There is nothing quite like the Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s part crossover SUV, part compact pickup truck. It might be in a class of its own, but that doesn’t mean you can compare it to other small and compact pickup trucks.
Ford Maverick – The Little Truck That’s Easy to Love
Let’s start with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick. The Maverick is arguably its closest competitor, but even though they were developed about the same time, these two trucks went in very different directions. The Maverick is a more traditional pickup with a boxy frame, while the Santa Cruz has a compact SUV feel with a truck bed.
Honda Ridgeline – Capability and Versatility
The Honda Ridgeline is the pickup truck for on-road drivers who want something versatile and easy to drive. Like the Santa Cruz it has a unibody design, so it drives like a crossover SUV, but it’s a little larger and has a five-foot bed. The V-6 engine delivers 280 horsepower and when equipped, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Toyota Tacoma – The Little Pickup That Can Do Anything
The Toyota Tacoma competes with the Santa Cruz because it’s a small pickup truck, but unlike the Hyundai, it’s built on a truck chassis. Power comes from a turbo four-cylinder gas engine or a new hybrid setup with 326 horsepower. If you’re looking for towing capacity in your next truck, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,000 pounds which is more than the Santa Cruz’s 5,000-pound max. You’ll have a more comfortable place to ride in the Santa Cruz, but both have room for up to five people.
Nissan Frontier – A Little Larger
The Nissan Frontier is a midsize pickup truck, but it’s on the smaller side of the segment. It has a refined V-6 engine under its hood that delivers 310 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque. When equipped, it can tow up to 6,720 pounds putting it ahead of the Santa Cruz.
The Frontier has room for up to five people in the cab. It received an update for the 2024 model year, giving it a more modern feel. It offers Nissan’s zero gravity seats for added comfort, and you can get it with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
The Chevy Colorado – Getting Even Bigger
The Chevy Colorado is another midsize pickup truck. It’s built for drivers who are looking for a reliable ride to work every day and for those who are looking for something that will take them through the mud and up to the mountains. The Colorado offers a choice of powertrains and configurations, making it a little more versatile than the Santa Cruz.
The pickup truck market is getting more versatile every year, and small pickup trucks are starting to come back into style. If you’re looking for something compact but want the utility of a pickup truck bed, consider the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. Ford Maverick.
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