of people won't care about that. But those are the people that are a hazard on the road anyway. I don't want either one of these vehicles (I won't call them trucks). But, in making a choice, I would rather have the Maverick.
I thought the same but I got a Santa Cruz. The radio controls are duplicated on the steering wheel and the climate is Auto, even the defrost. I don't think I look away from the road more than my last car which was all manual knobs.
If you got one trim down wheere you get the 8 inch screen you do get bottoms its the one I bought =)
@@xpwillow same here! It's crazy how no one compares the base maverick to the base santa cruz
for 8k dollars less I'd get the Maverick all day long!! the nice trim of the santa cruz gets to 40k for that money you get a way better truck like the ridgeline !! maverick is gonna change all the market for the small trucks in America and they are selling it like hotcakes!!
How is the Ridgeline, with its interior from 2010, no comparable tech, and much slower, a better truck?
@@AlexLepoutre it's a Honda, thanks you 😎🍻
Put that 8k in VTSAX and chill
I own the Santa Cruz and it is so much more vehicle than the Maverick when you put my SC limited against my brothers Park at the price difference is minimal. Too much plastic in the Maverick even with the Liarat upgrade
No matter what ford maverick looks much better for me then the Santa Cruz that’s my opinion 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻
At the Santa Cruz price point, I would choose a Ranger. I like the Maverick more than the Santa Cruz.
The reviewer comments about how the Maverick interior isn’t luxurious is the reason why all trucks are over priced. They stopped being utility vehicles and became luxury vehicles with a bed.
The interior on the Santa Cruz is nice but I absolutely hate touch capacitive buttons in a car.
Luckily, the lower trims retain some physical buttons.
one thing to also keep in mind with the bed, is that on the santa cruz it has a built in tonneau cover that takes up a little bit of bed space. So if you're going to load up a dirt bike or two, that will take away from some of the space.
It can be removed if you need the extra space. It may be a bit involved but it's an option
Only the top trim levels come equipped with a bed cover, and it's removable.
The tonneau cover assembly is somewhere between 20 and 40 lb on the Santa Cruz. The whole assembly apparently is held in by a six bolts altogether. The bolts are relatively easy to remove according to some owners. Though it's recommended that you have two people to lift it out since it's kind of awkward to do it alone. Though it could be done with one person if needed.
And, according to google, Maverick bed is 6" longer. (not equal at all...)
I'd rather have the Santa Cruz but I surf and paddleboard and the Maverick has the option to leave the keys inside and use the keypad to get in the truck. One feature sways my decision.
You can unlock the Santa Cruz with your phone though..
@@nickhasting6344 How about Apple Watch? You can unlock it via that way too lol
@@AlexLepoutre Who's surfing and paddleboarding with their cell?
@@kclark8080 OOF, he didn't think that one through
This is such an underrated Ford feature.
I think because reviewers don’t live long-term with the vehicle, they don’t understand/use it. In real life, it’s fantastic.
We chose the Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL PREMIUM w/AWD. No regrets so far. First rode trip coming this weekend.
How did the road trip go? Was this with a family ie kids?
@@samtripp5476 It went very well. Just the wife and I. Fuel mileage was better than expected, and the power when needed, WOW! About 800 miles round trip.
I think both of these vehicles will sell and if they do, it might prompt Chevy and Subaru to bring back the El Camino and Baja
I don't think there's much point in Chevy bringing back the El Camino name honestly. The El Co was a 2 door, 2 (well 3) seater, which I know Chevy isn't going to do again after the SSR. Calling a truck similar to these an El Camino would just be a disgraceful cash grab. Completely agree with the Subaru Baja though.
Santa Cruz has more legroom??? Not the one I sat in. Maverick wins for driver legroom easily. I couldn’t even test drive the Santa Cruz, because I don’t fit,,
*More rear legroom.
I'm 6'3" and 240lb and I was able to test drive the Santa Cruz just fine.
I’m 6’4; 275, and I didn’t fit. The issue is the middle console. The Santa Cruz is not the only vehicle I don’t fit in. Car manufacturers like making these consoles bigger and bigger. With a 34 inseam, I have to bend leg out to be comfortable. So, I need that space.
I actually had to rent the Home Depot van (Ford Full size) this past week for work reasons ( 3 hrs each way). It was the most uncomfortable I’ve ever been a vehicle. I was constantly trying new things to get comfortable. Bubble wrap between my leg and console, trying to fit under the console, even using my left foot for stepping on the gas (no cruise control in it)..
When it comes to the Maverick, for me, , it has room to bend the right leg and be comfortable. The Sant Cruz, and most Hyundai’s I dont’t fit
I have a fully loaded maverick lariat and I totally love it. I also own a 2019 FX4 F150 and a 2019 bullitt. And the Maverick is still fun to drive. Also you do get an upgraded gear ratio if you put the 4K tow package on the Maverick. I will be putting a video out on real world gas mileage and 0 to 60 times soon👍🏽👍🏽
I like the Maverick. I don’t really care about how techy the Hyundai is because I already expected that to have it. The Maverick seems like it will easily to get in and familiarize yourself and not be confused at where things are. And the fact that there is no nav isn’t really a issue because a many people have smart phone and because you have ACP/AA features in the Maverick, you can use their map feature that sometimes work better than the original nav system that come from the Manufacturer.
Probably should have reviewed a SEL model Santa Cruz with Activity Package, Priced at $33K to make your comparison to the $32K Maverick more valid...
They drive what they are given.
@@camaroman101 Thanks tips... just doesn't make much sense to compare 2 completely different trim levels
@@413RC sometimes they don't have a choice and just have to drive whatever the manufacturer sends them
He was clearly bias toward the santa cruz.
Maybe, but everyone has bias so like all reviews you have to take them all with a grain of salt.
They have been advertising the Santa Cruz for months on their feed
@@ALMX5DP Exactly. Also his comfort level is not the same as mine. His body type is also not the same as mine. Etc..
@@carriewerner4463 "this car review was brought to you by our sponsor, hyundai." Lol
Wonder how much Hyundai paid for this video
I have a full loaded velocity blue ford maverick on order. It's been two months so far and I haven't received a build date yet. I know it will be worth the wait.
Do yourself a favor, go test ride a Ridgeline before you by the Mav.
2 different trucks in size and price. The Ridgeline is too expensive.
@@drewski1441 Not really. If you spec out a Mav to have the same features (sunroof, leather, safety tech, etc), the Mav comes in around $35k. The RTL Ridgeline (sunroof, leather, etc) is around $39k. But the extra $4k gets you sooo much more. More room in the front seats, more room in the back seats, a much much much more functional bed. Plus, you get a Honda product vs a Ford product.
-
Granted, if you wanna go cheap cheap, and live with 4x2, a less powerful hybrid engine, a plastic interior, etc. you can spend a lot less money by going with a Mav. But you are getting what you pay for...
The maverick looks a lot better tho imo
@@toxichudsoup1644 In person, the new 2021 Ridgeline is much more attractive...
Maverick Hybrid in Lariat trim is my choice! It's built, just waiting on a ship date! Also, is Hyundai paying you?
EPA is out so Ford can't use that hybrid delay excuse anymore. Deliveries supposed to be Jan. Early Jan 2 = months, end of Jan = almost 3 months you still have to wait! Maybe some problems with the hybrid Ford is not warning you about?
@@JamesD-HB James, we've had this debate on Long McArthur videos already. I have zero issues with waiting, won't be demanding people retract statements made weeks in advance of epa #'s coming out or implying a conspiracy occurred between Tim & Ford, etc etc! Now, just so you ARE AWARE for the 10th time James...50 State Emmission Certification is
The " Delay" or holdup, blah blah blah! Go pester somebody else now git
@@txredkim867 Not pestering, just that the eco was shipped not long after EPA numbers. I would think you would not be happy them witholding your built hybrid and Ford not being really transparent about why. It's fine if it does not bother you to wait 2-3 more months without an explanation.
@@JamesD-HB
FORD PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED
(That's transparency)
that the, 50 State Emmission Certification process is ongoing for the Hybrids and has caused a delay as a result! That's the reason HYBRIDS won't Ship till December! The reason is the Certificate isn't available, It is not available! And, no, I'm not mad about it James! Unlike many, who had unrealistic expectations of a perfect execution of the brand new never released Maverick I'm okay with delays! It doesn't bother me at all...In fact, the delay allows me more time to save...Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
The hybrid however does not come with AWD
Maverick. But I'm biased.i have one on order. Hybrid Lariat. Ordered because price, and hybrid system.
I really understand why people get mad about this review saying that maverick is better buy for a buck but that’s why I like this channel - honest impressions of both vehicles. Great review.
My only gripe with this review is that the pricing is very vaguely discussed. The Maverick, when made to the top trim is close to $10,000 cheaper than the Santa Cruz. It does appear to show in interior quality and driving quality, but for almost $10,000, I’m sure most people would be taking those things largely into consideration.
This review feels more like its trying to be bias towards the hyundai. Every single review I've watched has highly praised the maverick on all the parts he criticized.
The whole idea behind the Maverick is making an affordable truck, this guys are idiots. Comparing a 26k to a 40k truck🤦🏻♂️.
Lol he rounds the Maverick price up and Santa Cruz down 😆
Yes. Ford's starting MSRP for the Mav is $19,995. Another thing is seating position and room is relative to the driver. Other reviews I've watched gave points to the Maverick because of the seating position as well as ease of getting in and out for taller drivers. I'm good with this guy preferring the SC...but it should have been made with a caveat that he is shorter than many drivers.
A fully priced Maverick is no more than 32k I think, idk where he got the idea that you can option it to 40k. That makes no sense, the Maverick is meant to be cheap.
No he is correct. Maverick starts at $21.5k delivered and Cruz starts at $25.6k
The fx4 maverick also has revised off-road focused suspension, which will probably make a decent difference in off road ride quality
The FX4 suspension is probably stiffer, as most off road suspensions are, which would more than likely make it bouncier, both on and off road..
@@chuckd7423 But is that really true? I am no expect but I do see time and again reviews on the Ranger saying it's quite bouncy to the point of making some passengers sick on less than optimal roads. They all recommend the off road package, which many seem to agree helps the ride considerably...
The FX4 package on the Maverick comes with much lower diff gearing. 3.81… makes a considerable difference for mild offroading and getting up to merging speed when towing!
Personally, I'd take a Mav any day over a fugly cruz. But just like the reviewer, my opinion is subjective so who really cares what other people think. Get what makes the most sense for you.😉
Well said
Maverick for me. I ordered a Lariat Hybrid in Cyber Orange.
Carbon Grey lariat hybrid here
Velocity blue. I ALMOST went for the cyber orange.
I got the blue. No idea when it comes in.
Can't wait!
The gas mileage on the Santa Cruz is very bad I bought myself a maverick hybrid luxury package rear window moon roof 360 copilot package for 27,500+ tax
Best part is 40 miles per gallon in the city
I ordered a Maverick because the price point when comparably equipped was $5k-10k less. It's hard to spend more than $35k for the Maverick while it's easy to get over $40k with the Santa Cruz. And frankly if I found myself spending more than $40k I'd be looking at a Tacoma, Ranger, or Ridgeline. For just over $30k, one can order a well equipped Maverick.
Well, good for you. Let me remind you though that the average selling price for the SC is only $34K -- it's not really that "easy" to get over $40K.
@@tooltalk if you want AWD and 5k towing it definitely is.
29mpg is damn impressive. Knowing how I drive, I would have no problem getting over 30mpg.
The hybrid Maverick will doble that so it’s no comparison there.
So far your review has been the best between these two vehicles! 🖖
I would go with the Santa Cruz, for the better ride and it’s roomier inside also, since the vehicle is wider. You can always get better off road tires. 🤙
Your criticism of the mav drive is like saying a F-150 drives like a truck. Ford builds trucks so that should be the driving experience.
Hyundai looks ridiculous.
The maverick is not a truck. It's a car. Yes it drives like shit compared to the Santa. You are just a ford fan boy.
@@Whileweweresinners Not sure what Ford fan boy means Santa fan boy. I drive a Jeep.
Most reviews I have seen on the Maverick say it drives great. With as hard as they are to find my guess is you have not even taken a test drive yet.
@@JamesD-HB oh look you drive the most unreliable rated vehicle and yes I have drove both
I’ve purchased hundreds and hundreds of Fords for my business for the past 40 years. My wife and I have downsized and I am retiring. I have a smaller garage. I bought the Santa Cruz Limited and absolutely love it. The ride is incredible. The handling is amazing. The seats are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever sat in. A self driving is next level. I mean this thing drove itself home the first day with very little interaction no bouncing off the lines just straight down the road around curves holding speed perfectly. Simply amazing! The utility and storage is all I would ever need for my tools to do handiwork for my grandkids. I was thinking about the Maverick but this thing completely blows it away.
Yes that’s an accurate description. I read the ride and seats are on a different level.
I'm retired and have similar thoughts and concerns. We downsized to a home where you can't get a full-size Ford or Chevy truck inside the garage so consequently all the neighbors have mostly SUVs and the next door home lost a sale when a perspective buyer came back twice with his Ford 150 with trailer hitch on and then off. He still was 4" too long. I have a 2003 Subaru Baja so I like that concept. If I bought one of these new compact trucks I would opt for the more comfortable one. I would have to test drive both.
It doesn't matter what you think. The Maverick will outsell the Santa Cruz by 2 to 1 if not 3 to 1. Why? Just look at them side by side. Ford understands what people want when it comes to how these vehicles look and the image they present.
5-1.
@@theRooster722 : It''s 4-1, not 5-1. Ford's monthly production capacity in Mexico is 8K whereas Hyundai's in Alabama is only about 2K. IThe Santa Cruz was the fastest selling car in August with only 8 average day to sell. The Maverick did the same in September, but both vehicles are selling like hot cakes. In October, Hyundai delivered 1,6K SC's; Ford 6,8K Mavericks.
@@tooltalk will be 5-1. That's the best hyundai can hope for.
If Hyundai would shave off $15.000 they had a clear winner.
The rear seats in the Santa Cruz looks upright. Can't imagine it to be more comfortable than the Maverick
Ive gone back and forth with this for a year now. I think it may come down to who has the better warranty and availability. Im leaning more towards the Santa cruz
Best warranty is Santa Cruz by far
Have you test drove both of them yet?
You forget to say at the end.
This video is sponsored by Hyundai Santa Cruz.
The single point where Santa Cruz wins is tow, thats pretty much it.
Price starts from 19, not from 22. You did not mentioned hybrid, which is 40mpg compare to 22 it pretty good difference.
etc.
100% agree. The only advantage the Santa Cruz has is 1k pounds of towing, but a lot of states require a trailer brake when towing over 3k pounds and Hyundai forces you to go aftermarket for a trailer brake controller. Maverick wins all day.
A truck review for people who don't want a truck
looks like he wanted to drive some suvs and got something strange with a bed
I like the look of the Hyundai. The whole package is very well designed. Great vehicle for someone looking for utility in a more modern package. The Maverick feels like a throwback to when you could get bare bones, purpose built vehicles that just work. I like that most about the vehicle. And while the Hyundai is a very attractive package, I think the reviewer didn't give the Maverick enough credit on what it can do that the Hyundai just can't touch...deliver amazing fuel economy at an incredible price point. That'll be a bigger selling point than anything the Hyundai offers.
The Maverick makes sense if mpg is important, but for AWD, the SC looks better.
@@tooltalk not against an FX4 equipped Maverick. I think the FX4 equipped Maverick would be better.
Depends on which engines you get. Edmunds real world testing showed that the turbo Cruz gets better gas mileage than the turbo Maverick. The Cruz's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is also something that buyers may pay attention to.
Great Review 👍
Thanks for proving what we all know, the Maverick is far superior to the Santa Cruz. BTW, you may want to measure those beds again, the difference is so significant the naked eye can pick it out.
Drive each. You'll see the difference. Especially when unloaded and loaded with 1000 pounds in the bed.
@@zmass there's only one of these two that's made to haul 1000 lbs in the bed, and it isn't the santa cruz.
@@zmass Your Hyundai Palisade can haul more.
@@theRooster722 I already put 1200 in it, drives great.
@@zmass congrats, you just voided your warranty.
Excellent comparison!
Mav all day, got a hybrid XLT on order. 25k OTD with a 4% discount. Nice, simple, efficient, nothing fancy. I don't think the 30k Mav packages make sense, but I don't think the Santa Cruz makes sense period. On top of the awful lack of buttons, and bizarre design, it will look dated in 6 months while the Mav will always call pleasantly back to the budget compact trucks of years past. But to each their own.
Ordered my awd santa cruz for 26k and I too get buttons and knobs. Price really isn't all that different just depends on what you want.
I think the base Maverick is where the value is. But as soon as you spec out the Maverick, you end up with the same cheap non-plush interior but a higher price tag that competes with something like a tacoma/ridgeline: where both base has better interior. Don’t forget the Maverick is only an escape with the back chopped off, at $19-24k it’s a deal, anything more you’re just joking with yourself.
@@ricecakeboii94 agreed 100%. The XLT was my compromise with myself since I plan to drive it til the wheels fall off.
“Function over form” oh yeah, I just love tapping my piano-black-fingerprint-magnet dash 20 times just to adjust my volume and ac controls 🤡🤡🤡
You get manual controls for those functions if you stay away fron the top trim level. I never use the dash controls for audio volume anyway, when there's a button for that function literally right under my fingers on the steering wheel, and with auto climate control, I very seldom change that setting either.
You’re comparing apples to oranges in the trim levels. When the Maverick is optioned to the same level as the Santa Cruz it is $3,500 less and addresses all the complaints your tester had. I’ve driven Hyundais and Fords and the Hyundai infotainment and camera systems trail Ford by a large margin. And there are options that are simply not available on the Hyundai like automatic braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. Fully optioned, the Maverick is the same price as the Santa Cruz and includes the 7 pin trailer connector, trailer brake controller, skid plates, heavy duty cooling and the list goes on.
Most of your reviews are spot on but this is not one of them.
This is wrong. When the Maverick is optioned to the same level as the Santa Cruz, its roughly the same price. The advantage of the Maverick is that you can pick and choose what you want, whereas the Santa Cruz has very few trims and no customization. But if you build a Maverick Lariat turbo AWD with luxury package, 4K tow package, black painted wheels, bed toolbox, hard rollup tonneau, fullsize spare, moonroof, roof rails, to be like a $37K SEL Premium Santa Cruz it actually costs $39K. A lot of people building the Maverick forget to add all the options the Santa Cruz trims have standard, like sunroof and retractable tonneau cover and composite bed that is already protected like a liner would do.
@@BoopSnoot No. it isn't. I built the Maverick on Ford's website with all the options equaling the Hyundai and it is $3,500 less as stated before. Do your homework before calling someone out, I DID!
I have to agree that the Santa Cruz has the better interior but but the Maverick has a much better looking exterior design and the "small" ($8K) price differential you keep referring to is not small in my book. I priced out a Maverick with all the things I wanted/needed and it came in at just about $27K. That got me all wheel drive, the larger engine, tow package and a few other things. If my boat were a little lighter I would have gone base engine, taken advantage of the hybrid power plant and saved about $3K boot. My bet is the Maverick will outsell the Santa Cruz 3 to 1
I love the look of the Santa Cruz & would choose it over the Maverick because of comfort, driveability, style. Thank you for comparing these two.
I built and ordered Maverick but got impatient. Ended up buying a Santa Cruz SEL Premium.
I’m overall happy with my choice but I think if I ended up getting the Ford I would have been completely happy with it as well.
I’ve road tripped twice with the Santa Cruz and will say the ride and feel as well as the roll up cover is great to have.
If I could change one thing I would have bought the Limited trim on the SC. 4 trims on the SC and basic options are missing unless it’s the top trim. Hyundai dropped the ball a bit on that.
Both are great options, just get what makes you happy.
hyudai, really it sucks!!!!!! maverick wins we love our ford maverick!!!!!!
Just bought a 23 Santa Cruz Limited and LOVE IT!!
Base model hybrid Maverick for me. It will be quieter while driving, much better fuel economy, and cost far less; nearly $20k less than a loaded up Hyundai.
Base hyundai is 24k so 4k cheaper, enjoy your lack of cruise control and no bed protection :)
@@rkerver3 My car now has cruise control, and I never use it, so I don’t care. And Ford has available bedliners from the factory, both drop-in and spray-in. I’d go for the spray-in. oh, and the base Maverick starts at $21k with destination.
@@epa316 @epa316 don't use cruise control? Do you highway? You must be that guy! But with a spray in liner and destination it is 22k but I consider destination a wash so 24k for the santa cruz and 20.5k for the base mav with a spray in liner. It comes down to what you want I guess.
@@rkerver3 I do some highway driving, and Murphy’ Law, every time I set the cruise control, there’s a slowdown on the highway, and I have to take over. So I roll my eyes and say F it, I’ll do it myself!
@@epa316 understandable, I live in a low volume traffic area so I can definitely see the lack of use of it in high volume traffic.
Ford has said the payload is true payload that you can in fact put in the bed of the Maverick. This has been tested by a few reviewers loading 1500+ pounds into the bed of the maverick and driving it.
While the SC may have a larger payload number, you can only place 660 pounds in the bed. I'm assuming due to the lid on the bed storage possibly collapsing.
With that in mind, the Maverick would be the winner on payload in my opinion.
Hyundai is no longer quoting the 66lb bed number. They are now saying that you can put it all in the bed.
@@dave3682 they retracted the 667 pound listed capacity but have not released a new number or information on the bed capacity.
Either way 667 pounds is a good amount of weight for a trunk lid and would be enough for anyone not using it for every day hauling.
Santa Cruz styling is bizarre. I'll take a Maverick FX4 EcoBoost
A used Santa Cruz, Sub 10k milage is wayyyyy better deal then a Maverick....You can't compare the interior and quality of the santa cruz to a Maverick..The Ford looks and feels way to cheap. Hence the Santa Cruz with the Non Turbo will be my next car...
The Maverick will sell 10 to 1 to the Santa Cruz. The Maverick looks and feels like a truck. The Santa Cruz is a notchback CUV.
Both are selling pretty well. The SC was the fastest selling car in the US in August with ~8 average days to sell but their production capacity in Alabama is much smaller than Ford's in Mexico -- ~1,800 vs 6,755 in October.
To me the question is, "Which cheap vehicle do you prefer? The one priced 25K or the one that's 10K more?" I'd go with the ford for once.
This guy must own stock in Hyundai. The review was one-sided and kept complaining of rude quality and things of that nature. The Mav is a true to its roots, a truck. The SC is basically a CUV without the rear roof.
First real criticism I have seen about the Maverick's handling in any review so far. Can't wait to see other comparisons of these 2.
I think it really stems from the payload issue. The Maverick has a stiffer ride but you can carry more in the bed.
@@davidkelln9225 The Santa Cruz has more comfortable seats and is much quieter inside. It doesn't fatigue the driver in short order, either. If the capacity of the bed is that crucial for you, buy a midsize truck.
Its first review who said Santa Cruz is better than Maverick. I highly doubt it.
@@ronlheureux7623 the comment I was responding to was about handling. If I need to haul say 800 to 1000 pounds on a regular basis but don't need to tow anything or use 4WD, the Maverick makes sense.
I don't know why I would spend an extra 6 grand if this fits the bill.
the santa cruz seems like a nice vehicle, but come on. You know you are going to see little white mavericks all over the place with business names printed on the side. You can carry 1,000 pounds of cargo and get over 30 mpg? And you can get one for under 22k? The commercial market will eat this up.
That said, you are right. The Santa Cruz is a better choice for most families or commuters. Because most truck owners never haul anything anyway.
@@davidkelln9225 40mpg~ on my commute is a pretty good sell, idk why I'd want a more expensive vehicle that gets worse mileage to commute with...
So disappointed in this review. It's clear he prefers the Hyundai from the beginning and that is fine just state the facts. He talks about bed size and says they are equal but the Ford is 54.4 inches long to the Hyundai 48 inches, clearly a big difference. Driver seat adjustment, saying he sits too low in the ford and it's clear in the next video clip when he is driving the ford and his seat is obviously adjusted to a higher level.(the seat is adjustable). Next is price, please do your own comparison between the two, it's a big difference at least for me. I'm sure there are other details I'm missing. Very disappointed in Edmonds and I would never watch another review from this guy.
I sat in a Maverick and the seat height is easily adjustable, not sure why the reviewer didn't do this?
I think this is an excellent review, he goes through both cars completely and fairly, he gives the Maverick credit where it's due, but the Maverick is a cheaper, rougher-riding vehicle that's less enjoyable to drive. A big reason a lot of of buyers would buy a compact unibody 'truck' is because they want car-like performance and feel with a bed. It's completely fair to prefer the vehicle that does a better job of that. It's hardly like he shat all over the Maverick, he told it the way it is.
@@Trendyflute but he was deceptive regarding pricing. The Santa Cruz that tows 5k starts at $35k, the Maverick that tows 4k is less than $30k
Great reviewer = Great review, well done 👍
I looked at both trucks and went with the Maverick mainly for the much better value, but close second is that it looks a lot better. While I agree the Santa Cruz looks nicer interior wise, the exterior is kind of ugly. (The split back seat cubby access is a very good point though). But to say the Maverick is not comfortable to drive is just total B.S. And these are not equally optioned trucks either How does he compare a loaded out Santa Cruz to a mid level XLT with no upgrades other than AWD? I have the XLT FX4 and it is super smooth and very peppy on the highway. I have the tow package, lux package that includes heated seats and steering wheel, bed tie down system, Cyber Orange paint, and a bunch of other options. Paid 30800 for it. Maxed out Lariat is still about 3K cheaper than this limited.
The Maverick in the video is a Lariat, not an XLT. You can tell because of the silver grille-bar and the vinyl seats which you can only get in the Lariat.
I just got my Maverick delivered today. love everything about it. Hyundai was always a good second choice that I almost went with when my order was delayed.
Seemed biased against ford. The bottom line is maverick more truck like and cheaper and most people are getting over 40mpg combined in it. Hyundai more car-like, more expensive and less or way less mpg. They both have a place.
Thanks for the video Nick Miller
Without watching a second of the video… the maverick looks like a truck style body where the Santa looks like a suv that rear top end was chopped off.
The Maverick looks like a Bronco Sport SUV with a bed and the Santa Cruz looks like a Tucson with a bed. Squares vs triangles really. At night, the Santa Cruz looks way more impressive, even in its base trim, whereas with the Maverick you have to step up to the Lariat just to get the most simple of daytime running lights strip on the headlights. And while the Santa Cruz has those really cool LED taillights that go into the tailgate, the Maverick again is super cheap and plain incandescent rear. Maverick wins zero points IMO on risk taking styling and cool points, but its also very non-polarizing since its such a generic simple truck shape.
I keep going back and forth on which one I like more. I think if I have the money id go with the santa cruz.
In this comments section: a bunch of ford fans missing the entire point of the comparison of these two cars: the Maverick is a small truck, built like a truck, to do minor truck things. The Santa Cruz is a CUV with the trunk chopped to make a bed, not a truck ("sport adventure vehicle" lol). The Santa Cruz has more tech features and comfort, and standard power. The Maverick is cheaper and more utility focused, and the hybrid engine is a game changer. Which one you like more is entirely up to you, as they're hardly competing for the same consumers. If you want a small truck, get the Maverick. If you want a weird funky car/truck hybrid thing that drives like a car and can sometimes behave like a truck, get the Santa Cruz.
Exactly. I prefer a small truck to look just like a small truck and act like a small truck. There are plenty of suv`s that can haul a load or tow. I had several S-10s and I love the looks of the Maverick.
Both of these are based off of existing SUVs. The Maverick is no more or less truck than the Santa Cruz is, regardless of what their respective manufacturers call them. The Maverick is a Bronco Sport with a bed and the Santa Cruz is a Tucson with a bed.
You are correct , though, they are both going after different consumers. The Santa Cruz is targeting people who would normally buy an SUV, like a Tucson, but would prefer the added utility and versatility of a truck bed. The Maverick is going two different consumers. The first is the entry-level buyer who is looking for something cheap and fuel efficient and who appreciates the Maverick's extra utility and versatility over something like a Honda Civic. The second is the person who thinks the current Ranger is too big (which is apparently a lot of people as that is the number one complaint that Ford dealers get about the Ranger).
Im going with the Maverick. The santa cruz is just too over the top style wise. And for the price, i get a turbo and awd for $26k that already has tuning capabilities in the aftermarket. Ill be able to raise or lower it with ease, tune the engine over 300hp with ease, and i like that the bed will actually handle the payload capacity and not just 600lbs of the max payload. The santa cruz may have the storage in the bed but because of the plastic lid, it limits what you can throw in the bed.
Hyundai is no longer quoting the 660lb bed number. They are now saying you can put the whole payload in the bed (minus occupants, of course). The bed of the Santa Cruz is not plastic, it is composite and will not dent or rust like the steel bed of the Maverick.
Maverick looks better. Santa Cruz is goofy looking.