The Best Compact Pickup Trucks You Can Buy in 2025

Small trucks are staging a comeback—and more could be on their way.

Can you believe it? We're summarizing MotorTrend's Ultimate Car Rankings, which ranks every vehicle in every segment sold in America, and compact pickup trucks are a entirely separate category now! Or would that be again? Small rigs such as these were feared extinct for years—even trucks that, in previous lives were compacts have recently re-emerged as larger midsize models. We're talking about the Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, and Chevy Colorado, of course. That means so far, the pickups that make up the compact truck segment are new, with new names. So far, the segment is as tiny as the trucks, with only the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz competing for size- and price-conscious pickup shoppers. But rumor has it Toyota and others could be getting into the game... We'll include those if or when they arrive, so for now, here's how the compact pickup truck segment shakes out:

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT 14

2. 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz | MT Score: 8.5/10

Hyundai has a genuinely good compact truck in the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Much as the Maverick is related to its Bronco Sport SUV kin, the Santa Cruz is essentially a Tucson compact crossover SUV with a small truck bed. But while the Maverick has the look of a truck, the Santa Cruz maintains the slicker lines of its crossover sibling and has a less utilitarian feel overall, though a new-for-2025 XRT off-road trim butches the appearance up nicely with more aggressive tires and red-painted tow hooks. And of course, the Santa Cruz is able to tow and haul more than the more popular Maverick, though the Hyundai’s minuscule (and not particularly tall) 4-foot bed hinders making practical use of all that capability. The Santa Cruz’s carlike chassis means it drives very well, but it’s not as utilitarian as the Maverick—nor does it offer a hybrid powertrain option. Instead, it makes do with a pair of 2.5-liter I-4s: a naturally aspirated unit or a thirsty and expensive turbocharged option.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT 31

2. 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

Striking design
Great road manners
More utility than a comparable crossover

Cons

Why not buy a Maverick?
Tiny 4-foot bed
Expensive with the turbo-four

SPECIFICATIONS

Base Price	$30,100
Engines	2.5L 191-hp/181-lb-ft I-4; 2.5L 281-hp/311-lb-ft turbo I-4
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/comb)	18–22/26–30/21–25 mpg
Max Towing Capacity	5,000 lb
Max Payload Capacity	1,749 lb

013 2025 ford maverick pickup

1. 2025 Ford Maverick | MT Score: 9.1/10

A few do genuinely need the ability to tow or haul more than three tons of weight every day, but for everyone else, the 2025 Ford Maverick is the right truck. Inexpensive, reasonably capable, and extremely efficient, the Maverick effectively maxes out what a compact truck can do. Driving dynamics and ride quality are great, and even the hybrid variant will accelerate with many midsize and full-size trucks. More important, the Hybrid gets roughly double the fuel economy of other trucks in (and near) its class. Happily, for 2025, the hybrid powertrain (which was made optional previously) is standard again (with the turbo being optional, as it was when the Maverick first launched). The Tremor off-road trim allows for some trail capability, while a new-for-2025 Lobo model resurrects the sport mini-trucks you remember from long, long ago. All Mavericks have a funky interior with unconventional colors and textures.

006 2025 ford maverick pickup seats

1. 2025 Ford Maverick Pros, Cons, and Specs

Pros

Efficient hybrid powertrain
Outstanding value
Off-roadable Tremor variant

Cons

Lower towing and payload than Hyundai Santa Cruz
Single cab/bed configuration
Short seat cushions

SPECIFICATIONS

Base Price	$28,590
Engines	2.5L 191-hp/155-lb-ft hybrid I-4; 2.0L 238-hp/275-lb-ft turbo I-4
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/comb)	20–42/24–33/21–37 mpg
Max Towing Capacity	4,000 lb
Max Payload Capacity	1,500 lb