Built To Win: The 2026 Ford Maverick vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

From Emmys and Grammys to Tonys and Oscars, every industry has its marquee award. These trophies aren’t just an excuse for celebrities to tread the red carpet in the latest fashions: they can also prove useful when it comes to distinguishing the cream of the crop from the merely average.

In the auto industry, few awards match the prestige of MotorTrend’s coveted Golden Calipers. Designed to recognize the Car, Truck, and SUV of the Year, the iconic award looks right at home on the dashboard of the Ford Maverick.

Ford has long been America’s undisputed leader in the pickup segment, and while drivers tend to associate the brand with the country’s best-selling truck in the F-150, it’s the automaker’s smallest offering that walked away with the Truck of the Year title in 2026.

“America’s favorite compact pickup gets smarter, tougher, and even more fun,” reads MotorTrend’s headline, and it’s difficult to disagree. Introduced in 2022, the compact model has only improved in the years since, but it’s not the only option in the compact pickup segment.

Hyundai has also thrown its hat into the ring with the Santa Cruz pickup, but can the self-described Sport Adventure Vehicle (SAV) possibly compete with the best truck on the market? Join us as we compare the 2026 Ford Maverick vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and learn why the Maverick might rule the segment for years to come.

Performance and Fuel Economy

Efficiency has always been tough to come by in the pickup segment, but that’s all changing as a new generation of hybrid and EV models hit the market. The Ford F-150 Lightning was the first full-size model to adopt the EV approach when it was introduced in 2022, achieving up to 78 MPGe and paving the way for a fresh batch of all-electric pickups in the process.

The decision to pair America’s bestselling truck with an EV powertrain marked a watershed moment in the pickup market, but while the F-150 Lighting grabbed all the headlines, Ford quietly introduced a new compact model with its own electrifying secret.

Hybrid Efficiency Gives the Maverick an Edge

The Ford Maverick doesn’t just feature the only hybrid engine in the compact pickup segment; it’s also part of the standard package. While the sporty Lobo and off-road-ready Tremor trims are paired with a turbocharged, 2.0L I-4, the rest of the lineup is built around an eco-friendly hybrid that provides unparalleled efficiency.

A 2.5L I-4 and an electric motor provide the Maverick hybrid with 191 hp and, more importantly, allow the truck to achieve up to 42 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The Ford’s turbocharged Ecoboost upgrade holds its own at 26 mpg combined in both its FWD and AWD forms, but if you’re looking to save a little cash at the pump, the hybrid is here to serve.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz sticks with an old-school approach that’s starting to look a bit outdated amid the increasingly electrified options in the compact pickup and crossover segments. While the truck does offer two 2.5L I-4 options, one turbocharged and one non-turbo, neither engine prioritizes fuel economy.

The pickup’s base 2.5L I-4 is the more efficient of the two at 25 mpg combined, but the Santa Cruz’s 191 hp output doesn’t exactly ensure a thrilling ride. If you’re looking to up the fun factor there’s always the turbocharged model with its 281 ponies, but you’ll end up paying the price for that sort of speed when it comes time to gas up.

When equipped with the turbocharged engine, the Santa Cruz logs just 20 mpg combined, and as little as 18 mpg around the city. This can partially be explained by the truck’s standard AWD setup, but a sub-20 mpg pickup is hard to come by in today’s efficiency-minded market, especially for a compact model.

The Santa Cruz might earn some grace if it were a legitimate speed demon, but Hyundai’s pickup is actually slower than the Maverick in a straight-line sprint. While the street truck-inspired Ford can speed from zero to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds, the Santa Cruz brings up the rear at 6.0 seconds.

Towing and Utility

A powerful, efficient engine is a nice bonus, but ultimately, drivers are always going to be drawn to the pickup segment in search of utility. A modern truck, even a compact model, should be able to power through some of the toughest tasks that the road has to offer, whether it be hauling a heavy load, towing a trailer full of building materials or serving as an impromptu workbench when you’re facing a tight deadline.

Payload Capacity Matters More Than Ever

The Ford Maverick checks every box a hard-working driver could ask for, offering the best payload capacity in its class at 1,500 lbs. Hyundai’s compact truck trails the Ford by nearly 100 lbs, and while it does make up the difference with its 5,000-lbs towing capacity, statistics suggest that’s not a very relevant metric.

Towing tends to top the list of must-have features in a modern pickup, but according to data from Axios, only 7% of drivers “Frequently” tap the trailer hitch, while 63% “Rarely” or “Never” engage in towing tasks. Meanwhile, 28% of drivers “Frequently” load up their cargo bed, which makes the Maverick’s superior payload capacity all the more impressive.

The FLEXBED Expands Everyday Utility

The Maverick also has a clear edge in the sheer size of its cargo bed. From mulch, firewood, and tools to surfboards and adventure gear, the Maverick’s spacious 4.5-foot cargo bed offers up to 33.3 cu.-ft. of storage for all of your gear.

The Santa Cruz is noticeably smaller by comparison, featuring a 4.3-foot bed that maxes out at just 27 cu.-ft of storage. That extra 6.3 cu.-ft. might not sound like a lot, but it could mean the difference between accommodating some essential supplies and doubling back for a second trip.

The Maverick is also equipped with an innovative FLEXBED storage system that offers a modular, customizable alternative to your typical truck bed. While most brands saddle buyers with a one-size-fits-all design, the FLEXBED can be dialed in to your exact specifications thanks to a set of vertical and horizontal slots that are built directly into the bed walls.

Designed to accommodate standard 2×4 and 2×6 lumber, drivers can design custom compartments, dividers and other segmented storage solutions with nothing but a table saw and a quick trip to the building supply store. From a DIY bike rack to a secure storage area for your power tools and even a camping platform, the possibilities are endless thanks to Ford’s FLEXBED system.

The Maverick and Santa Cruz both feature flexible multi-position tailgates and bed-mounted power outlets, as well as built-in tie-downs and other helpful features, but if you’re searching for a pickup that caters to your lifestyle and not the other way around, the Ford Maverick is hard to beat.

Urban and Off-Road Advantages

The Ford Maverick’s compact size and crossover design allow the pickup to excel in both urban and off-road conditions. It’s one of the truck’s most unique selling points, and it makes the Maverick pretty tough to ignore if you’re in the market for a versatile pickup that can power through your daily commute and keep up with your active weekend lifestyle.

Comfortable and Confident Around Town

The Maverick is based on the same unibody platform as Ford’s popular compact SUVs in the Escape and Bronco Sport. This familiar format allows the pickup to provide drivers with a refreshingly car-like ride that’s perfect for navigating tight urban environments and densely packed parking lots during a busy work week.

Comfort and ride quality are also improved thanks to the pickup’s crossover style, but the Maverick’s cabin trends towards the other end of the spectrum with a more truck-like design. Ford has designed the Maverick with a traditional, truck-like cab that puts a premium on visibility, while the Santa Cruz opts for a more swept-back, SUV-inspired interior. While some drivers might appreciate the Hyundai’s sporty look, the Maverick is the more practical option when you’re cruising around the city.

Multiple Off-Road Options Expand the Maverick’s Appeal

The Maverick also holds the edge in off-road scenarios, with Ford offering two different options for the 2026 model year. The Maverick’s XLT trim is already one of the best values in the current lineup, but opt for the FX4 Off-Road package, and you’ll also be treated to:

• An off-road-tuned suspension
• All-terrain tires
• Front tow hooks
• Off-Road drive mode
• Hill descent control
• Skid Plates
• Full-size spare tire
• Enhanced engine cooling

That’s an enticing package by any measure, but the brand also offers a dedicated off-road trim for those who believe life is best lived in AWD. The Maverick’s Tremor trim includes all of the premium comfort and convenience features you’ll find on the Lariat, as well as additional skid plates, an upgraded transmission cooler, all-terrain tires, and even a specialized off-road suspension that sees the Maverick gain 1.1 inches of ground clearance.

The Maverick Tremor also boasts additional Mud/Ruts and Sand drive modes, a specialized form of adaptive off-road cruise control known as Trail Control, and, most importantly, a locking rear differential that ensures consistent traction no matter how rocky the road becomes.

The Hyundai’s relative lack of outdoor acumen might be excusable if not for the fact that the Santa Cruz has been intentionally branded as a more adventure-ready model. While technically categorized as a compact pickup, Hyundai markets the Santa Cruz as a Sport Adventure Vehicle (SAV).

The name is a bit of an overstatement as, at the end of the day, the Santa Cruz is basically just a small crossover with an open truck bed. If your idea of “adventure” involves a wild trip to the grocery store or a hectic urban commute, Hyundai’s SAV has you covered, but the Santa Cruz might prove a bit underwhelming if you have more rugged applications in mind.

The Santa Cruz’s XRT trim exemplifies Hyundai’s indifferent approach to the off-road niche. While The Maverick offers two off-road options in the XLT’s FX4 Off-Road package and a standalone trim in the Tremor, Hyundai rolls out just one alternative, and a mediocre one at that.

The Santa Cruz’s XRT trim might look like a dedicated off-road model with its all-terrain fire, red tow hooks, and a composite bumper that improves its approach angle, but aside from that, the crossover doesn’t bring much to the table aside from its Terrain Mode system. The rest of the SAV’s upgrades are more convenience-related, with Hyundai adding a built-in navigation system and digital key system that, while helpful, aren’t exactly the stuff that off-road dreams are made of.

The Maverick Takes The Title (Again)

From its class-leading efficiency and payload capacity to its exclusive hybrid engine and innovative FLEXBED cargo system, it’s not hard to understand how the Ford Maverick walked away with one of the industry’s most coveted awards.

Positioned between the typical compact truck and a modern crossover, the pickup offers drivers the best of both worlds and easily represents the best value in the niche segment thanks to its no-nonsense approach.

It’s tough to determine what the Santa Cruz actually brings to the table. Caught between the crossover and pickup categories, Hyundai’s SAV is the classic jack-of-all-trades, master of none.

Those who are seeking a crossover-like experience will find more compelling options in the compact crossover category, and traditional truck fans are bound to be a bit disappointed by the Hyundai’s lackluster off-road resume.

If you’re looking for a stylish compact truck that provides a premium blend of efficiency, practicality, and value, it’s time to meet the Maverick at DePaula Ford.