In this contest of small trucks with big possibilities, we compared the 2025 Ford Maverick and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz, highlighting the differences in performance and features to help you decide which compact pickup truck is the best buy in 2025.
Key Takeaways:
- The Ford Maverick is Car and Driver's top pick for compact trucks, recognized as the best in its category.
- The 2025 Ford Maverick pickup truck is affordable and fuel-efficient, with a driving range of over 500 miles with the 2.5L hybrid engine.
- The five Ford Maverick models, which offer performance, capability, and power, are why this lineup is a top pick among industry experts.
How does the 2025 Ford Maverick compare to the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2025 Ford Maverick and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz are compact trucks of similar size. However, the Ford Maverick has a longer wheelbase and offers more space, both inside and out.
Both the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz lineups offer five models, with the Ford Maverick standing out for its sustainability, featuring a 2.5L Hybrid engine paired with an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission. The performance-driven 2025 Ford Maverick Tremor comes with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This hybrid setup provides the Ford Maverick XL, XLT, Lobo, and Lariat models with impressive fuel efficiency, making it a compact pickup that is both affordable and offers genuine value and savings.
Although the Ford Maverick features powerful engine options, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz surpasses the Maverick in towing capacity, with a maximum of up to 5,000 pounds available on the XRT and Limited models.
Which compact truck gets better gas mileage? It’s the 2025 Ford Maverick!
When you buy the new 2025 Ford Maverick, you receive an affordable, fuel-efficient compact pickup truck. The 2025 Ford Maverick FWD with the 2.5L Hybrid engine boasts an EPA-estimated driving range of 524 miles.
What’s incredible about the new 2025 Ford Maverick is that it achieves an EPA estimated 27 MPG or 30 MPG on the highway in a gas-powered model, with a driving range between 380 and 412 miles. The models equipped with the hybrid engine achieve a combined fuel economy of 37 to 38 MPG in the city and on the highway.
Overall, the 2025 Ford Maverick offers better EPA-estimated fuel efficiency and greater fuel savings compared to the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
What makes the 2025 Ford Maverick worth buying?
When you buy the new 2025 Ford Maverick, you're getting the Car and Driver top pick for the best compact pickup truck. Your 2025 Ford Maverick is impressive both inside and out, featuring LED headlights and taillights, signature designs and emblems that vary from trim to trim, along with the FLEXBED storage system, Multi-Position Tailgate, in-bed cubby storage, in-bed power with two standard pre-wired 12-volt connections, and a 110V outlet.
Choose one of five 2025 Ford Maverick models starting with the base model XL that comes with a 13.2-inch LCD infotainment touchscreen with swipe capability, Bluetooth, Sirius XM, 12V powerpoints, Remote Keyless Entry, FordPass Connect with Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and some basic Ford Co-Pilot360 technology features such as Auto LED High-Beam, Pre-Collision Assist With Automatic Emergency Braking, Autolamp LED Headlamps, and a Rear View Camera.
The Ford Maverick XLT, Lobo, Lariat, and Tremor models include all these standard basics plus heated seats, steering wheel and exterior side mirrors, wireless charging, Remote Start, Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, the upgraded B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, and more standard driver assistance and safety features including the Lane Keeping System, Hill Descent Control, BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert that helps with blind spots while driving.
The new 2025 Ford Maverick Lobo model, a street-custom inspired design featuring rally-inspired 19-inch wheels, offers a performance-tuned suspension, enhanced steering and brakes, the Quick Shift 7-speed transmission with paddle shifters, and the closed-course-only Lobo Mode.
The top-of-the-line Tremor model has advanced 4WD with a twin-clutch rear drive unit, off-road-tuned suspension with signature springs and shocks, plus off-road enhanced skid plates.
Ford’s Trendsetter and Little Go-Getter
Be the trendsetter in one of the J.D. Power top three best compact pickup trucks on the road, the new 2025 Ford Maverick. Tow, haul, and toy around off-road in the new 2025 Ford Maverick, which is also fuel-efficient and affordable.
At Alan Jay Ford of Wauchula, you can shop new Ford pickup trucks, plus our inventory of new and used vehicles with the help of friendly experts. Experience exceptional customer service, then work with our financial team, who can help you with what you need to drive home the vehicle of your dreams.