The only two compact pickup trucks sold in the United States are the Hyundai Santa Cruz and the Ford Maverick — and both are very successful. While the Maverick has some positive attributes, the Santa Cruz is much better in a crucial area. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has one huge benefit over the 2023 Ford Maverick: longer warranty coverage. 

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has longer warranty coverage than the 2023 Ford Maverick

When making a decision about which pickup truck to get, there are multiple factors to keep in mind. And one of the most important ones is warranty coverage. The longer the warranty coverage, the more peace of mind you’ll have for not enduring a strain on your budget due to costly repairs. Parts replacement and repairs can be quite expensive — but the generous warranty coverage for the Santa Cruz minimizes this financial burden.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz, like other Hyundai models, has the best warranty coverage available in the automotive industry. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. 

In comparison, the warranties for the 2023 Ford Maverick are much shorter. It only has a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. After these time or mileage periods end for the Maverick, you’ll have to pay for repairs. However, for the Santa Cruz, you’ll still be covered. 

2023 Santa Cruz has a complimentary maintenance plan — but the 2023 Maverick doesn’t offer one

Another component of the warranty coverage for the 2023 Santa Cruz is its complimentary maintenance plan. All Santa Cruz models offer three years or 36,000 miles of free factory-scheduled maintenance. This means not having to pay for the oil changes, tire rotations, topping off the fluids, and multi-point inspections. 

To ensure that a pickup truck is reliable, safe, and runs strong for many miles and years, you should follow its maintenance schedule. And the complimentary maintenance for the Santa Cruz makes this a more affordable endeavor. Conversely, the 2023 Ford Maverick doesn’t offer a free maintenance plan.

Other strengths of the Hyundai Santa Cruz over the Ford Maverick

In addition to its longer warranty coverage and complimentary maintenance, the 2023 Santa Cruz pickup truck has some other strengths over the 2023 Maverick. This includes more powerful engine options. The Santa Cruz offers a choice of either a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which delivers 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque — or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.

However, the engines for the Maverick are weaker. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has an output of 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, while the hybrid powertrain generates only 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque.

Additionally, the Santa Cruz has a higher maximum towing capacity than the Maverick (5,000 vs. 4,000 pounds). Plus, it can haul more payload in the pickup bed (1,753 vs. 1,564 pounds). Furthermore, the Santa Cruz has a higher total passenger volume than the Maverick (104 vs. 100.3 cu-ft).

With its longer warranty coverage, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a huge benefit over the 2023 Ford Maverick. When deciding which compact pickup truck to get, the generous warranty coverage is a key factor to consider.