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

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.

More From Cars.com:

• Hyundai Reveals Almost Everything on Its 2022 Santa Cruz Pickup: Size, Power, Towing
• The Big Surprise of Hyundai’s 2022 Santa Cruz: It Can Tow a Lot
• The 2022 Ford Maverick Is Poised to Challenge More Than Just Trucks
• More Hyundai News

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

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