2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. 2026 Ford Maverick: Which Truck Is Right for Conway, AR?

Two Compact Trucks, One Big Decision for Conway Drivers

Conway, AR truck shoppers comparing compact pickups usually land on two names: the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. the 2026 Ford Maverick. Both are five-passenger, four-door pickups built for daily commutes and weekend hauling, but they start from different places under the hood — the Maverick’s standard engine is a 2.5L hybrid. In contrast, the Santa Cruz starts with a traditional 2.5L gas engine and offers a more powerful turbo gas option higher in the lineup. At Chris Crain Hyundai, we took the time to compare both as configured from the factory, covering design, ride, cab and bed space, technology, safety, performance, towing, and ownership value before landing on a recommendation for Conway drivers. For full trim details, see the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz research page.

Vehicle Comparison

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Horsepower

191 hp standard (2.5L GDI-MPI); 281 hp available (2.5L Turbocharged, XRT/Limited)

AWD Availability

Available

Fuel Economy / Range

FWD 25 combined (22 city/30 hwy); AWD 24 combined (21 city/29 hwy); Turbo 20 combined (18 city/25 hwy) mpg (city/hwy)

Seating Capacity

5

Top Features

• Standard bed tie-downs (up to 6) with sealed underfloor storage
• Available 115V power inverter and lockable tonneau cover
• Available HTRAC AWD with turbo engine (tows up to 5,000 lbs)

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2026 Ford Maverick

Horsepower

184 hp combined standard (2.5L Hybrid); 250 hp @ 5,500 rpm available (2.0L EcoBoost)

AWD Availability

Available

Fuel Economy / Range

EPA-estimated 42 MPG city (Hybrid; combined/highway figures not published on source page) MPGe

Seating Capacity

5

Top Features

• FLEXBED Storage System
• In-bed 12V power outlet (available Pro Power Onboard)
• Available AWD with EcoBoost engine (tows up to 4,000 lbs with 4K Tow Package)

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Design and Styling: Sport Adventure Vehicle vs. Purpose-Built Utility

The Santa Cruz leans into its “Sport Adventure Vehicle” identity, and the XRT trim pushes that further with exposed front tow hooks, 18-inch all-terrain wheels, a new Terrain Mode Select with Snow, Mud, and Sand modes, exclusive cladding, and XRT tailgate badging. The Maverick spreads its personality across trims: the performance-minded Lobo pairs 250 horsepower with Lobo Mode and torque vectoring for stability. In contrast, the Tremor trim adds Advanced 4-Wheel Drive for off-road use.

• Santa Cruz XRT: tow hooks, all-terrain tires, Terrain Mode Select (Snow/Mud/Sand)
• Maverick Lobo: 250-hp EcoBoost, Lobo Mode, torque vectoring; Tremor adds Advanced 4WD

Ride and Performance: Two Ways to Power a Compact Truck

Santa Cruz’s standard 2.5L engine makes 191 hp, while the available 2.5L turbocharged engine (XRT and Limited trims) bumps that to 281 hp and adds standard HTRAC AWD. The Maverick’s standard 2.5L hybrid produces 184 hp combined through a CVT, with an available 2.0L EcoBoost making 250 hp through an 8-speed automatic — AWD is available on both engines and standard on the Lariat trim.

• Santa Cruz: 191 hp standard, 281 hp available (turbo, HTRAC AWD standard on that engine)
• Maverick: 184 hp combined standard (hybrid), 250 hp available (EcoBoost), AWD available

Cab and Bed Space: Room to Ride, Room to Haul

Since this comparison is about trucks people actually use, bed practicality matters as much as cab comfort. The Santa Cruz offers 101.8 cubic feet of passenger volume plus a bed with up to six standard tie-down points, molded-in cross-plank support slots, and a sealed underfloor storage bin that drains. Available extras include a 115V power inverter and a lockable tonneau cover. The Maverick’s bed measures 4’5″ (54.4 inches) long with 33.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, built around Ford’s FLEXBED Storage System and an in-bed 12V power outlet.

• Santa Cruz: 101.8 cu ft passenger volume, 6 bed tie-downs, sealed underfloor storage, available 115V outlet
• Maverick: 33.3 cu ft bed volume, 4’5″ bed length, FLEXBED storage system, in-bed 12V power.

Technology: Screens and Connectivity

The Santa Cruz comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen (available with navigation), an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that combines into a panoramic curved display, plus Bluelink+ connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Maverick counters with a larger standard 13.2-inch center display running SYNC 4. Curious how Hyundai’s AWD system stacks up? Check our HTRAC AWD explained guide.

• Santa Cruz: 12.3-inch touchscreen standard, available digital cluster, and panoramic display
• Maverick: 13.2-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4 standard

Safety: Confirmed Ratings vs. Available Driver Assist

The 2026 Santa Cruz is a 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick and carries a 5-Star NHTSA Overall Safety Rating, backed by the Hyundai SmartSense suite. The Maverick offers available Ford Co-Pilot360 Driver-Assist Technologies. For more on Hyundai’s safety suite, see our Hyundai SmartSense safety technology guide.

• Santa Cruz: 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick, 5-Star NHTSA rating, Hyundai SmartSense
• Maverick: available Ford Co-Pilot360 Driver-Assist Technologies

Performance, AWD, and Fuel Economy

For Conway drivers, cross-shopping power and efficiency, the two trucks take different approaches. The Santa Cruz’s standard 191-hp engine returns up to 25 combined MPG in FWD trims (22 city/30 highway) or 24 combined with available HTRAC AWD (21 city/29 highway); the available 281-hp turbo engine, paired with standard HTRAC AWD, returns 20 combined MPG (18 city/25 highway) and can tow up to 5,000 lbs. The Maverick’s standard 184-hp hybrid is EPA-estimated at 42 MPG city, with AWD available (standard on Lariat); the available 250-hp EcoBoost engine tows up to 4,000 lbs with the available 4K Tow Package and offers up to 1,500 lbs of payload.

• Santa Cruz: 191–281 hp, HTRAC AWD available, tows up to 5,000 lbs with the turbo engine
• Maverick: 184–250 hp, AWD available, tows up to 4,000 lbs with the 4K Tow Pack Package. 

Our Take: Why We’d Point Conway Drivers to the Santa Cruz

Both trucks are genuinely capable compact pickups, and the Maverick’s lower price and standard hybrid efficiency make it an easy truck to like for city driving around Conway. But for buyers who use the bed for real work or weekend gear, we lean Santa Cruz: it offers a higher available horsepower ceiling, a 5,000-lb tow rating that beats the Maverick’s 4,000-lb max, a confirmed 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick, standard bed tie-downs with sealed underfloor storage, and a powertrain warranty that doubles Ford’s coverage. Maverick shoppers prioritizing a lower price and class-leading city fuel economy still have a strong option — but the Santa Cruz’s combination of capability and coverage makes it our pick for most Conway drivers. Stop by Chris Crain Hyundai today to see why we are your go-to Hyundai Dealer!

FAQs: 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. 2026 Ford Maverick

Which truck has more towing capacity, the Santa Cruz or the Maverick? The Santa Cruz’s available turbo engine tows up to 5,000 lbs, 1,000 lbs more than the Maverick’s 4,000-lb max with the available 4K Tow Package.

Is all-wheel drive available on both the Santa Cruz and Maverick? Yes. Hyundai’s HTRAC AWD is available across the Santa Cruz lineup (standard with the turbo engine), and Ford’s AWD is available on the Maverick and standard on the Lariat trim.

Which truck has the longer warranty, Santa Cruz or Maverick? The Santa Cruz, backed by Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty versus the Maverick’s 5-year/60,000-mile coverage.

Tags: 2026 Ford Maverick, 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, Chris Crain Hyundai, compact truck, Hyundai Santa Cruz
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