I Drove The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz; It's The Best (And Only) Alternative To The Ford MaverickAutoblogChase BierenkovenTue, September 22, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.For many, many long years, simply buying "less truck" wasn't really an option in America. If you had an F-150 and wanted "less truck," you'd go get a Ranger, or a Tacoma, or something mid-sized that is actually the same size as a full-sized truck from 15 years ago. We were totally bereft of options for small trucks in the US until the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz came along.Now, years after their debut, the two are still going strong, but they're undeniably alone in the segment (at least until Slate's electric option hits the market). To find out what 50% of the compact truck segment is like in 2026, we took a new Santa Cruz for a spin.Thinking about selling your car? Get an instant cash offer online now. Click here to get started.Powertrain And Driving Experience: 8/10Chase BierenkovenView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis vehicle is the Santa Cruz XRT, which means the little truck is more capable than its compatriots. That, however, means a higher price (more below). It also means a more powerful engine, producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. More basic Santa Cruz trims make do with front-wheel drive and 191 horsepower. They're a bit more efficient, at 25 mpg combined. This is a double-edged sword.The Santa Cruz XRT is more fun and more capable, but the meager 20 mpg combined falls behind its chief rival, the AWD Maverick Tremor, which nets 23 combined – nearly as much as the front-drive Maverick without the economy-sapping off-road goodies.Still, the XRT and this turbocharged engine feel plenty zippy, and the 8-speed automatic shifts downright fast. The carlike body structure also means the Santa Cruz is genuinely pleasant to drive compared to larger body-on-frame trucks.Shopping for a new car? Click here to get a great deal on your next vehicle. Powered by Carvana, no haggle pricing, 100% online.Interior And Technology: 8/10Chase BierenkovenView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Santa Cruz's 12.3-inch touchscreen is about as good as screens get at this price point. It's a touch smaller than the rival Mav's, but I didn't really notice. The resolution is great, the animations are quick and snappy, and the screen doesn't bury a ton of the truck's key functions behind useless submenus. Hyundai even retains some physical climate controls for usability's sake, which I always appreciate. That goes double for the steering wheel controls.Chase BierenkovenThe cluster is similarly responsive and snappy, if a little limited in its functionality. Only a single column can be shuffled around to display metrics and media. There's plenty of charging, though, with four fast-charging USB-C ports and, when not charging, you can still use phone projection, like CarPlay, wirelessly. Upper trims like this one also get a wireless charging tray, though it's a bit poorly ventilated.Tight back seats make the truck a tough sell for some families.Chase BierenkovenThings take a turn in back. The rear visibility is atrocious, and the seats are flat in front and in back. More than that, legroom for rear occupants is truly subpar, even for a small truck. It'd be tough to squeeze a child seat in here. Luckily, the interior quality feels on-point for the price, which sort of saves this interior right at the buzzer.Exterior Design: 10/10Chase BierenkovenView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementI'm a big fan of the Santa Cruz's adventurous design language. It's edgy, it's a little weird, and it works. The Maverick is very much a truck's truck, and it's nice to see that Hyundai isn't just trying to beat Ford by way of emulation. The truck takes some risks with its looks, and I think Hyundai's designers were rewarded in their efforts.Towing And Hauling: x/10Chase BierenkovenView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleThe Santa Cruz will tow 5,000 pounds, which is pretty impressive for a small unibody truck, though I shudder to think what the fuel economy returns are while pulling a trailer. No matter what, that's another 1,000 pounds up on the Maverick. Regardless, you'll need a trailer brake controller done in the aftermarket – Hyundai doesn't give you one – to tow that much. The 4.5-foot bed is short, but it features an adjustable tailgate so you can haul 4x8s of plywood, and a clever in-bed trunk that's also watertight.The Santa Cruz gets a 4.5-foot bed.Chase BierenkovenPricing And Value: 7/10Chase BierenkovenThe elephant in the room is the Ford Maverick. It's cheaper in every instance, full stop. However, the Maverick is mired in recalls, and Ford's warranties can't match Hyundai's. The Koreans offer a massive five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This killer warranty value helps level out the money, but you'll spend a bit of that at the pump given the upper trim level's thirsty drivetrain.Verdict: A Sensible Compact Alternative To An SUV (And The Ford Maverick) – 8/10The Santa Cruz is a seriously good value.Chase BierenkovenAdvertisementAdvertisementThere isn't really anything else out there like the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Its high towing limits, killer warranty, strong powertrain, and unique looks make it an excellent alternative to the Ford Maverick. While the Ford is cheaper, the Hyundai feels very much worth the extra dollars on the points above. There may not be a lot of compact trucks out there right now, but the Santa Cruz has certainly earned its spot in the segment.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.