Santa Cruz not as weird looking as I expected.

[uh50]

Saw my first Santa Cruz on the roads. I have to say, it wasn’t as weird or unconventional looking as I expected. Different, yes, but not totally freakish. Have yet to see a Maverick “live and in-person.” Still like the looks of the Ford much better!

I was considering several options for a truck before the Maverick was introduced. I did not care for the growth of the Colorado, Canyon, Ranger, and there is no Ram/Dodge midsize. I really like the Ram single cab but my wife insists on have seating for four or five. I've had plenty of full size trucks and since retiring, don't need their capabilities.

I kind'a like the newest Frontier looks, but like the Tacoma and Ridgeline the revenue goes someplace other than the US. Oh, I know all the arguments about buying foreign brands, but the bottom line is that when we purchase those we are enriching foreign companies at the expense of domestic brands. I'm kinda torn at Chrysler/Jeep/Ram & Dodge since they are a subsidiary of Stellantis based in the Netherlands. Makes me wonder how much influence Fiat and Peugeot have on Chrysler, etc.? There are several Fiat designed vehicles sprinkled through the Ram and Jeep lines already. I was intrigued by the Santa Cruz and even considered looking at it (shutter). I really like the Gladiator but it was too expensive for my retirement.

Bottom line is that I had almost settled on buying a 20 year old Dakota, ZRX, or Ranger and restoring it, but then the Maverick came along and solved my little truck dilemma. Thank you Ford.

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[uh50]

I've owned an Element a couple of times, it was a great vehicle (Element Owners Club represent). But it had 2 things going against it - the charm/appeal was polarizing enough that it cut into sales and created a niche market it just couldn't break out from. As Honda attempted to make it more SUV-like (painted panels, then the more standard/truck-like front end), it lost the appeal to the niche buyers, but retained the stigma of the original looks for potential new buyers! The first 3-4 years it solidly sold 60K units/year. That was cut by 80% by the time it was discontinued.

Also, back in 2003 you could get the stripped DX for like $14K with AWD - that was an appealing and affordable price point for its target market.

When I look at the Maverick, I see a Honda Element in terms of practicality, without the polarizing look. Oh, and I'm getting better MPG with an engine that has 90 more horsepower - black magic.

The Element truly had no equal though! It swallowed a love seat whole, gate closed. That was a one-of-a-kind feature you won't find outside of a van.

I think we can compare the Maverick target marketing is similar to that of the Model T and Mustang when they first came out. The Dodge/Plymouth K car also comes to mind, but of course the Maverick is much better looking.

 

[bgillen35]

The Santa Cruz doesn't look that bad from the outside, definitely not bad enough that it would have deterred me from considering it. What did deter me from the SC though was the interior (and the price tbh). I cannot stand everything being touch screen and the Maverick has way more practicality with cubies for the phones, wallet, keys, etc. For whatever reason, I am probably the most excited to be able to put my phone in the little holder below the center console and have it stand upright for me to see. Probably has something to do with my OCD....

Don't get me wrong, the exterior does matter to some extent, but to me the interior matters way more.

 

[Enderet]

I like it a lot. If the Maverick had not become an option, and heck, if they were being priced fairly by dealerships, I would have gone for one. But, like others have said, anything other than the base trim doesnt have knobs on the center console and I hated that. Additionally, the thing I liked the most about it, the optional retractable tonneau, is not an option on the base model, so you have to go up a trim and get the package that comes with it. By then, the price on it was somewhere at/above 30k, and by that point it was stupid to go for one of those over a Maverick (in my case). I do like the warranty on it though.

 

[PIJane]

Like the Element, my old Honda FIT had crazy-deceptive space and capability. (Actually got a 17’ ft Christmas tree home in her one year!!). She is on her last leg and I ordered the Maverick although I mostly need the “truck” bed for the summer. We are fortunate to have a summer place, and I still debate getting a Hyundai Kona and a used Pickman over the Maverick since we live in a city for more than half the year. I am good at parallel parking a FIT…the Mav might take some practice!

 

[vezpa]

The dealerships around me all have them in stock. No Mavericks. It is an ugly yuppie vehicle that looks too weird and will not sell 1/4 of the numbers the Maverick will.

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[FloodingdowninTX]

The Santa Cruz reminds me too much of the Subaru Brat back in the day. Watched a few SC videos and the interior is too "fou-fou" for me. I like the utilitarian looks of the Maverick better. Still wish Honda would bring back the Element, which is why I'm jumping ship after 23 years of Honda ownership.

Brief casual inspection at a grocery parking lot. Looks kind of like the original Taurus soap bar, or less kindly the Pacer blob IMO.

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

Brief casual inspection at a grocery parking lot. Looks kind of like the original Taurus soap bar, or less kindly the Pacer blob IMO.

OMG...I remember Pacers from back in the day. Only thing uglier was the Gremlin. My mother had one for a rental car while her VW was getting fixed. This was back in the really early 80's, if memory serves.

 

[CASD57]

I think both vehicles are great..but focus on different buyers...
The Cruz is a Sport Truck... That handles and feels like a SUV
The Maverick is a Truck/PIckup that drives/feels like a truck...
I wanted out from a "Truck" I had a Chevy Avalanche..hated it a big boat lol
Drove a Maverick XLT and didn't care for the drivers experience.. it drove like a small truck, nothing wrong with that but not what I wanted
Drove a SE Santa Cruz....Fell in love with it and bought it that night... and it was under $28000
My combined MPG avg for 100% city is 23mpg
My interstate..29-30mpg
People try to tell you the non-turbo is slow....lol
The SC FWD will light up the tires.
It's all about what you want in a truck.... I wanted a car/SUV feel that can do truck things
So I bought a Santa Cruz and let the dealer sell my XL AWD I ordered and I'm letting the other dealer have the Lariat Hybrid that finally got a build date 1/31/22 a week or so ago that I ordered in June...
Happy Camper here
Two great Trucks that needed to be built!

 

[PIJane]

I think both vehicles are great..but focus on different buyers...
The Cruz is a Sport Truck... That handles and feels like a SUV
The Maverick is a Truck/PIckup that drives/feels like a truck...
I wanted out from a "Truck" I had a Chevy Avalanche..hated it a big boat lol
Drove a Maverick XLT and didn't care for the drivers experience.. it drove like a small truck, nothing wrong with that but not what I wanted
Drove a SE Santa Cruz....Fell in love with it and bought it that night... and it was under $28000
My combined MPG avg for 100% city is 23mpg
My interstate..29-30mpg
People try to tell you the non-turbo is slow....lol
The SC FWD will light up the tires.
It's all about what you want in a truck.... I wanted a car/SUV feel that can do truck things
So I bought a Santa Cruz and let the dealer sell my XL AWD I ordered and I'm letting the other dealer have the Lariat Hybrid that finally got a build date 1/31/22 a week or so ago that I ordered in June...
Happy Camper here
Two great Trucks that needed to be built!

good feedback! I honestly think most people get vehicles with a ton of capability (speed, off-road, etc.) that is nice to have but rarely used. Just passed a Land Rover Defender in Downtown Boston. I have a hunch that $90K+ SUV will never go off-road . Glad you love your Santa Cruz! Enjoy! Hyundai’s are great!!

 

[belmor]

I looked at the Santa Cruz and liked it. My three drawbacks were:
1. Bed Depth-at only 18" deep the bed was useless for me-I carry a 22" tall generator all the time and the cover wouldn't close on the Santa Cruz.
2. Back seat room-was quite cramped.
3. Price-to get the 5,000 tow rating you have to get the SEL Premium which starts at 37,xxx.

My Maverick XLT with every option was $32k so a pretty steep difference.

 

[Frobozz]

I remember watching a YouTube video where they said the Mav was a car-like truck and the Santa Cruz was a truck-like car. I thought that was a very apt description (and I like them both; I just like the Maverick more).

 

[BlueSnake77]

I am contemplating a Santa Cruz. I have to be honest, I'm apprehensive about the 2.0L turbo. I could have reserved a Santa Cruz non-turbo and had it by the end of January. The dealer was even able to print me the window sticker with Vin#. Problem is they only had a turbo model on the lot and I didn't see the sense of driving the turbo version when it has a different motor (in terms of hp) and a DCT instead of an 8 speed auto on the non-turbo.

Big negatives to me on the Santa Cruz. (1) The safety features. Blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist come standard. I don't like that stuff especially the lane keep assist. Some people that have driven cars with it say it is horrible. I want to steer the car, not the other way around. It can be turned off I believe but at this point I don't know if it comes on by default every time you start the vehicle. (2) The gloss black plastics. Terrible in any vehicle. Don't know who the genius was that thought adding shiny black trim that reflects sunlight was a good idea to add to dashboard trim (3) XM radio is standard. Had it on my 2012 Focus and hardly used it. So I let the subscription run out. Well I would get harassed constantly by Sirrus to renew it. Big PITA.

 

[MDmaverick]

I agree that the SC is more for active lifestyle while the Maverick would basically do pickup truck duties. To me, the SC is the right sie vehicle for active lifestyle things( I like the Ridgeline but too large for my needs). I chose the Maverick for the option on a hybrid( to make it my commuter replacement)

I will also amend my statement about the SC’s interior capacitive touch interior controls.The lower trims have a more conventional interior controls and analog gauges. The biggest problem I have is the the economy ratings are average.Hyundai is missing the mark but not including their also excellent hybrid system on this vehicle.

 

[Mavapa]

I was considering several options for a truck before the Maverick was introduced. I did not care for the growth of the Colorado, Canyon, Ranger, and there is no Ram/Dodge midsize. I really like the Ram single cab but my wife insists on have seating for four or five. I've had plenty of full size trucks and since retiring, don't need their capabilities.

I kind'a like the newest Frontier looks, but like the Tacoma and Ridgeline the revenue goes someplace other than the US. Oh, I know all the arguments about buying foreign brands, but the bottom line is that when we purchase those we are enriching foreign companies at the expense of domestic brands. I'm kinda torn at Chrysler/Jeep/Ram & Dodge since they are a subsidiary of Stellantis based in the Netherlands. Makes me wonder how much influence Fiat and Peugeot have on Chrysler, etc.? There are several Fiat designed vehicles sprinkled through the Ram and Jeep lines already. I was intrigued by the Santa Cruz and even considered looking at it (shutter). I really like the Gladiator but it was too expensive for my retirement.

Bottom line is that I had almost settled on buying a 20 year old Dakota, ZRX, or Ranger and restoring it, but then the Maverick came along and solved my little truck dilemma. Thank you Ford.

The Frontier is assembled in Mississippi. Profits might go overseas, but I really don’t care which particular rich person gets the profits as long as some Americans get decent jobs. For the Maverick, those decent jobs are in Mexico.

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