For most Hicksville drivers, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the better fit. It pairs SUV-like comfort with an open bed, offers all-wheel drive at every trim level, and gives you a turbocharged XRT if you want real power. The Maverick leans toward a more traditional small-truck feel.
Small pickups have become the sensible truck for a lot of Long Islanders. They're big enough for mulch, kayaks and a weekend's worth of gear, yet small enough to park at Broadway Commons without a fight. At Advantage Hyundai in Hicksville, most people who ask us about the Hyundai Santa Cruz are also looking at the Ford Maverick. Here's how the two compare, and why we think the Santa Cruz is the better match for the way people around here actually drive.
Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Ford Maverick: Two Takes on a Small Truck
Hyundai started the Santa Cruz with a simple question: what if a pickup rode and felt like a well-built SUV? You get a car-like unibody design, a cabin that feels finished instead of bare-bones, and an open bed out back for the messy stuff. That matters a lot if the truck is also your daily ride to the train station or the office in Melville.
Ford built the Maverick around a similar unibody idea, so both trucks are far easier to live with than a full-size pickup. Where they split is personality. The Santa Cruz leans into comfort, style and available performance, while the Maverick goes for a more traditional pickup look and feel.
For most Hicksville drivers, the truck spends far more hours on the Long Island Expressway than on a job site. That's why we think Hyundai got the balance right. You end up with a pickup you'll actually enjoy commuting in, one that still handles weekend projects, dump runs and a fresh load of patio pavers without complaint.
Think of it as the truck that fits the life you already have instead of asking you to rearrange things around it.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Trims, From SE to XRT
Hyundai keeps the 2027 Santa Cruz lineup easy to follow. You get three trim levels, and the first two come with a choice of drive systems. Pricing opens at $30,300 for the SE (2WD), which puts a genuinely capable small truck within reach of a lot of budgets.
Here's how the ladder works:
- SE (2WD) and SE (AWD): the straightforward way in, with the standard four-cylinder and your pick of front- or all-wheel drive.
- SEL Activity (2WD) and SEL Activity (AWD): the middle step for drivers who want more than the basics, again with either drivetrain.
- XRT: the top of the range, with a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive standard.
The XRT carries an MSRP of $42,775, and it's the one to look at if you want the most performance your truck can deliver. A lot of shoppers land on the SEL Activity as their sweet spot, since it moves past entry level without jumping all the way to the turbo.
Want to see what's on the lot right now? Start by browsing our new Hyundai inventory, then come compare a couple of trims side by side.
Power for Merging onto the LIE
Below the XRT, the Santa Cruz runs a 2.5L four-cylinder making 191 horsepower. That's plenty for stop-and-go traffic on Old Country Road, and it gets you up to speed on most on-ramps without drama.
Step up to the XRT and you get a 2.5L turbo four-cylinder rated at 281 hp. You'll feel that difference when you've got a loaded bed, a full back seat and a short gap to squeeze into on the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway. It turns a small truck into one that feels quick.
Efficiency without giving up choice
Ford's Maverick offers a hybrid with a reputation for good fuel economy, and that's fair to acknowledge. Hyundai answers with a front-wheel-drive Santa Cruz rated at 30 mpg on the highway, which keeps commuting costs in check. On top of that, the XRT's turbo is there for drivers who care more about punch than squeezing out every last mile.
So you're not locked into one idea of what a small truck should be. Pick the efficient four-cylinder for daily driving, or go for the turbo if performance is what makes you smile behind the wheel.
All-Wheel Drive for Long Island Winters
Why AWD earns its keep here
A nor'easter can turn Newbridge Road into slush by rush hour, and that's when the Santa Cruz's drivetrain choices pay off. You can get all-wheel drive on the SE and the SEL Activity, and it comes standard on the XRT. In other words, AWD is available at every trim level, so you never have to buy up just to get traction.
You also give up very little at the pump for that extra grip. AWD versions of the SE and SEL Activity are rated at 29 mpg on the highway, just a step below their front-wheel-drive twins. For a lot of families, that small trade is well worth the confidence on icy mornings.
When front-wheel drive makes sense
Maybe you mostly drive plowed main roads and park in a garage overnight. In that case, a 2WD Santa Cruz saves you money up front, and with a good set of dedicated winter tires it handles typical Long Island weather just fine.
Whichever way you go, have our service team look over your tires and battery before the first storm. A quick seasonal check is cheap insurance against a cold-morning surprise.
Bed, Cabin and Weekend Hauling
Both trucks seat five people. Inside the Santa Cruz, the cabin is set up to feel more like a midsize SUV than a work truck, which you'll appreciate when the back seat holds teenagers, a dog and a cooler on the way to Jones Beach.
Out back you get 27 cubic feet of cargo room. That's enough for bags of mulch from the garden center, a couple of bikes, or camping gear for a weekend at Wildwood State Park. Since the bed is open, the dirty and awkward stuff stays out of the cabin where it belongs.
Ford designed the Maverick's bed around do-it-yourself add-ons, which tinkerers will like. Hyundai counters by pairing a practical bed with a cabin that feels a cut above a typical small truck, so you aren't trading everyday comfort for utility. You get both the moment you drive off the lot.
That combination is what makes the Santa Cruz work as your only vehicle instead of a second one. If your current sedan or crossover is the one making way, you can value your trade online before you visit, so you walk in knowing where you stand.
Owning a Santa Cruz from Advantage Hyundai
A truck is a long relationship, and the Santa Cruz is built to be an easy one. Straightforward engines, sensible running costs and Hyundai's factory warranty coverage make it a truck you can own for years without much worry. It's a smart, practical value from the first payment to the last.
At Advantage Hyundai, we offer new Hyundai and pre-owned inventory, plus financing, service and parts. Our buying process is streamlined, and our digital shopping tools let you handle much of the legwork from your couch instead of spending a Saturday at the store.
When you're ready to talk numbers, our financing team can walk you through options that fit your budget. Approval and terms depend on your credit, and we'll be upfront with you about what's realistic so there are no surprises at signing.
We're also focused on supporting you after the purchase, not just the sale. That's exactly what you want from the people who will see your truck for oil changes, tire rotations and the occasional question about a dashboard light. A good dealership relationship is part of owning a truck well, and we take that part seriously.
Hicksville, NY
- The Santa Cruz drives like a comfortable SUV and still hauls your weekend gear in its open bed.
- All-wheel drive is available on every Santa Cruz trim, a smart choice for Long Island winters.
- The XRT's turbo engine gives you power the four-cylinder trims can't match.
