Compact pickup trucks have surged in popularity in recent years, with the vehicles offering more affordable running costs than their larger midsize and full-size equivalents. At the same time, they still retain the practicality needed to make them usable as not only everyday workhorses, but daily family machines too. Ford's Maverick has illustrated this in devastating fashion, with the model's sales figures doubling from 74,370 to over 155,000 units in just three years.Hyundai's Santa Cruz has failed to capitalize on the clear market potential, primarily because it lacks the durability of its American rival. Still, it is the more refined road option, ensuring it's ideal for those who only need it to carry out light work. The only thing you have to work out is if you want a brand-new base version, or a used range-topping specimen. The 2026 Santa Cruz Starts From Just Under $30,000 Hyundai Should the idea of a brand-new Santa Cruz compact truck resonate with you, then you should be prepared to hand over at least $29,750. This will get you a vehicle in base SE trim without any optional extras, which means you'll have standard equipment such as a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, basic air conditioning, as well as manually adjustable cloth seats for your money. You do get a good range of safety equipment though, such as a rearview camera, Lane Keep Assist, as well as Forward Collision Avoidance. Depreciation Means You Can Get A Higher-End Limited For The Same Money Hyundai The thing is, when spending a considerable amount on a vehicle, you want as much equipment and on-road refinement as you can get. Many buyers would love to get their hands on the range-topping Limited trim, which comes with a more powerful engine and a ton of extra standard features over and above the SE. A 2026 edition will set you back $43,700, putting it well clear of its lesser-equipped sibling.Take a look at the used market though, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Opt for a pre-facelift 2022 or 2023 example, and you'll be faced with a wide range of used Santa Cruz Limited's at around or well below $29k, the same price as a new SE. CarBuzz's Marketplace clearly illustrates this, as the average sale price of the machine currently stands at $27,138. Take a black 2023 specimen currently offered as of March 2026 as a good example. With just over 17,000 miles on the clock, the truck is on the market right now for $28,865. The Santa Cruz Limited Is Much More Powerful Than The SE Hyundai One thing you will have to forego by opting for an older version is the facelifted styling, though some may prefer the older one anyway. Aside from this, the newer versions come with more handy physical buttons for the infotainment and climate controls, as well as an updated infotainment screen. One thing you would lose by opting for a 2026 SE is grunt, however. While the base version gets a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four that produces 191 horsepower, the Limited comes with a turbocharged version of the engine with 281 hp at its disposal. Alongside this, the Limited also gets a traction-boosting four-wheel drive system, whereas the SE has to make do with sending its grunt to the front wheels.These benefits also make the Limited a more effective workhorse, given that it can tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the FWD SE can only deal with 3,500 pounds. The Limited also comes with a useful Tow mode, which optimizes the engine and transmission characteristics to make towing larger cargo easier. Drivers who prioritize fuel efficiency may prefer the lighter and less powerful SE though, considering its 25 MPG average figure is well ahead of the Limited's 20 MPG combined value. The Limited Trim Comes With Way More Toys Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet Aside from providing more pulling power, the Santa Cruz will also shower you with extra creature comforts. A heated leather steering wheel is provided, as are eight-way powered seats with heating and cooling functionality finished in the material. A premium Bose audio system is also thrown in for the cost, while dual-zone climate control also makes an appearance. The good news doesn't stop there either, as some other extras include heated mirrors, body-colored trim, blind-spot assist, and a built-in tonneau cover.If you can get over the fact that your Santa Cruz Limited isn't showroom fresh, it's difficult to argue that the level of extra performance and standard features it offers isn't worth the price of going used. Especially considering plenty of specimens are around with comfortable under 20,000 miles on the clock, which is practically brand-new anyway. The Santa Cruz Isn't As Versatile A Work Truck As Its American Rival Ford On the face of it, the Santa Cruz compares well to its Maverick rival when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of which is the best work truck. The Limited version can tow up to 5,000 pounds, a full 1,000 pounds more than the most capable Maverick can manage. The Ford's stronger construction ensures it can deal with more weight in its bed though, as its 1,500 payload figure puts it around 90 pounds clear of the Santa Cruz. In fact, we were so impressed by the Maverick that we named it CarBuzz's favourite truck for 2026.The Maverick also has a slightly longer bed to the tune of two inches, as well as an extra inch of total depth. The Santa Cruz's loading bay is at least half an inch wider, but the Maverick will prove the more versatile of the two when it comes to the cargo sizes you can carry. The extra payload capacity will also prove handy, with the Ford's stronger design likely to last longer before it starts suffering from structural issues, too. The Santa Cruz performs admirably as a rival to the Maverick, but it's much better suited as a road-focused proposition. It's nicer to drive and more refined on the black stuff, and acts as more of a practical SUV rather than a proper get-down-and-dirty truck. Hyundai's Compact Truck Shows How Badly It Wants To Crack The US Market Hyundai The Korean marque has been on a sustained quest over the last couple of decades to make it big in the US, and its efforts are paying dividends. Having shifted 458,000 vehicles in 2005, the brand managed to sell over 853,000 in the nation throughout 2025. Capturing a big slice of the pickup truck market is a key way of boosting the number considerably further, hence the introduction of the Santa Cruz into a market that was only occupied by the Maverick.The Santa Cruz's weak sales performance can only really be seen as a failure, and Hyundai is currently thinking about discontinuing it beyond the 2026 model year. Even so, the model acts as a key chapter in Hyundai's US journey, with the brand looking to right these wrongs by introducing a new body-on-frame midsize truck. This will mean taking on heavyweights such as the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and the upcoming Dodge Dakota.If it can nail this more durable truck model, Hyundai will move a step closer to emulating what Toyota has achieved in the US. The Tacoma is consistently the best-selling midsize truck in the US, while the Tundra also performs solidly against the likes of the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series, and Ram 1500 full-size trucks. If the Santa Cruz was Hyundai dipping a toe in the truck waters, its new mid-size proposition is it taking a dive bomb.Sources: Ford, Hyundai.