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

[JASmith]

Very strange that highest trims do not have wireless CarPlay. The lack of color options is also odd . No red only the Tucson has had which has same grill as cruz .

Something about licensing for the widescreen I think, which isn't an issue on the base ones which are normal aspect ratio. Yeah, I was hoping they would have a desert rose red or something like that to fit with their theme. Tucson actually has a different grill than the Santa Cruz though, just similar design. They used fewer chunkier slats in the grill, I guess to make it look more rugged.

Sponsored

 

[Nw_adventure]

I have a GT500 / 67 engine #s don't match lol

What condition ? My painter friend took his apart years ago, not sure it will get all prettied up anytime soon- sad face.

 

[sanpablo]

What condition ? My painter friend took his apart years ago, not sure it will get all prettied up anytime soon- sad face.

Driver quality. Bought it in 1986 ($5500) $3500 paint job back then, went through suspension, brakes, fuel, exhaust etc... drives nice. Fuel economy LOL!!!!

 

[RBElectrical]

Just glancing at their site, it appears to get Leather and some of the nicer options like heated steering wheel puts you into the Limited which starts at 40K. The built comes out to 42K with tow hitch. It does come with a couple options over the Lariat like Standard sunroof and Ventilated seats, but that is a whole lot more than a well equipped Lariat. An AWD Lariat with Lux is $35K. That's a whole lot less money than 42K to get a vehicle with leather and towing capability. @$42K that's getting a bit rich for a small car/truck.

 

[cavemold]

Just glancing at their site, it appears to get Leather and some of the nicer options like heated steering wheel puts you into the Limited which starts at 40K. The built comes out to 42K with tow hitch. It does come with a couple options over the Lariat like Standard sunroof and Ventilated seats, but that is a whole lot more than a well equipped Lariat. An AWD Lariat with Lux is $35K. That's a whole lot less money than 42K to get a vehicle with leather and towing capability. @$42K that's getting a bit rich for a small car/truck.

Which is even crazier you deck out a maverick with extra extra stuff and still be cheaper

 

[cavemold]

Something about licensing for the widescreen I think, which isn't an issue on the base ones which are normal aspect ratio. Yeah, I was hoping they would have a desert rose red or something like that to fit with their theme. Tucson actually has a different grill than the Santa Cruz though, just similar design. They used fewer chunkier slats in the grill, I guess to make it look more rugged.

Oh ok . Yea give it that outdoor vibe . That’s very weird but ok . I saw wrapped cruz and it looked nice

 

[Akuma72387]

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.

- EDIT BY OP - I was wrong in the next para. The equivalent build SC is $400 more than my Maverick build, not $2,000 cheaper.

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).

I have driven both and I prefer my maverick (XLT FX4 4K Eco AWD with 360) and mine was $30,450 before maine state tax which was MSRP. The SC just didn't feel right to me.

 

[Akuma72387]

I've owned a Maverick XL EB FWD for 1 month and have driven it 1800 miles. I have also owned many Hyundai/Kia cars and currently have a Genesis G70.

I don't hate the Santa Cruz or any Hyundai. But in my daily usage, I must disagree with the "cheap" assessment you've made of the Maverick. It is not a luxury car for sure, but it seems well built and durable. The doors don't sound cheap to me. Driving the Maverick puts a stupid smile on my face for some reason - there is something so very cheerful about it.

I'm sure the SC is a great truck. But having experienced the Maverick now for a month, there's no doubt I've made the right choice with the hybrid (I never wanted an EB).

I say if you can hold out and wait, hold out. You can always sell the Maverick after delivery if it is not what you wanted it to be. I just sold our XL to Carvana for over $10,000 more than we paid.

I have had mine since late October and the only problem I had with mine was a bad seal on one of the electrical plugs in the wiring harness Ford replaced it and gave me a Free Maintenance and service plan till 80k so mine isn't going anywhere unless it is to trade it in for a 2024 Maverick Lariat (or the sport version if it comes out by then) fully loaded with the Gas motor. The Hybrid wasn't an option for me and I'm glad I didn't get it. I get between 29 and 31 with the Ecoboost depending on how heavy my foot is being that day. Plus I live in Maine and the AWD with the Faulken Wildpeak AT3W tires that came on mine was unstoppable this winter

 

[numike]

new review https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2022/05/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-review-style-over-utility/

 

[Bobby130]

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.

- EDIT BY OP - I was wrong in the next para. The equivalent build SC is $400 more than my Maverick build, not $2,000 cheaper.

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).

The reason for the 10 year warranty is your going to need it. Have you heard the Hyundais and Kias have a fire problem? I haven’t seen a SC up close but I will go to the dealer to ck one out. I haven’t ordered a Maverick yet. Iam not going to pay $5or 10 g markup. I will wait to order one. Inane a 2020 Nissan Versa that gets over 40 mpg so I don’t have to buy now. I really like the Maverick though. I am a Ford guy. Bobby

 

[Cphil0909]

new review https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2022/05/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-review-style-over-utility/

The author of this review is way off on the age demographic. https://www.santacruzforums.com/threads/how-old-is-everyone.9957/post-198729

 

[dalola]

new review https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2022/05/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-review-style-over-utility/

I'd say that pretty well sums it up.....

 

[James Smith]

It

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.

- EDIT BY OP - I was wrong in the next para. The equivalent build SC is $400 more than my Maverick build, not $2,000 cheaper.

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).

Great comparison
'Maverick is a " Car Truck " for me, that looks like a mini F 150 . ( or could say an SUV Truck ) I just got mine and it's great. I decided to keep my super basic 2007 Ranger " Truck " for those Truck jobs .

 

[Maverick2022XL]

After finally seeing a Santa Cruz in person my personal observations. It is an SUV with a bed while a the Maverick is a compact truck. I can understand why Hyundia went this route with styling. The target markets are different and Hyundia is not a "truck" company so design a SAV for white collar types vs a meat and potatoes more utalitarian work truck for blue collar types which Ford is already known for. If Hyundia went direcly against Ford or the other 'truck" companies the Santa Cruz would have been a total financial failure since truck people wouldn't and for the most part don't take Hyundia seriously for work vehicles in the US.

I didn't get to drive one so it maybe a capable light duty work truck but the price point and styling I wouldn't want to pay to find out.

 

[Deleted member 14823]

new review https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2022/05/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-review-style-over-utility/

The white SC really reveals how goofy the notches on the wheel well moldings look. Reminds me of the little tabs you'd have to trim off of a plastic model.

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