Compare | Farmington, MO Two small pickups for folks who don't need a full size truck every day. The Ford Maverick leans on hybrid mileage and a flexible bed. The Hyundai Santa Cruz counters with turbo towing and a lockable spot to stash cargo. Plenty of people in St. Francois County drive a full size pickup because that's what their dad drove. Then most weeks it hauls groceries, a few bags of mulch and a kid to practice. If that's your week, a compact pickup starts to make sense, and the two names we hear most are the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. They're both crew cabs built on car style unibody platforms. Either one parks easier than a half ton, and you can hose out the bed. They aren't the same truck, though. We'll skip the spec sheet here and talk about how each one fits the way people drive around Farmington, Park Hills and Bonne Terre. If you want the numbers side by side, our Ford Maverick comparison page lines them up. Quick answer: Go with the Ford Maverick if you want hybrid fuel economy on a daily commute and a slightly longer bed you can set up your way, with trims from basic work truck up to the off road Tremor. The Hyundai Santa Cruz makes more sense if you need to tow up to 5,000 pounds with its turbo engine, or you like the idea of a lockable in bed trunk and a covered bed. Ford Maverick towing 2,000 lb standard, 4,000 lb with 4K Tow package Santa Cruz towing 3,500 lb base engine, 5,000 lb turbo Hybrid available Ford Maverick yes, Hyundai Santa Cruz no In this post Who these trucks are for Fuel and the daily commute Towing and hauling Bed, cabin and tech Which one fits you Who Is the Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz Built For? These are pickups for people who need a bed a few times a week, not a few times an hour. They ride and park more like a compact SUV than a half ton and use less fuel than most full size trucks. The trade off is lower payload and towing limits. So it comes down to what you'll put in the bed or behind the hitch. Around here it's usually a mix. Maybe a commute up US 67 or over to I-55 for a St. Louis area job, plus weekend runs to the hardware store. Maybe a couple of kayaks headed for the Black River, or an ATV going to the riding area at St. Joe State Park in Park Hills. Both trucks can live that life. They just go about it differently. The Ford Maverick lineup for 2025 runs from the XL and XLT through the Lariat, plus the off road Tremor and the new street focused Lobo. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers SE, SEL and SEL Activity trims on its base engine, then the XRT and Limited with a turbocharged engine. Which Saves More on a Daily Commute, the Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz? This is where they split the most. The Ford Maverick has a 2.5 liter hybrid powertrain, standard on the XL, XLT and Lariat, and for 2025 Ford added all wheel drive to the hybrid. EPA estimates put the front drive hybrid at 42 mpg city and the all wheel drive hybrid at 40 mpg city. There's also a 2.0 liter EcoBoost, and that's what powers the Tremor and Lobo. The Hyundai Santa Cruz doesn't offer a hybrid. It comes standard with a 2.5 liter four cylinder. The XRT and Limited get a turbocharged 2.5 liter with more power and more towing, and the fuel economy drops to match. If your week includes a lot of stop and go driving, a hybrid earns its keep. Town traffic through Farmington, Desloge and Park Hills is where it leans on electric assist the most. Long highway runs close the gap some, but the hybrid still uses less fuel on most commutes. Farmington driver tip Think about winter before you skip all wheel drive. If you live on a hilly gravel county road off MO 32 or MO 221 and January ice comes with it, the Ford Maverick hybrid with all wheel drive gets you the mileage and the traction in one truck. If your week includes a lot of stop and go driving, a hybrid earns its keep. How Much Can the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz Tow and Haul? On paper, the Hyundai Santa Cruz wins this one. Hyundai rates the base engine to tow 3,500 pounds and the turbo to tow 5,000. That turbo number matters if you're pulling a small camper or a bass boat down to Clearwater Lake or Lake Wappapello. The Ford Maverick tows 2,000 pounds standard. That's a utility trailer, a jet ski or a small ATV trailer. The available 4K Tow package doubles it to 4,000 pounds, and for 2025 you can get that package on the all wheel drive hybrid, so you don't have to give up the hybrid for the higher rating anymore. Ford also offers Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist on the 2025 Maverick, which helps if backing a trailer isn't your favorite chore. Then there's payload. The Ford Maverick carries up to 1,500 pounds depending on configuration, and some trims are rated lower, so check the door jamb sticker on the truck you're looking at. That's plenty for a load of mulch or a few bags of feed. What should you tow with a compact pickup? Weigh the trailer, not just the toy on it. A loaded camper or a boat and its trailer add up fast. Stay well under the rating and the grades between Farmington and Ironton are a lot calmer. If you're regularly pulling more than 4,000 pounds, you'd probably be happier in a Ford F-150 or Ford Ranger than either compact. Shop Ford Maverick Inventory Compare Ford Maverick Specs How Do the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz Beds and Cabins Compare? The Ford Maverick bed is about four and a half feet long. Ford calls it the FLEXBED. It's got slots for dividers, tie down points and a power outlet, and the tailgate sits in more than one position so longer stuff can ride with the gate partly open. People build their own shelves and racks into it with regular lumber, and that's half the fun. The Hyundai Santa Cruz bed is a bit shorter, closer to four feet. It offers a lockable trunk under the bed floor, and select trims add a tonneau cover over the bed. If you want tools or groceries out of the weather and out of sight, that's handy. Both went bigger on screens for 2025. Every Ford Maverick now gets a 13.2 inch center touchscreen and an 8 inch digital cluster with SYNC 4 and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The refreshed Hyundai Santa Cruz gets a 12.3 inch touchscreen, and most trims pair it with a 12.3 inch digital cluster. Your phone connects without a cable in either one. So Which Fits You, the Ford Maverick or the Hyundai Santa Cruz? Neither one's right for everybody. This is how we'd sort it. Fits you if Ford Maverick You commute to the St. Louis area and want hybrid mileage You want all wheel drive and a hybrid in the same truck Your towing stays at 4,000 pounds or less You like a longer, adaptable bed you can customize You want an off road Tremor or a street tuned Lobo option Fits you if Hyundai Santa Cruz You need to tow up to 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine A lockable in bed trunk and covered bed fit how you haul You are fine with a gas only lineup and no hybrid A slightly shorter bed covers what you carry Honestly, the easiest way to decide is to drive the Ford Maverick on roads you know. Take it out MO 32 or up US 67 with what you really carry in the bed. Our sales team can line up a hybrid and an EcoBoost back to back so you can feel the difference. We're at 5019 Flat River Road in Farmington. Sales is open 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday and 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday. Warranty Forever Every new Ford sold at Sam Scism Ford comes with Warranty Forever at no charge. It covers listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts for as long as you own the vehicle, with no deductible, as long as you follow the customary maintenance and keep records. See the dealer for full details. How it works Ford Maverick vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz Basics Is the Ford Maverick bigger than the Hyundai Santa Cruz? + They're close in size, and both are four door crew cabs. The Ford Maverick has the longer bed of the two, at about four and a half feet compared with roughly four feet on the Santa Cruz. Are the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz real trucks? + Both have open cargo beds and tow ratings, but they use unibody construction like a compact SUV rather than the body on frame build of an F-150. That gives them an easier ride and better mileage with lower towing and payload limits. Which trims does the 2025 Ford Maverick come in? + The 2025 lineup includes the XL, XLT, Lariat, the off road Tremor and the new street focused Lobo. Stock changes week to week, so check current inventory for what is on the lot. Fuel Economy and Powertrains Does the Hyundai Santa Cruz come as a hybrid? + No hybrid is offered on the 2025 Santa Cruz. Its choices are a 2.5 liter four cylinder or a turbocharged 2.5 liter on the XRT and Limited. What mileage does the Ford Maverick hybrid get? + EPA estimates for 2025 are 42 mpg city with front wheel drive and 40 mpg city with the newly available all wheel drive. Your results will vary with how and where you drive. Can I get the Ford Maverick hybrid with all wheel drive? + For 2025, Ford made all wheel drive available on the hybrid for the first time. It's a good pairing if you deal with winter ice on rural roads. Towing and Payload How much can a Ford Maverick tow? + Standard towing is 2,000 pounds, and the available 4K Tow package raises it to 4,000 pounds. For 2025 that package can be paired with the all wheel drive hybrid. How much can a Hyundai Santa Cruz tow? + Hyundai rates the base engine at 3,500 pounds and the turbo engine at 5,000 pounds. How much weight can the Ford Maverick carry in the bed? + Payload runs up to 1,500 pounds depending on configuration, with some trims rated lower. The door jamb label on each truck lists its exact figure. Ownership and Service Where can I service a Ford Maverick near Farmington? + The Sam Scism Ford service center on Flat River Road has Ford trained technicians who work on the Maverick, including the hybrid system. Book online or call 573-430-1693. Does a new Ford Maverick get Warranty Forever? + Every new Ford sold at Sam Scism Ford includes Warranty Forever at no charge, covering listed powertrain parts for as long as you own it with required maintenance and records. Ask our team for the full terms. Can I trade in a Hyundai toward a Ford Maverick? + We take trades of any make and condition. Start with an online value, then we confirm it with a quick in person appraisal. Shopping in Farmington Can I test drive a hybrid and an EcoBoost Ford Maverick back to back? + Call ahead and we'll try to have both ready, depending on what's in stock that day. Where can I see the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz specs side by side? + Our Ford Maverick comparison page lays out the numbers against the Santa Cruz and other small pickups. This post focuses on how each truck fits real driving. Can I order a Ford Maverick built the way I want? + A factory order is an option if the exact trim, color or package is not on the lot. Lead times vary, and our sales team can walk you through the process. Trading in your current ride Get a value on any make before you shop for a Ford Maverick. Value Your Trade Talk to us about a Ford Maverick Reach the sales team at 573-430-1687 or send a message. Contact Us
