Santa Cruz owner, looking over the fence

[SirNotAppearing]

Long time lurker, I researched both trucklets extensively before finally going with a 2024 Santa Cruz. I absolutely loved it, but some kids flipped their Land Cruiser into me at a stop sign and now I'm shopping again.

For me, the biggest pluses for the Maverick are the hybrid drivetrain and aftermarket support. Is everybody still waiting for their hybrids, or do they finally have some on lots? Also it sounds like Ford has been removing standard equipment over time. What's been removed since the 2022s?

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[RichardCranium]

The grass is greener over here, my friend.
I looked into both when buying mine. I have the 2024 XL with 4 k tow and all wheel drive and cp360. The Santa Cruze could have towed my trailer stock with 3500 lbs towing capacity, but with less power, less features, and worse gas mileage. Once I added the accessories I would have needed, it would have come in several thousand more expensive.
In the end, I went with the maverick and I am glad I did. I only have 1500 miles on my Maverick, so far I love it. Only problem so far is a whacky TPMS sensor.

 

[RichardCranium]

Oh, and sorry to hear about your accident. I am glad you are ok

 

[Clarkdonbran]

 

[colinl]

welcome. yes, if you care about mpg most, you should definitely get a maverick hybrid. if your santa cruz was a turbo, I would say get a maverick ecoboost awd or at least drive one to see what you would be missing.

if you're considering used the prior trim levels does matter. here's a super fast non-authoritative list from memory:

22 -

1. First Edition available. unique graphics, black painted roof and mirrors, hybrid FE included 18" optional wheel- same wheel on my truck in my profile pic. FE is the only way to get rapid red paint.
2. XL does not have cruise control. can be added with parts and forscan (ecu modification device).
3. lariat luxury models have heated windshield.

23 -

1. XL now has cruise standard.
2. velocity blue paint is gone, replaced by atlas blue.
3. Tremor available. only Tremor can select avalanche grey paint.
4. Lariat lux loses heated windshield.
5. Lariat lux requires a separate option, CP360 Assist, for adaptive cruise control.
6. Black Appearance Package available on XLT and Lariat
7. Hybrid price increase.

24 -

1. cyber orange paint is gone, terrain (light beige) replaces it.
2. Tremor graphics can be deleted.
3. all lariats are lariat lux and ACC standard.
4. BAP now requires XLT lux or lariat.
5. FX4 now requires 4K tow, but 4K tow can still be optioned separately
6. fwd ecoboost is now standard, effectively a hybrid price increase.
7. All trim levels price increase.
8. (forgot this one originally, sorry to my fellow audiophiles) lariat lux B&O amp changes packaging, size, color. same fuse rating, but unknown at this time if power (watts) changed.

 

[colinl]

they also dinked with whether the spray in bedliner was included/required in lariat lux in '23 & '24, threw in the drop-in bedliner in XLT lux for '24, took away the ability to option the interior 400w 120v plug, and a few other little changes like that.

 

[Scott Asheville]

OP, don't forget the 2025 Santa Cruz update. They really did a nice job inside. Alas, still no hybrid. But I have a feeling Hyundai might have a hybrid and or BEV SC up their sleeves soon. Just a hunch.

If you've lurked here as you say, you already know all the pros and cons of the Maverick hybrid. I'd be really interested in your experiences with your SC, as I came -this- close to buying one. And it's still on my list if I don't like the 2025 Maverick refresh.

Really only one thing held me back from the SC. I wanted the extra power of the turbo engine without the DCT. Aside from that, I considered and still consider the Maverick and SC to be running neck and neck. I'm the odd man out on this forum because of that.

Edit - somebody took umbrage that I said I wanted the higher powered SC engine. I meant high power compared to the base SC engine, not the Maverick turbo.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Also 2024- Lariat adds full size spare (Well almost full size- lol ) 2024 Removes factory Door keypad-

 

[EONR24]

they also dinked with whether the spray in bedliner was included/required in lariat lux in '23 & '24, threw in the drop-in bedliner in XLT lux for '24, took away the ability to option the interior 400w 120v plug, and a few other little changes like that.

This may be a dumb question, but do any Mavericks have a rear defrost option. I thought none of them did but thought maybe lariat's do?

 

[colinl]

Really only one thing held me back from the SC. I wanted the extra power of the turbo engine without the DCT. Aside from that, I considered and still consider the Maverick and SC to be running neck and neck. I'm the odd man out on this forum because of that.

you gotta be kidding me. I've driven a SC turbo and it is not noticeably faster than a Maverick because the small power advantage is lost by the vehicle weighing on average 400 pounds more than a Maverick awd. the dual clutch transmission is balky which is entirely hyundai's fault - I've had dual-clutch sequentials in 2 previous vehicles and they were GREAT. it's not the technology, it's that specific application.

then you have the bed that's too small to haul a MTB on the tailgate. (the rear wheel of my bike is within 6" of the end of my Maverick bed, and the SC is 6" shorter. oops, guess hyundai didn't check that.) and the reach-over to put things in the bed is higher than the Maverick. smaller and taller, great.

I do prefer the interior quality. It's not the styling of them, it's that the SC has good materials and the Mav is cheap recycled plastic.

Maverick wins bigtime for cosmetics. It looks better and it looks like a little truck. The SC looks like a modern Subaru Outbrat / Baja. I guess that's good if you wanted that, but I wanted a truck.

 

[colinl]

This may be a dumb question, but do any Mavericks have a rear defrost option. I thought none of them did but thought maybe lariat's do?

heated rear glass was advertised as a feature in the '22 Lariat Lux but there are no filaments, unlike the '22 LL front windshield.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Santa Cruz! My previous vehicle was rear-ended and totaled two months ago, and that's how I ended up here myself.

I found a used 2023 XLT with the additional "XLT Luxury" package, and I consider it well-equipped. The things I am missing, everybody else is missing from the factory too: fog lights, center console organizer, LED signal/marker lights, a decent damn stereo, etc. As you point out, the aftermarket options are plentiful.

I never considered a hybrid because i wanted AWD, but my casual observations suggest everyone who has a hybrid that is not in the shop loves it. They are less vocal than the ones who drew the short straw on battery issues and recalls, etc.

The hunt for just the right option/color/drivetrain example will be exciting. Good luck!

 

[BlueMav43]

heated rear glass was advertised as a feature in the '22 Lariat Lux but there are no filaments, unlike the '22 LL front windshield.

My Jan 2024 built Lariat Hybrid does not have rear defrost. It does have power sliding rear window.

 

[EONR24]

heated rear glass was advertised as a feature in the '22 Lariat Lux but there are no filaments, unlike the '22 LL front windshield.

Even though it was adveritsed, it never was an option that came on Mavericks correct? Looks like from my research no 2022-2024 Mavericks have rear defrost from the factory.

 

[colinl]

Even though it was adveritsed, it never was an option that came on Mavericks correct? Looks like from my research no 2022-2024 Mavericks have rear defrost from the factory.

that correct as far as I know. from the start they had supply chain issues and fairly early in MY22 they switched from the dual-zone climate control having temp displayed to the current plain knobs. (oops, there's another change I forgot. )

it could possibly be that a very early production '22 lariat lux has rear glass that actually has defroster elements in it. the way it was intended to work was linked to the heated outside mirrors. when those are on, the rear glass defrost was to be on.

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