The 2026 Ford Maverick vs. 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: The Definitive Compact Pickup Showdown

Located conveniently at 600 W Memorial Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond proudly offers the 2026 Ford Maverick, a pickup designed to deliver exceptional versatility and value for drivers from Edmond, The Village, Norman, and beyond. When compared with competitors like the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, the Maverick stands out for its unique balance of efficiency, capability, and space—making it the smarter choice for buyers throughout Capitol Hill, Yukon, Bethany, and nearby communities. For personalized service or questions, call us directly at (405) 475-9000.

Table of Contents

• Overview and Recommendation: Why the Maverick Leads
• Introducing the Cast: Maverick Versus Santa Cruz
• Performance and Driving Experience
• Exterior Styling and Presence
• Interior Space, Comfort, and Cabin Quality
• Technology and Connectivity Features
• Safety and Driver Assistance Innovations
• Fuel Economy and Efficiency Insights
• Practicality and Everyday Use
• Ownership Value and Cost Considerations
• Final Recommendation: Your Next Ford Maverick Awaits

Overview and Recommendation: Why the Maverick Leads

Within the bustling communities of Westbury South, Slaughterville, and Forest Park, drivers consistently seek a compact pickup that marries everyday practicality with forward-thinking technology and performance. The 2026 Ford Maverick meets and surpasses these expectations. It offers an impressive hybrid powertrain, generous towing and payload envelopes, and a thoughtfully designed cabin—all while delivering superior fuel efficiency and driver engagement compared to the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

While the Santa Cruz introduces a turbocharged powertrain with a conventional footprint that may appeal to some, it falls short in overall interior and bed space, fuel economy, and the heritage-backed reliability Ford provides. The Maverick’s hybrid option offers exceptional drivetrain choices tailored for the diverse needs of drivers from areas like Arcadia, Lake Aluma, and Penn South.

If you are looking for a dependable compact pickup with proven strength, strong fuel savings, and outstanding versatility tailored to Central Oklahoma City and Nichols Hills drivers, the Maverick from Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond is the clear recommendation.

Introducing the Cast: Maverick Versus Santa Cruz

2026 Ford Maverick

• A compact pickup rooted in rugged utility and American manufacturing traditions.
• Offers two distinct engine options: a class-leading hybrid setup for outstanding fuel economy and an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine for enhanced performance.
• Designed with a traditional pickup bed measuring 4.5 feet, capable of handling practical work and lifestyle needs, including up to 18 sheets of plywood laid flat.
• Cab accommodates five passengers in a spacious layout, with a focus on functionality and driver-centric controls.

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

• A crossover-style compact pickup blending SUV chassis architecture with pickup traits.
• Available naturally aspirated and turbocharged 2.5-liter engines with all-wheel drive offered on select trims.
• Bed is smaller in volume and length at 52.1 inches, restricting larger cargo capacity versus the Maverick.
• Trim levels include a well-appointed premium option but generally maintain design cues that prioritize style over rugged truck utility.

In communities like Piedmont, Surrey Hills, and Etowah, where versatility and reliability matter most, the fundamental architecture and powertrain options of the Maverick consistently deliver a better balance of capability and everyday utility than the Hyundai’s approach.

Performance and Driving Experience

Engine and Drivetrain Options

The Maverick’s standard hybrid powertrain pairs a 2.5-liter inline-4 gas engine with electric motors to produce approximately 191 horsepower, delivering a CVT-controlled powertrain that maximizes fuel economy without sacrificing responsiveness. Its available 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine boosts output to 250 horsepower, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission providing crisp shifts and confident acceleration.

By contrast, the Santa Cruz offers a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine delivering a more forceful 281 horsepower. While the turbocharged Santa Cruz aims for performance, real-world 0-60 mph times around six seconds are matched by the Maverick’s turbo variant that also sports added driver modes tuned for spirited driving.

Acceleration and Handling

Despite Santa Cruz’s slightly shorter braking distance, the Maverick’s superior lateral grip and refined suspension tuning bring greater driver confidence for both city commutes in Norman and weekend excursions out of Noble.

Towing and Payload Strength

Though the Santa Cruz edges the Maverick in maximum towing ratings at turbo trims, the Maverick’s strong payload capacity ensures ample versatility for local drivers in Oklahoma City, handling a variety of loads. Combine this with Ford's tested towing package that ensures optimized trailer control, and you gain confidence in every drive, whether it’s through Bethany or Wilshire Ridge.

Exterior Styling and Presence

In the neighborhoods of Penn South and Central Oklahoma City, vehicle appearance plays a key role in both personal expression and functionality. The Maverick embraces a practical and purposeful pickup aesthetic with a robust front grille, compact bed, and durable material choices that echo its work-ready heritage. Its 19-inch rally-inspired wheels and performance-tuned trim options like the Lobo elevate its road presence.

The Santa Cruz, meanwhile, blends SUV elements with a unibody chassis, featuring sleek lines and a signature black grille on XRT trims. Its smaller footprint emphasizes urban agility but at the expense of pickup utility due to a comparatively limited bed size.

While the Santa Cruz offers slightly wider dimensions, the Maverick’s longer bed length provides enhanced cargo practicality for customers serving areas like Arcadia and Lake Aluma, where hauling flexibility is a priority.

Interior Space, Comfort, and Cabin Quality

Passenger Room and Comfort

Inside the cabin, the Ford Maverick provides a well-balanced environment with 42.8 inches of front legroom and 36.9 inches in the rear, accommodating five occupants comfortably. Available features in higher trims include dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, and power-adjustable seats designed to keep drivers and passengers comfortable on drives through Yukon or Slaughterville.

The Santa Cruz offers slightly less front and rear legroom, with 41.4 and 36.5 inches, respectively. Its interior, while crafted with upscale materials, prioritizes style over spaciousness and practical cargo handling.

Materials and Design

Ford’s incremental improvements in higher trims bring premium-feeling materials while retaining the rugged touch expected by truck buyers. Thoughtful storage solutions, including under-seat compartments, support everyday usability in rural and urban Oklahoma communities alike.

Santa Cruz’s cabin feels more crossover-like with digital displays and a futuristic touch, but lacks the flexible storage options and traditional pickup functionality prized by customers.

Technology and Connectivity Features

The Maverick provides a generous standard 13.2-inch touchscreen paired with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, creating seamless smartphone integration for Central Oklahoma City commuters. A built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging add convenience. Premium audio upgrades with B&O Play amplify cabin enjoyment for longer trips to Bethany or Capitol Hill.

The Santa Cruz offers a competitive 12.3-inch touchscreen with similar wireless smartphone integrations and a premium Bose audio system on higher trims. However, Ford’s inclusion of a larger central display as standard in all trims affords Maverick customers a more contemporary interface.

Safety and Driver Assistance Innovations

Both vehicles come equipped with a robust suite of driver aids. The Ford Maverick’s standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control on higher trims, and pedestrian detection technologies. These systems provide vigilant monitoring on busy streets from Nichols Hills to The Village.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz likewise includes forward collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist, but many of its advanced technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and surround view cameras, are limited to higher trims like the XRT and Limited.

Ford’s consistent inclusion of driver assists across trims contributes to enhanced safety and driver confidence for families and professionals across Yukon, Wilshire Ridge, and other Oklahoma locales.

Fuel Economy and Efficiency Insights

The Maverick shines in the compact pickup segment with its standard hybrid engine, achieving up to 42 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on highways—figures unmatched by the Santa Cruz. This delivers a driving range of around 511 miles, translating into fewer stops and savings for commuters from Edmond and Arcadia alike.

The Santa Cruz’s naturally aspirated and turbo options average between 18 and 22 mpg city and 25 to 30 mpg highway, indicating a notable compromise on fuel economy in favor of power.

Given rising fuel costs and environmental considerations, the Maverick’s hybrid choice gives it a crucial edge for eco-conscious drivers throughout Oklahoma County.

Practicality and Everyday Use

Among local drivers in places like Arcadia and Forest Park, the utility of a compact pickup is paramount. The Ford Maverick impresses with its 4.5-foot bed that offers nearly 23% more volume than the Santa Cruz. Additionally, the Maverick’s bed integrates practical features such as a 12-volt power outlet standard and an optional 110-volt outlet for power tools and accessories.

The Maverick’s payload capacity also leads within the segment, making it a practical choice for work and lifestyle demands. Its four-door crew cab configuration ensures comfortable passenger accommodation, ideal for carpools or family outings around Piedmont and Etowah.

While the Santa Cruz includes innovative cargo bed compartments and multifunctional tailgate designs, its smaller bed volume restricts hauling flexibility, which urban-oriented buyers must weigh carefully.

Ownership Value and Cost Considerations

From a warranty and ownership perspective, Ford offers a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage, and an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid components, underscoring Ford’s commitment to long-lasting ownership confidence.

Hyundai impresses with a longer 5-year/60,000-mile limited and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, along with three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which offer appealing peace of mind especially valuable for buyers from Wilshire Ridge or Penn South.

However, the Maverick’s proven hybrid powertrain and well-rounded feature availability, combined with Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond’s dedicated local service support and parts availability through our Parts Department, present an overall wiser investment for drivers seeking enduring value and convenience.

To maintain performance and reliability, schedule your service visits with our Service Department for expert maintenance conducted by technicians deeply familiar with Maverick’s engineering.

Final Recommendation: Your Next Ford Maverick Awaits

For drivers throughout Oklahoma City, Edmond, and nearby communities, including Norman, Surrey Hills, and Nichols Hills, the 2026 Ford Maverick stands as the definitive choice in the compact pickup category. With a thoughtful balance of powerful yet efficient powertrains, superior interior and bed space, and Ford’s extensive safety suite, the Maverick provides both the utility and refined driving experience today’s discerning buyers demand.

We invite you to visit Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond to experience firsthand the Maverick’s blend of rugged reliability and modern refinement. Explore our wide selection of new models through our All New Vehicles or find a pre-owned option at All Used Vehicles. Curious about your trade-in? Get an instant valuation with our Trade Valuation tool.

Experience the trusted craftsmanship and dedicated care rooted in a legacy of service by scheduling your test drive today at Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond. Our team members, many with decades of service to our community, look forward to helping you discover the perfect Maverick tailored for your lifestyle.

© 2025 Joe Cooper Ford of Edmond