2026 Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz in Little Rock, AR

Everyday Versatility for Central Arkansas Drivers

Compact trucks have carved out a real niche for drivers in Little Rock, AR, who want pickup-bed versatility without the size or price tag of a full-size truck. The 2026 Ford Maverick and 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz sit at the top of that segment, both offering unibody construction, crew-cab practicality, and enough capability for weekend projects, small hauls, and daily errands around Central Arkansas.

Drivers throughout Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Benton, and Bryant often want a vehicle that handles the daily commute just as well as a trip to the hardware store. Both trucks deliver on that promise, though the way each one gets there looks a little different. Full trim details and configurations are available on our 2026 Ford Maverick model research page.

Design and Everyday Presence

Compact and purposeful describe the Maverick’s exterior, with a boxy stance and an upright grille that reads more traditional truck than crossover. Five trims span the lineup, from the value-focused XL to the off-road-ready Tremor, each bringing its own standout features to the table.

Built on the same platform as the Tucson SUV, the Santa Cruz leans into a smoother, more car-like silhouette. Its shorter four-foot bed sits behind a cabin that looks and feels closer to a crossover than a traditional pickup.

First Look:

• Maverick: boxy, traditional truck stance across five distinct trims
• Santa Cruz: smoother, crossover-inspired styling with a shorter bed

Power Under the Hood

Under the hood, both trucks offer more than one way to get moving, and the choice matters for drivers cross-shopping this segment.

The Maverick’s non-hybrid option comes with a 250-hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission (a seven-speed with paddle shifters on the Lobo trim). In testing, that combination reached 60 mph in as little as 5.8 seconds, a genuinely quick number for a compact truck.

The Santa Cruz splits its lineup by trim. SE, SEL, and SEL Activity models run a 191-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 181 lb-ft of torque, while the XRT and Limited trims step up to a turbocharged 2.5-liter four making 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft. That turbo engine reached 60 mph in 6.0 seconds during independent testing, just a couple of tenths behind the Maverick’s turbo.

Under the Hood:

• Maverick: 250-hp 2.0L EcoBoost turbo, 5.8-second 0-60 (Lobo)
• Santa Cruz: 191-hp base four-cylinder or 281-hp turbo four-cylinder, 6.0-second 0-60 (turbo)
• Both offer meaningfully quicker acceleration in their turbocharged configurations

A Hybrid Option Worth Considering

Drivers prioritizing fuel economy above all else have another path with the Maverick, its standard hybrid powertrain. Pairing a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor for a combined 191 horsepower, the hybrid Maverick reaches up to 42 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. More detail on that configuration lives on the Maverick Hybrid model research page.

The Santa Cruz doesn’t currently offer a hybrid option, making fuel-conscious comparisons a bit more one-sided if efficiency tops the priority list.

Towing and Bed Capability

Real-world usefulness in this segment often comes down to what these trucks can actually carry and pull.

The Maverick’s 4.5-foot bed fits up to 18 sheets of four-by-eight plywood without angling, and its towing capacity ranges from 2,000 lbs standard to 4,000 lbs with the available Tow package. Payload comes in at 1,500 lbs across both engine options.

A shorter, roughly four-foot bed defines the Santa Cruz, though a lockable tonneau cover and a useful in-bed trunk add security and versatility that a traditional bed doesn’t offer. Towing starts at 3,500 lbs with the base engine and climbs to 5,000 lbs with the turbo, giving it a real edge for drivers who need to pull heavier loads.

Capability Notes:

• Maverick: 4.5-ft bed, up to 4,000 lbs towing (with Tow package), 1,500 lbs payload
• Santa Cruz: ~4-ft bed with lockable tonneau cover, up to 5,000 lbs towing (turbo)
• Santa Cruz holds a towing advantage in its top configuration

Cabin Comfort and Everyday Space

Both trucks pack a genuinely useful cabin into a compact footprint, with some real differences in feel.

Storage cubbies and bins fill the Maverick’s interior throughout, including generous space under the rear seat. In testing, it fit 14 carry-on suitcases with the rear seats stowed. If you want something other than a base trim, the XLT and Lariat trims add dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and power front seats.

A more upscale feel carries through the Santa Cruz’s cabin, with a fully digital gauge cluster and a traditional shifter rather than a rotary knob. It fit 13 carry-on suitcases in the same test conditions, close to the Maverick’s capacity, and its rear-seat space holds its own against similarly sized trucks.

Cabin Notes:

• Both trucks offer crew-cab practicality with four full doors
• Maverick: functional storage-forward cabin, 14 suitcases in testing
• Santa Cruz: more refined cabin feel, 13 suitcases in testing

Technology and Connectivity

Staying connected matters just as much in a compact truck as it does in any modern vehicle.

A 13.2-inch touchscreen comes standard across every Maverick trim, paired with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, even on the base model.

The Santa Cruz counters with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen on base trims, stepping up to dual 12.3-inch displays on higher trims for a combined digital gauge and infotainment setup. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard here as well, alongside Hyundai’s Blue Link services.

Tech Rundown:

• Maverick: standard 13.2-inch touchscreen, standard Wi-Fi hotspot
• Santa Cruz: standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, dual-display setup on higher trims
• Both offer standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Safety and Driver Confidence

Neither truck skimps on driver-assistance technology, though the details vary.

Standard automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist come on every Maverick, with a more advanced adaptive cruise control system available on the Lariat and Tremor trims.

Lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert come standard on the Santa Cruz as well, with adaptive cruise control offered as an option.

Safety Snapshot:

• Both trucks offer strong standard driver-assistance features
• Maverick: advanced adaptive cruise control available on higher trims
• Santa Cruz: standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert

Fuel Economy (Gas Engines)

Efficiency plays a real role in this segment, especially for drivers using these trucks as daily commuters.

The Maverick’s non-hybrid turbo engine is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Ford has several fuel-efficient models to check out at Crain Ford of Little Rock.

The Santa Cruz’s base engine leads the way at 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, while its turbo engine comes in at 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Efficiency Notes:

• Maverick (turbo): 22 city/30 highway mpg
• Santa Cruz (base engine): 22 city/30 highway mpg
• Santa Cruz (turbo): 18 city/25 highway mpg

Ownership Value Over Time

Warranty coverage tells its own story about long-term ownership between these two trucks.

The Maverick’s coverage includes a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, with no complimentary scheduled maintenance included.

Hyundai backs the Santa Cruz with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a notably longer 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, along with 3 years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Value Points:

• Maverick: 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, no complimentary maintenance
• Santa Cruz: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, complimentary maintenance included
• Santa Cruz holds a clear edge on long-term coverage

Which Compact Truck Fits Your Life in Little Rock?

Both the Maverick and Santa Cruz bring real capability to a segment built around everyday versatility rather than heavy-duty hauling.

Drivers who want traditional truck styling, a longer bed, and the option to step into a highly efficient hybrid may find the Maverick lines up well with their needs. Others who prioritize a more refined cabin, stronger turbo towing capacity, and longer warranty coverage may lean toward the Santa Cruz.

Either way, drivers across Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Benton, and Bryant get a genuinely useful compact truck built for daily life in Central Arkansas.

FAQs

Q: Which compact truck tows more, the Maverick or the Santa Cruz?
A: The Santa Cruz’s turbo engine offers a higher maximum towing capacity at 5,000 lbs, compared to the Maverick’s 4,000 lbs with the available Tow package.

Q: Does the Ford Maverick come in a hybrid version?
A: Yes, the Maverick’s standard engine is a hybrid powertrain rated up to 42 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with front-wheel drive. The Santa Cruz does not currently offer a hybrid option.

Q: Which truck has a longer bed, the Maverick or the Santa Cruz?
A: The Maverick’s bed measures 4.5 feet, slightly longer than the Santa Cruz’s roughly 4-foot bed, though the Santa Cruz includes a lockable tonneau cover and in-bed trunk for added security.

Tags: Central Arkansas trucks, Compact truck comparison, Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford vs Hyundai trucks, Small pickup trucks Arkansas, Trucks Little Rock AR, Unibody truck comparison
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