Santa Cruz models fitted with the optional 10.25-inch screen don't have traditional shortcut buttons. The layout of the interior is intuitive, with high-quality materials and lots of soft touchpoints for your elbows and knees to rest on. The one exception is that the driver display can be a bit hard to read in intense direct sunlight. The optional 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and the matching 10.25-inch driver display screen are both high-resolution and typically easy to read. While I wouldn't exactly call the Santa Cruz a luxury pickup truck, its cabin is a really nice place to be. There's no fold-down center rear armrest either. Also, the rear seatbacks are very upright, and there's no way to recline them. Adults who check in under 5-foot-10 should fit just fine, but if your legs are particularly long, you'll be cramped in the back seat. Legroom is limited, but that's expected when you consider the Santa Cruz's compact size. The rear seat is a bit flatter, as you'd probably expect, but still uses padding that will keep your passengers comfy on all sorts of long road trips. For sporty driving, the front seats could use a bit more side bolstering, but they are otherwise supportive and well padded. For the driver and the front passenger, top-notch seat comfort makes this experience even better. Even with the optional 20-inch wheels, the ride is smooth over broken highways and the suspension soaks up most of the larger bumps. Ride quality and seat comfort in the Santa Cruz are both excellent. Unlike a number of body-on-frame midsize trucks, the Santa Cruz is entertaining to drive on a winding canyon road. Handling is impressive too, with generally flat cornering. The steering wheel gains some extra resistance in Sport mode, but in Normal mode, it's light enough to maneuver into the tightest of parking spots with ease. Steering is responsive and gives you a good sense of what the front wheels are doing at all times. It drones on a bit, especially on long uphill climbs. Shifts are crisp and quick, but the turbo 2.5-liter engine isn't exactly enjoyable to listen to on the highway. The combination of the high-horsepower engine and the quick-shifting DCT make for a surprisingly sporty driving experience. The dual-clutch automatic transmission is unusual in a pickup truck - this style of transmission is often used in sports cars, especially when the automaker is looking to have quick, responsive shifts. The second engine is a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and puts out 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It puts out 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The first is a non-turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Cruz is currently available with two engines. However, the Santa Cruz is smaller than the midsize pickup trucks currently on sale, so it might very well have the potential to dominate an entirely new market. But when I see a bed, I can't help but call something a truck. Ultimately, it's safe to assume both trucks will be competitively priced with desirable models likely starting in the $25,000 range.Hyundai, for its part, is calling the Santa Cruz a "sport adventure vehicle," or SAV, and asserts that it's establishing an entirely new class of vehicle. Pricing is mentioned for XLT and Lariat trims, and similarly, Hyundai hasn't released any pricing information for the Santa Cruz. It's an attention-getting figure for sure, but we also know very few buyers choose the no-option model. Ford tells us the entry-level Maverick XL will start just under $20,000, and we mean just at $19,995. Perhaps the biggest point-to-point comparison for these trucks is one we can't make just yet. Similarly, both trucks offer standard-issue 8-inch touchscreens with features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built-in. Hyundai adds lane-keep assist to the standard list but both trucks offer more advanced systems as options. The turbo model checks in at 22 mpg combined, with 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.įrom a technology standpoint, both trucks come standard with a modest array of driver-assist systems including automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection. EPA states the standard 2.5-liter Santa Cruz manages 23 mpg combined, getting just 21 in the city and 26 on the highway. That's only an estimated figure and it's the only one Ford wants to talk about, but even if it's merely close to that, it should dwarf Hyundai. However, it's worth mentioning because Ford touts an EPA-estimated 40 mpg in the city for the Maverick with its hybrid powertrain. This is a tricky comparison to make as the Maverick doesn't have any official mileage ratings just yet.
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