The compact pickup segment is getting more competitive by the minute. They’re making a comeback in the American automotive market. And while more competition is a good thing, it’s still pretty challenging to decide which one you should get. So, how can you narrow down the list of contenders and make the best choice? It’s usually best to start with the numbers.

If you’ve been teetering between the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the 2022 Ford Maverick, it can be a difficult choice. While both are impressive in their respects, the Hyundai pickup may be the better buy. Here are four reasons you should bypass the Ford Maverick and take home the Hyundai Santa Cruz instead.

1. It’s more powerful than the Maverick

Choosing the best between two midsize pickups can be subjective until you start comparing apples-to-apples power. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz brings 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. That’s considerably more powerful than the capable Ford Maverick that achieves 162 hp with 155 lb-ft of torque.

However, remember that more power means a little compromise in fuel economy. The Santa Cruz averages 23 mpg combined, while the Maverick averages 37 mpg combined.

2. It can haul and tow more than the Maverick 

Another set of numbers to consider involves payload and towing capacity, which brings in the second reason to choose the Santa Cruz. According to the Edmunds spec sheet, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a beast with its max towing of 3,500 pounds and a max payload of 1,753 pounds.

As Edmunds states, the 2022 Ford Maverick is no slouch but pales compared to its max payload of only 1,500 pounds and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. If you need to pull or haul things, the Santa Cruz will be a clear choice.

3. It has a much longer warranty than the Maverick

You can rely on Ford and Hyundai to outline what is offered in warranty coverage for their respective pickups. And if warranty provisions matter to you, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has a better deal, with the five-year and 60,000-mile basic warranty.

The Ford Maverick will only have your back for three years and 36,000 miles with its basic warranty. And that’s the third reason why consumers should consider the Santa Cruz over the Maverick.

4. It reportedly has a quieter cabin 

The fourth reason to consider a Hyundai Santa Cruz over the Ford Maverick lies within the road test evaluations from Consumer Reports. The Hyundai comes ahead with more bragging rights in the cabin quietness department. Alternatively, the Consumer Reports sentiments on the Ford complain of a noisy cabin.

The overall Consumer Reports scores tell a different story if you care to explore further. The Maverick earned a much higher score than the Santa Cruz. But many of those contributing factors are estimations and predicted reliability. For purposes of this comparison, we’re sticking to the numbers.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a starting MSRP of $24,440, making it an incredible value proposition for anyone interested in a nice and capable midsize pickup. But a Ford Maverick XL only starts at $19,995, which could be more attractive to the budget-conscious truck buyer. Just know what you’re paying for, regardless of which truck ends up in your garage. These are four strong reasons the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the best pick.