How small is too small for a truck? That is the question Ford and Hyundai will be asking customers later this year with the launch of the first ever Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz compact pickup trucks.
People have always bought trucks for their towing and hauling capability, but for many years now, trucks have also become all-purpose family vehicles. It is increasingly difficult to find stripped out, single cab, long-bed trucks on dealership lots. As a result, MSRPs on trucks have risen exponentially. Half ton trucks like the Ford F-150 sell at an average of at least $35,000. Midsize trucks such as the Ford Ranger can also easily go for more than $30,000. Read the comment section on any review of the Ranger or its competition and you will certainly find people moaning for inexpensive compact pickups like in the old days.
The 2022 Ford Maverick revives a name last used on a compact sedan in the 1970s. While not the smallest vehicle in Ford’s lineup, the Maverick will be the least expensive, undercutting the EcoSport by a few hundred dollars. It will be built in Mexico on the same front-wheel drive architecture as the Bronco Sport, but will be longer, lower, and narrower. Prices start at $21,490 for base XL model. By choosing cheap, you will be forgoing features such as cruise control, power-adjustable mirrors, proximity key entry, and alloy wheels. You can get all of that back in the XLT trim for $23,775. The top Maverick trim level will be the Lariat, which starts at $26,985 and should top out in the mid $30Ks with all the options.
At that price range, Ford is positioning the Maverick as an alternative to compact sedans such as the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. In fact, base model Mavericks will be cheaper than entry level 2021 Civics by $755 when they go on sale this fall.
All Mavericks come in four-door crew cab configuration and have two available engines. The first is a 191-hp hybrid drivetrain using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor. People looking for more power will want to select the turbocharged 2.0-liter with 250-hp and 277 pound-feet of torque. Since the hybrid is only available with front-wheel drive, it will probably appeal most to people who do not travel far off road. However, Ford claims that opting for the hybrid Maverick will reward drivers with 40 mpg in the city.
People have been looking forward to the Hyundai Santa Cruz since a concept was first unveiled back in 2015. The production version will share much of its structure, exterior, and interior with the all new 2022 Hyundai Tucson, but will ride on a 9.8-inch longer wheelbase. It will also be built alongside the Tucson in Montgomery, Alabama.
Hyundai would like you to think of the Santa Cruz as a “Sport Adventure Vehicle” as opposed to a truck in order to keep expectations in check. Like the Maverick, the Santa Cruz also has two powertrain options: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 190-hp and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.5-liter with 275-hp and 310 pound-feet. Both engines can be paired with front or all-wheel drive. Pricing for the Santa Cruz has not been revealed, but expect it to start around $25,000 for a base SE and cap off around $35,000 for a top-of-the-line Limited.
It’s difficult to judge what these trucks can do based on manufacturer provided photos. Hybrid Mavericks can tow up to 2000 pounds while the turbo 2.0-liter can tow 4000. Payload is rated at 1500 pounds regardless of powertrain. The Santa Cruz can tow and haul more with a tow rating of 5000 pounds and a payload capacity of 1748 for the upgraded engine. A Santa Cruz with the base engine can only tow 3500 pounds. Hyundai has yet to provide exact dimensions of the Santa Cruz’s bed, but the Maverick bed has a length of 4.5 feet bed that extends to six feet with the tailgate down. Compared to a Ford Ranger, the Maverick is 11 inches shorter overall and has a seven-inch shorter bed.
Test drives have always been important factors in buying a new vehicle, but they will be even more crucial for these two trucks. Not only will you want to drive the Maverick and the Santa Cruz, you should ask your dealer if you can bring them home with you and try fitting various objects in the bed and throughout the cabin. The Maverick and Santa Cruz will not be for everyone. Prospective buyers should do their due diligence to make sure either of these trucks will fit comfortably into their lives before signing on the dotted line.
