I'm looking for a new truck for next year I'll be on SS. Leaning towards Ford Maverick or Santa Cruz. Any other suggestions.

[Angry Possum]

Next year I'll be getting my SS and I'll be looking for a new truck, I'll be putting a note on it, I don't ever lease. I've been eyeing the Ford Maverick and The Hyundai Santa Cruz currently. I'm open to other ideas.

The Santa. Cruz has a 10 year 10k power train warranty. And I've owned 2 Hyundai Sonata's previously and they replaced the engines in both vehicles for free, due to an issue with the engine at the Alabama plant here in the US. So I'm leaning towards the Santa Cruz. Any more suggestions please elaborate. I'd like to keep the cost too $30k or less if possible. I want to go new. I'll be keeping my 1993 Ranger as a second vehicle.

 

[RonD]

They both look the same and most likely drive the same but never driven a Maverick, did test drive a Santa Cruz

But I like Hybrid, but really depends on what you will use it for
In 2024 either should have hybrid models
Maverick always had the option but I think Santa Cruz is getting it in 2024

The Maverick is adding Plug-in hybrid in 2024 with bigger battery, but just 30mile Range for commuting
Engine can still charge battery, and can use 110vAC to charge or 240vAC

FWD or AWD

But Hybrids are the best of both AND the worst of both
For 90% of the population you are probably looking at 40 to 90MPG, best part of electric
But still have to service the gasoline engine part, worst part of gasoline engines

 

[gaz]

@Angry Possum ,
I realize you said new...if I didn't love what have and I'm considering it anyway, I would source a used 2016-2018 Explorer Police Interceptor Unit (PIU). I would swap in a set of wrecking yard Explorer Recaros, the matching rear set of seats, a crossflow Borla exhaust and all the normal Sven Pruett engine rebuild tricks, then enjoy it!!

 

[bobbywalter]

Maverick....I like em.

 

[JoshT]

I realize you said new...if I didn't love what have and I'm considering it anyway, I would source a used 2016-2018 Explorer Police Interceptor Unit (PIU). I would swap in a set of wrecking yard Explorer Recaros, the matching rear set of seats, a crossflow Borla exhaust and all the normal Sven Pruett engine rebuild tricks, then enjoy it!!

I must say I'm interested in those Explorer PI units as well. What Explorers came with Recaros? I knew that the Saleen XP8s did, but that wounds like there were others.

 

[rubydist]

I think the Maverick looks more like a truck and the Santa Cruz looks like a converted suv. The Maverick drives very nice, so I would lean that direction. To stay in the $30k range you will be looking at pretty basic versions of the vehicles.

 

[sgtsandman]

As far as I know, the two you mentioned are the only two in itMs class. I agree the Maverick is more truck looking and the Santa Cruz is more SUV looking.

The best I can suggest to to research where else the engine and transmission has been used and what the track record of each has been. That may make a difference in which to go with.

 

[Ranger850]

@Angry Possum Both are good choices. I see 3 to 4 Santa Cruz's at work evry day. I talked to one lady about her SC and she loves it. Her other car is a Transit connect for dog shows. She said the SC is the base trim and is loaded with cool features and the Maverick lost to the SC because of availabilty. I see a few Mavwericks also, my boss even had a XL model for a few months, but he traded it in on a 2.3 ecoboost Mustang before I got to get a good look at it.

IF you can hold out, maybe another year, or 2, I think a few more carmakers are going to enter the small trucklet market very soon, wich should either lower the average cost, or at least level the playing field of options.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Gonna be just a driver? Or going to do truck stuff?

 

[Blmpkn]

Maverick.

 

[stmitch]

The Maverick is adding Plug-in hybrid in 2024 with bigger battery, but just 30mile Range for commuting
Engine can still charge battery, and can use 110vAC to charge or 240vAC

Do you have a source for this? I'd reserve a Maverick PHEV today if they offered one, but everything that I've heard (as of May 20223) was that it wasn't going to happen.

https://fordauthority.com/2023/05/ford-maverick-plug-in-hybrid-not-being-developed/

 

[dvdswan]

Never really thought about it but was surprised by the specs...

2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Features & Specs | Hyundai USA

2024 Ford Maverick® XLT Truck | Model Details & Specs

as with any truck I look at payload and towing capabilities

SC - 1411 lbs. and 3500 - 5000 lbs. depending on model/pkg with 4 pin and 7 pin connectors

MAV - 1500 lbs. and 4000 lbs.

I would take each one on an extended test drive and take note of the comfort of seats and vision lines/blockages from a-pillars.

 

[superj]

the sata cruz seating does not give you lots of sight lines while driving. the seats are very low in the vehicle and the door window lines are very high. i test drove it because i thought about getting one for hte wife. and sport mode isn;t at all sporty because i think its a cvt transmission.

the maverick sits comfortably and you can see well but the hybrid feels funny because you can feel the brakes when they are using the regenerative stuff. they kind of feel like they are ticking.

i would get a maverick that just has the ecoboost and the regular 8 or whatever speed transmission. even though my uncle said he regularly gets in the high 40s on his hybrid maverick.

 

[sgtsandman]

If the vehicle has a CVT, that is a full stop for me. I’ve read very little good about them and their reliability in vehicles.

 

[Blmpkn]

If the vehicle has a CVT, that is a full stop for me. I’ve read very little good about them and their reliability in vehicles.

How it's engineered apparently has a lot to do with how well it's gonna perform and how long it'll last.

Iirc, there's two different ways cvts are done.. the way ford does it and the way subaru (mabey nissan?) Does it. The way ford does it is allegedly much better than the other..

Heresay over.