The 2024 Ford Maverick and 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz are top competitors in the compact and mid-sized truck segments. Each truck has pushed the boundaries of what a little truck can do. Let’s check out the main features of each model so you can make a more informed decision.
Key Points
- Both trucks have a modern, athletic design.
- The Santa Cruz can tow more than the Maverick (5,000 lbs. vs 4,000 lbs.).
- The Maverick has more fuel-efficient engines than the Santa Cruz.
- The 2024 Maverick has an MSRP range of about $25,000–$40,000.
- The 2024 Santa Cruz has an MSRP range of about $27,000–$41,000.
The 2024 Ford Maverick boasts the following colors:
- Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat
- Atlas Blue Metallic
- Terrain
- Shadow Black
- Carbonized Gray Metallic Tri-Coat
- Cactus Gray
- Oxford White
- Hot Pepper Red Metallic
- Iconic Silver
The two colors that do cost extra are the Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat and the Hot Pepper Red Metallic. Regarding the exterior design, the Maverick has impressive LED headlights, a robust front grille, and dynamic wheel that contribute to a contemporary, streamlined appearance. This design not only enhances fuel efficiency but also elevates the overall driving experience.
With the interior, the 2024 Maverick closely resembles its 2023 counterpart in design. Despite its compact size, which may require a slight stoop upon entry, the Maverick offers ample headroom and legroom, which is a pleasant surprise to the occupants. Furthermore, numerous storage cubbies and bins are available along with features like a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, remote keyless entry, and adjustable lumbar support for the front seats.
Regarding technology, the Maverick is equipped with an 8.0-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional upgrades include satellite radio, a premium B&O sound system, and a convenient wireless charging pad.
What colors come with the 2024 Santa Cruz?
The new Santa Cruz comes with the following colors:
- California Sand
- Hampton Gray
- Blue Stone
- Phantom Black
- Atlas White
- Sage Gray
Along with these exterior colors, the 2024 Santa Cruz has a modern, sleek body that has wider fender flares, bed rails, LED projector headlights, and side steps for better looks and functionality. The bed of the Santa Cruz is about 48.4 inches long and a bed space of 27 cubic feet, which is smaller than the Maverick’s 54.4-inch bed and 33.3-cubic feet bed space. The body of the Santa Cruz follows the looks of its SUV counterparts like the Palisade or Tucson but in truck form.
What is the 2024 Santa Cruz’s interior like?
The interior of the Santa Cruz is known for having one of the best cabins in the compact and mid-size truck segments. With a four-door cabin, the Santa Cruz has comfortable seats with 41.4 inches of front legroom and 36.5 inches of rear legroom, which is a competitive amount of space compared to other trucks.
Depending on the package and trim you get, you can get features like leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, black faux-leather upholstery, and automatic defogger. These features and more give you a fancy feeling at an affordable price.
The Cruz’s technology consists of an 8.0-inch touchscreen for the SE and SEL trims while the Night, XRT, and Limited trims get a 10.3-inch touchscreen. However, each trim comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. If you would like a Bose sound system, the Limited trim is your go-to option.
How much horsepower does the 2024 Ford Maverick have?
The 2024 Maverick has the following horsepower figures for each engine:
- 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque with the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder (23/30 mpg)
- 191 hp and 155 lb-ft torque of with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid (42/33 mpg)
Along with the horsepower numbers, an important thing to know is the hybrid engine costs $1,500 as an upgrade with the 2024 Maverick. Furthermore, the 2024 Maverick can tow and haul 2,000 pounds and 1,500 pounds respectively. However, if you need greater towing capability, an optional tow package increases the Maverick's hauling capacity to 4,000 pounds.
If you are an adventure enthusiast, you should check out the two specialized trim options for rugged terrain with the 2024 Maverick: the XLT Tremor Off-Road and Lariat Tremor Off-Road trims. Each of these trims comes with off-road packages to give you great adventures.
With the Maverick’s safety, you get automatic emergency braking and automatic high-beams as standard features; however, you can get adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic as optional upgrades.
What kind of engine does the new Santa Cruz have?
The 2024 Santa Cruz has two engine options:
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque (22/25–26 mpg)
- 2.5-liter turbo I4 with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque (19/27 mpg)
The first engine comes with the SE and SEL trims, and this engine comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission that can be configured to either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The second engine comes with the Night, XRT, and Limited trims, and this engine comes with an eight-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with all-wheel drive as the standard configuration.
As for towing, the first engine has a max of 3,500 pounds, but the second engine has a max of 5,000 pounds, which is 1,000 pounds more than the Maverick. If you need an engine to simply get the work done with great fuel economy, the first engine is your best choice; however, if you want a little more power for off-roading or other needs, the second engine is the way to go.
With safety, the Santa Cruz comes with standard features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear occupant alert, and driver attention monitoring. However, if you want adaptive cruise control, you will have to go with either the XRT or Limited trims.
What are the MSRPs for the 2024 Maverick?
The 2024 Ford Maverick’s MSRPs are as follows:
- XL — $23,815
- XLT — $26,315
- XLT Tremor — $29,810
- Lariat — $34,855
- Lariat Tremor — $38,350
How much is a 2024 Santa Cruz?
The 2024 Santa Cruz has the following MSRPs:
- SE — $26,900
- SEL — $29,650
- Night — $38,460
- XRT — $40,100
- Limited — $41,320
The costs of each make and model could vary depending on the different upgrades and features you select.
Final Thoughts
The Maverick has more legroom, large bed space, and better fuel-efficient engines. So, the choice between each truck depends on your budget and preference. However, we of course know that once you test drive the Maverick the choice will be made.