2025 Ford Maverick in San Antonio, TX
2025 Ford Maverick vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The compact pickup truck market is back with not one, but two worthy options: the 2025 Ford Maverick and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Both cross the line between SUV and truck, offering daily usability with open-bed versatility. Whether you drive through Hill Country or downtown San Antonio, TX, both of these pickups have distinct advantages. Let's break down how they stack up against one another.
Interior Comparison
The 2025 Maverick sports a rugged, utilitarian, and functional interior that mixes comfort with smart use of space. Ford designed the interior to use smart storage options, easy-to-clean surfaces, standard seating for five, and a simple and effective front-to-back layout. Upper trims include upgraded materials, along with an 8-inch touchscreen, but the purpose seems to be practical usage as opposed to soft luxury. The rear legroom in the crew cab is decent, given the small size of the pickup.
The 2025 Santa Cruz emphasizes an SUV-like refinement. It takes many features from the Hyundai Tucson, like soft-touch materials and finishes, a more modern layout, and dual 10.25-inch screens as an option. The rear passenger space is not remarkably bigger than the Maverick, but the interior of the Santa Cruz has a more upscale feel, especially the Limited trim.
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2025 Maverick Interior |
2025 Santa Cruz Interior |
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Rows: 2 Cab Options: Crew Cab Only Max Seating: 5 Upholstery Options: Cloth, Premium Cloth, ActiveX™ |
Rows: 2 Cab Options: Crew Cab Only Max Seating: 5 Upholstery Options: Cloth, Leatherette, Leather |
Exterior Comparison
Both trucks offer a unique spin on compact truck design. The Maverick wears traditional Ford truck styling with a bold grille, squared-off body lines, and available FX4 off-road packages for added visual (and functional) aggression. Key features include:
- Traditional Truck Styling
- FX4 Off-Road Appearance Package (Available)
- 4.5-foot FLEXBED™ with 10 Tie-Downs and Power Outlets
- Optional Spray-In Bedliner
The Santa Cruz takes a more crossover-inspired approach. Its sleek front fascia, integrated lighting, and curvier profile give it a sportier, more urban aesthetic. Its short bed is better suited to lighter hauling, while the Maverick’s design screams ‘mini F-150.’ Key features include:
- Bold, Crossover-Inspired Design
- Hidden LED Daytime Running Lights
- Integrated Tonneau Cover (Available)
- In-Bed Trunk with Drain Plug
Power & Performance
The Maverick comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor that generates 191 horsepower. There’s also an available 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that generates 250 horsepower. Along with its efficiency, the Maverick can tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The Santa Cruz features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (191 horsepower) standard, or a more potent turbocharged version (281 horsepower) in SEL Premium and Limited trims. It pairs with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and available HTRAC AWD. While it has more horsepower on paper, the Santa Cruz lacks a hybrid option and maxes out at 5,000 pounds of towing – higher than the Maverick but at a higher fuel cost.
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2025 Maverick Power & Performance |
2025 Santa Cruz Power & Performance |
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Max Towing Capacity: 4,000 Pounds |
Max Towing Capacity: 5,000 Pounds |
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Base Engine: 2.5-Liter 4-Cylinder Hybrid Horsepower: 191 (Combined) Transmission: CVT (Hybrid) |
Base Engine: 2.5-liter I4 Horsepower: 191 Torque: 181 lb-ft Transmission: 8-Speed Auto |
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Optional Engine: 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 250 Torque: 277 lb-ft Transmission: 8-Speed Auto (Gas) |
Optional Engine: 2.5-liter Turbo I4 Horsepower: 281 Torque: 311 lb-ft Transmission: 8-Speed DCT |
Tech & Entertainment
The Maverick keeps it simple yet smart. A standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ comes standard, and higher trims add features like SiriusXM®, a premium B&O® sound system, and wireless charging. The layout is straightforward and refreshingly easy to use.
The Santa Cruz impresses with available dual 10.25-inch screens, including a fully digital instrument panel and infotainment display. However, the larger touchscreen setup drops wireless smartphone integration, requiring a wired connection – an odd trade-off. Available Bose® premium audio and connected features give it an edge in perceived tech sophistication.
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2025 Maverick Top Tech Features |
2025 Santa Cruz Top Tech Features |
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Infotainment Screen Options: 8-inch Touchscreen (Standard) Audio System Options: Available B&O® 8-Speaker Premium Audio
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Infotainment Screen Options: 8-inch or 10.25-inch Touchscreen Audio System Options: Bose® Premium Audio (Limited Trim)
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Safety Features
Ford equips every Maverick with Ford Co-Pilot360® safety features, including Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Auto High-Beams. Blind Spot Information and Adaptive Cruise Control are available on higher trims.
Hyundai offers its full SmartSense safety suite on every Santa Cruz, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Attention Warning. Advanced features like Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor are available in Limited trim.
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2025 Maverick Standard Safety Features |
2025 Santa Cruz Standard Safety Features |
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Red McCombs Ford’s Bottom Line
The 2025 Ford Maverick remains the ultimate balance of versatility, value, and real-world utility – especially for budget-minded buyers looking for truck functionality with car-like efficiency. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz impresses with its stylish design and premium interior, but it comes at a higher price and lacks a hybrid option.
At Red McCombs Ford in San Antonio, TX, we believe the Maverick is the compact truck that delivers everything Texans need – smart, efficient, and ready for anything. Visit us today to test drive the 2025 Maverick and experience its class-defining capability.
Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.
