The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is an exceptional small truck. It has pretty good safety ratings, off-road capability, and can tow a respectable amount. It’s also pretty affordable, yet it’s still more expensive than the 2022 Ford Maverick. What does that price difference include and is it worth it? Let’s compare these two pickup trucks and see if the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. the 2022 Ford Maverick is really worth it?

How much does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz price starts at $26,885 for the base model, the SE. After that, you could get the SEL for $30,085, the SEL Premium for $37,075, or the Limited for $41,115.

The 2022 Santa Cruz is smaller than most midsize trucks, which makes it attractive to those torn between something compact and something a little bigger. It comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 181 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. That’s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive, though you can upgrade to all-wheel drive.

How much is the 2022 Ford Maverick?

The cheapest version of the 2022 Ford Maverick is the XL. That’s the base model Maverick truck, and it starts at $21,490. The Maverick XL (and all Maverick trucks, for that matter) comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s matched to a hybrid system, according to Edmunds. That setup makes 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This can come with front or all-wheel drive.

Is the Santa Cruz really worth more?

Okay, so the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is an all-around great truck, but so is the Ford Maverick. Is the Santa Cruz really worth $4,000 more than the Ford Maverick? It might be. The 2022 Hyundai Santa has an 8-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker sound system. As far as safety features, the 2022 Santa Cruz comes with forward collision warning and lane-keep assist. These features make it feel almost like an SUV. It can also tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Ford Maverick XL also comes with LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, and rear under-seat storage compartments. Cloth seats are standard in the XL, as is an eight-inch touchscreen that’s compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a six-speaker sound system in the Maverick XL and it also has forward collision warning. And, while it can tow a decent amount – up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped, it isn’t quite as much as the Santa Cruz.

If you’re looking for a small pickup truck that can handle the rigors of a larger work truck, then the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is certainly worth the extra $4,000. However, if you’d like a more fuel-efficient hybrid truck and don’t need the additional towing capacity, then the 2022 Ford Maverick is a great truck.