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Hyundai Santa Cruz Starts $3,685 Over Ford Maverick, But What More Do You Get?

hyundai santa cruz 2022 oem 16 angle  exterior  front jpg 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Manufacturer image

When the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz hits dealerships in late July, it will start at $25,175 (all prices include destination). The all-new compact pickup truck directly competes with the also-new Ford Maverick. Its starting price eclipses the Ford’s by a notable $3,685, but it packs more high-value standard features.

Related: 2022 Ford Maverick Pricing Starts at $20,000, But What Does That Include?

That price gets you a front-wheel-drive Santa Cruz SE, which pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s better equipped than the Maverick’s base grade, XL, for the money: Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, wireless integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Hyundai’s Lane Following Assist, a system for hands-on lane centering. The Maverick, meanwhile, restricts lane centering and alloy wheels to higher trim levels, and there’s no wireless phone integration (it packs Ford’s Sync 3 system rather than Sync 4, which the automaker generally requires for wireless connectivity).

But for all that, the Santa Cruz SE runs another 17% beyond a Maverick XL, essentially competing with the Maverick’s mid-level XLT trim ($23,775) with light options.

Other Santa Cruz SE features include a rear occupant alert, driver attention warning system and molded composite bed. Here’s the full breakdown on pricing:

  • SE (FWD): $25,175
  • SEL (FWD): $28,375
  • SEL Activity (FWD): $31,645
  • SEL Premium (AWD): $36,865
  • Limited (AWD): $40,905

Opting for AWD adds $1,500 to the SE, SEL and SEL Activity. It’s standard on the SEL Premium and Limited, both of which also upgrade to a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. At just over $40,000, the Limited runs a few grand more than a loaded Maverick, which tops out (before accessories) around $36,000.

Stay tuned for more information on the Santa Cruz as its on-sale date approaches.

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Editor’s note: This story was updated July 13, 2021, to clarify the Maverick’s lack of wireless phone integration.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Assistant Managing Editor-News
Kelsey Mays

Former Assistant Managing Editor-News Kelsey Mays likes quality, reliability, safety and practicality. But he also likes a fair price.

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