I took a look at a Santa Cruz today - I was very impressed

[Scott Asheville]

KeinoDoggy, is that a Shelby GT500 pic by any chance in your profile? My big bro had one of those. He'd be a wealthy man today if he kept it.

I need to say it again - not trying to offend anyone with the word "cheap". It was my subjective relative opinion comparing the two cars in person (a day apart). I could be very much be way off base on that. But every time I explore a Maverick in person (only a handful of times), I do walk away with "it looks solid but they really went cheap everywhere".

I suppose if I stick with the Maverick, I'll be really offended by my own postings. Serves me right.

Sponsored

 

[rclee]

The SC front end reminds me of a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica series. Kind of cool but the Mav front end looks like a Ford Truck. I will take the best selling truck front end all day long.

 

[projectvortex]

This posting is for those of you on the forum who, like me, are still not quite sure about the Maverick (and like me, you might have one on order). But maybe you haven't looked at the Santa Cruz in person because you don't like the styling or think it's too expensive.

This is NOT intended as some kind of antagonistic posting to troll Maverick owners. Folks, I have a Maverick on order and a Ford Ranger in my driveway. I'm a lifelong Ford truck guy (well, I'm wavering).

I placed my order 3 Sep of last year. I ordered a Maverick because I preferred the conventional styling, the slightly longer bed, and the really powerful Ecoboost engine with a conventional automatic. I like my little luxuries, so the bottom line for the XLT ECO 360 LUX SIBL, including delivery, is $30,500. But I've been kind of wincing at how cheap Ford went on everything. I've seen the truck in person, and it definitely does not impress. And the postings here just reinforce that constantly.

So I decided that darn it, I was gonna go check out the competition. I went to look at a similarly equipped Santa Cruz SEL that costs about $2,000 LESS than the Maverick I have on order. Long story short, it impressed.

• The Santa Cruz is way more appealing in person than in pictures. I liked it a lot. It has presence. A neighbor has one and loves it. It looks good going down the street.
• I was impressed by little things, like a composite bed and sound insulation under the hood. And a waterproof storage compartment in the bed.
• Closing the doors, hood, or tailgate on the Maverick vs the Santa Cruz just screams "CHEAP". I'm not being a troll here, the quality difference just jumped out at me in a big way. I don't necessarily hate cheap. My crude 2010 Ranger is cheap, and I've loved that cheap hunk of junk for 102,000 safe and reliable miles.
• The CP360 safety features I want, like blind spot, etc - they're all standard on the Santa Cruz.
• All the rotary shift haters will roll their eyes, but I wish the Santa Cruz didn't have a conventional shift lever. It looks like an antique.
• The interior just blew the Maverick out of the water. Except for the stupid piano black. I mean there was no comparison - these vehicles are not in the same league. The higher quality of the rear view camera really stood out. The software just blows the Ford out of the water.
• The bed had higher sides and was a half foot shorter. I don't care about the length, but I prefer the Maverick sides. Easier for a boomer to reach into the bed.
• The paint quality really impressed. Again, quality of materials jumped out at me everywhere I looked.
• I loved the little foot step indents in the bumper
• Same bed cubbies and lighting as the Maverick
• A bit smaller in the rear seat. Which is a non-issue for me as I really want a two door trucket in the first place.
• Mileage wasn't all that different from the Eco I ordered. And again, you give up a lot of horsepower on the lower trim Santa Cruz trucklets. So not for those who thirst after horsepower.

Bottom line is that I walked away seriously impressed with the lower trim Santa Cruz SEL. I have no build date for my constrained Maverick order and I need a Hobbit Truck sooner than later. And I walked away from the in-person review thinking "I can save $2,000 and get the same functionality sooner and with a ten year warranty". On the other hand, I'm thinking "Or I could stick with the Maverick and have all that horsepower and no piano black (but cheap hard plastics)". I'm thinking it over.

Bottom line. If you're wavering like me, I'd say go test drive a Santa Cruz in one of the lower trims (SE or SEL). You might find yourself pleasantly surprised. I'd love to hear the impressions of others who actually physically compared the two cars (sorry, trucks).

Also in the Asheville area. Which dealer did you go to?

 

[cavemold]

Ive looked SC in person . A all black was decent and the sand color was nice but i cant get over the small window space in the back. MPG is not as good, The fact is doesn't have wireless car play is zonk as well at 40k that should be standard. The non SEL grill is really noticeable compared to the premium one. I really don't understand the limited colors option of Cruz as well. I saw wrapped one in red and it looked nice. I rather get Tucson to be honest. The SE has wireless carplay but the premium doesn't. that's weird.

 

[KeinoDoggy]

KeinoDoggy, is that a Shelby GT500 pic by any chance in your profile? My big bro had one of those. He'd be a wealthy man today if he kept it.

I need to say it again - not trying to offend anyone with the word "cheap". It was my subjective relative opinion comparing the two cars in person (a day apart). I could be very much be way off base on that. But every time I explore a Maverick in person (only a handful of times), I do walk away with "it looks solid but they really went cheap everywhere".

I suppose if I stick with the Maverick, I'll be really offended by my own postings. Serves me right.

That is my 1968 Mustang GT Fastback. It originally had a 390 GT engine but I replaced it with a 428 SCJ. Factory color is Highland Green Metallic. Same color as the Steve McQueen Bullit.

 

[Scott Asheville]

Also in the Asheville area. Which dealer did you go to?

Asheville Ford. They were great. I'd recommend them anytime.

 

[FlyingScot]

Thanks for your honest take on this. Everyone has their preferences and views, and you pointed out some things that most here will definitely acknowledge / recognize. We came from a 2017 Honda Ridgeline Black - top of the line. Before that a Lariat 4x4 loaded (2004). The maverick by comparison - for what we care about - is more current / newer in tech. It is NOT as nice inside - but we prefer out XLT cloth to leather, and for us the interior size is great. The paint seems decent but we got a tri-paint (HPR) which supposedly is thicker…either way it looks great. The Ecoboost drives better than both and ride quality for us is “sporty” and what we want. Stops great and basically almost a truck sports car. The Ridgline had more body roll, the Lariat was an F150 so ’nuff said. Biggest point - it is mainly my wife’s car and she loves it , so if she is happy so am I.

The Comparable Santa Cruz (XLT Lux CP360 4K FX4 AWD Moonroof) appears to be quite a bit more than our $32K price tag - but that is “at glance”. Don‘t doubt a great vehicle - Maverick hits the spot for us, and I suspect many others. Great to have choices - and not a wrong choice here! Good luck

 

[Nw_adventure]

KeinoDoggy, is that a Shelby GT500 pic by any chance in your profile? My big bro had one of those. He'd be a wealthy man today if he kept it.

I need to say it again - not trying to offend anyone with the word "cheap". It was my subjective relative opinion comparing the two cars in person (a day apart). I could be very much be way off base on that. But every time I explore a Maverick in person (only a handful of times), I do walk away with "it looks solid but they really went cheap everywhere".

I suppose if I stick with the Maverick, I'll be really offended by my own postings. Serves me right.

I know of a GT500 / 67 engine #s don't match. Wonder how much it's worth -)

 

[Pickles]

This posting is for those of you on the forum who, like me, are still not quite sure about the Maverick (and like me, you might have one on order). But maybe you haven't looked at the Santa Cruz in person because you don't like the styling or think it's too expensive.

This is NOT intended as some kind of antagonistic posting to troll Maverick owners. Folks, I have a Maverick on order and a Ford Ranger in my driveway. I'm a lifelong Ford truck guy (well, I'm wavering).

I placed my order 3 Sep of last year. I ordered a Maverick because I preferred the conventional styling, the slightly longer bed, and the really powerful Ecoboost engine with a conventional automatic. I like my little luxuries, so the bottom line for the XLT ECO 360 LUX SIBL, including delivery, is $30,500. But I've been kind of wincing at how cheap Ford went on everything. I've seen the truck in person, and it definitely does not impress. And the postings here just reinforce that constantly.

So I decided that darn it, I was gonna go check out the competition. I went to look at a similarly equipped Santa Cruz SEL that costs about $2,000 LESS than the Maverick I have on order. Long story short, it impressed.

• The Santa Cruz is way more appealing in person than in pictures. I liked it a lot. It has presence. A neighbor has one and loves it. It looks good going down the street.
• I was impressed by little things, like a composite bed and sound insulation under the hood. And a waterproof storage compartment in the bed.
• Closing the doors, hood, or tailgate on the Maverick vs the Santa Cruz just screams "CHEAP". I'm not being a troll here, the quality difference just jumped out at me in a big way. I don't necessarily hate cheap. My crude 2010 Ranger is cheap, and I've loved that cheap hunk of junk for 102,000 safe and reliable miles.
• The CP360 safety features I want, like blind spot, etc - they're all standard on the Santa Cruz.
• All the rotary shift haters will roll their eyes, but I wish the Santa Cruz didn't have a conventional shift lever. It looks like an antique.
• The interior just blew the Maverick out of the water. Except for the stupid piano black. I mean there was no comparison - these vehicles are not in the same league. The higher quality of the rear view camera really stood out. The software just blows the Ford out of the water.
• The bed had higher sides and was a half foot shorter. I don't care about the length, but I prefer the Maverick sides. Easier for a boomer to reach into the bed.
• The paint quality really impressed. Again, quality of materials jumped out at me everywhere I looked.
• I loved the little foot step indents in the bumper
• Same bed cubbies and lighting as the Maverick
• A bit smaller in the rear seat. Which is a non-issue for me as I really want a two door trucket in the first place.
• Mileage wasn't all that different from the Eco I ordered. And again, you give up a lot of horsepower on the lower trim Santa Cruz trucklets. So not for those who thirst after horsepower.

Bottom line is that I walked away seriously impressed with the lower trim Santa Cruz SEL. I have no build date for my constrained Maverick order and I need a Hobbit Truck sooner than later. And I walked away from the in-person review thinking "I can save $2,000 and get the same functionality sooner and with a ten year warranty". On the other hand, I'm thinking "Or I could stick with the Maverick and have all that horsepower and no piano black (but cheap hard plastics)". I'm thinking it over.

Bottom line. If you're wavering like me, I'd say go test drive a Santa Cruz in one of the lower trims (SE or SEL). You might find yourself pleasantly surprised. I'd love to hear the impressions of others who actually physically compared the two cars (sorry, trucks).

Nice read. I thought the santa cruz had more power. Does the base not have the 2.5 turbo?

 

[Stealth Raccoon]

I do think the Santa Cruz is going to be a great vehicle for a lot of people - I feel like the Maverick is 70% truck and 30% CUV while the Santa Cruz is more like 60% CUV and 40% truck. I have a coworker who is actually interested in the Santa Cruz, because she’s used to an SUV, but would like the utility of the truck bed.

 

[Scott Asheville]

Nice read. I thought the santa cruz had more power. Does the base not have the 2.5 turbo?

The lower trim SC all come with a 2.5 liter normally aspirated engine with only 191 horsepower. I don't hate turbos or anything, but the turbo comes with a DCT, and I've owned a DCT and not liked it much. And you really pay through the nose for those trims.

 

[Deleted member 14823]

I traded in a 2019 Hyundai Veloster for my Maverick. Keep that in mind when I say that for me the Santa Cruz was too over the top styling-wise. I feel like Hyundai has gone off the deep end in 2022 with their design language (similar to, in my opinion, what Toyota and Lexus have done in the past 5-10 years). The whole giant grill thing puts me off. It might be okay for some sports cars, but in everything else it's kind of silly to me.

I really like the simple design approach Ford took with the Maverick. The only thing missing in my opinion is that nobody competes with that incredible Hyundai warranty.

 

[Scott Asheville]

I had a great laugh just now. I'm not making this up. And I didn't go on some internet search looking for Ford engine fires or anything. I swear it.

So I had spent way too much time this afternoon on MTC and this thread (thanks to all for giving me great comments to contemplate). I decided to browse some of my favorite gadget sites before a run. In the back of my mind was an earlier posting about Hyundai engine fires. It had my attention and I was thinking about it. "Yea, that's maybe a really good point for going with Ford and the Maverick."

So what is the headline on the first gadget blog I land on? Again, this was totally random chance. I started laughing when I read it, because what are the odds?

https://www.slashgear.com/870395/the-scary-reason-ford-just-recalled-thousands-of-suvs/

 

[Scott Asheville]

>> I feel like Hyundai has gone off the deep end in 2022 with their design language

Agreed. The only company that has gone more insane is BMW with those gigantic noses.

 

[KenC]

I agree on the in person appeal. It’s bigger in person. Feels and looks robust. As someone who has bought new Hyundai’s in 1987, 1995, 2003, 2007, and 2012, it’s the $3.55 part in the middle of the engine that cost $3000 to fix that scares me, or the brittle plastic gear in the steering column that tends to break, or the motor replacements that seem to be a huge thing lately for Hyundai and Kia. Though the initial build quality feels and looks amazing, it seems to start falling apart quickly, or start squeaking as your drivers seat rocks slightly back when you press the gas pedal. It looks really great though in all seriousness, but I’ll take my chances on the “cheap” Ford this time for once.

Sponsored