Why The NEW Hyundai Santa Cruz Is A SALES FLOP
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
- Today I talk about the sales figures with the new Hyundai Santa Cruz and compare them to the Ford Maverick!
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I can tell you EXACTLY why they don't sell here. My local Hyundai (and unrelated Kia dealer) charges a $4000 "market adjustment" on top of EVERY car they sell. Yes, that's right, in March 2023 they are tacking on $4000 on everything, even base Elantras and Rios. Insane.
same here in nj 2500-5k depending on model
there are idiots who are paying it, that's why they are getting away with it.
Come to Wisconsin. Kia Boys ruined their rep
Thats just revolting.
I've seen ford's charge more for mavericks. Private sellers are asking 35k for the base 20k models.
The Maverick was offered in a “lower end” model than anything the Santa Cruz had. Before the Maverick was released I knew Ford had a hit on their hands with that alone. Most of the Mavericks I see around my area are base models with a steel wheels. People need an affordable, efficient, and versatile vehicle right now. That’s why the Maverick is sold out and 70k F-150s are sitting on dealers lots!
But what will happen when the hybrid batteries need to be fixed? Yikes.
I cant' believe more automakers aren't looking into making a non-hybrid budget pickup. They will clean up. There's a huge market of people who loved the old Ford Rangers and S-10s who want something similar again.
@@dickriggles942 Frontier is closest
if they stayed at $20,000. sucess, then prices increase. ford just cant understand, it was the low price
@@dickriggles942 You don't need to "fix " the batteries you swap out the worn out ones . Hybrids have been around for some time to make it inexpensive. And automakers are developing small pickups if they will be hybrid is unknown.
@@ITSANGEL. They've actually said this is a bad idea and you'll end up having to replace all the batteries anyways. But learn the hard way.
Reason #1-100 = price
The Santa Cruz is a 22k vehicle being sold for 43k
If the Santa cruz is a 22k vehicle, then the Maveric is an 11k vehicle.
@@th003g don't start a career in comedy.
@@th003g Maverick should be like 20-22k. Cruz should be 20-25K.
@@th003g Except the maverick has a solid interior and driving experience that's better than pretty much any other new car that costs 20k.
Absolutely not. It starts at $27k ish. For the models with the turbo (those over the $32k ish price) you are getting a 280hp crossover that can 0 to 60 in low 6 seconds and town 5k pounds. Find that in a $22k vehicle.
As a Santa Cruz owner, just have to say that this a vehicle seriously worth considering. A ton of these comments are being made by people who aren’t even in the market for a vehicle and haven’t driven one. Our Cruz drives so smoothly over broken Midwest pavement, it’s dead silent inside, and it has a great seating position for long road trips. Our one and only gripe is that the MPGs are much lower than the Civic we traded in. Everything else is great. Don’t let strangers on the internet persuade you to skip this, just go to a dealer and TRY it.
P.S. No human buys the top trim of any truck. They are just tax write offs for rich people and for corporations. Also, no one is out there generalizing all full size trucks at their top end trim prices so it doesn’t make sense to do it here either.
Totally agree with you. I own a 2023 Night edition. Its a great vehicle and can tow up to 5k pounds as well if needed.
I will bite, but wonder if you paid thousands markup for yours? and did you have any issues with the dual clutch transmission or felt that the bed can be a little longer, especially with the bed cover mechanism in place?
enjoying your broken transmission?
@@andymontero7394Good luck on your DCT tranny
@@alrightythen391I have a 2022 and have had 0 problems so🤷♂️
The Santa Cruz concept car had me waiting in anticipation for years for it to be released. Unfortunately, what I liked about the concept version was the styling of the two-door model, the diesel engine, and the truck bed that telescoped out for longer items; but they took all those things away from the production model and turned it into a modern version of the Subaru Baja.
Me too, and when the new model got released I was so upset and didn't like it, but after Just 2 years after and ago I saw a White one in person at KFC and I was wrong. It caughts someones attention
i wish it was a cool as my 2003 baja
I had the Baja. Drove it for 10 years and wore it out. Main flaw was not a very good off-roader. Long wheel-base and overhangs. But the Santa Cruz looks so cool. Too bad they kind of dumbed it down I guess
Same, here. WANNNNNNNTED that proto. Rolling in a 2019 Silverado and REGRET NOTHING.
I think that was their biggest mistake. They would have had a HUGE hit on their hands if they had stuck with the concept. It also took them WAY too long. Seven years is a long time to wait. I have a 2005 Baja and would have seriously considered a SC. But it is not really that much of an upgrade. The gas mileage needs to be WAY better. I am hoping Subaru is taking notes and that THEY will offer a modern version of the Baja. I would expect theirs to be better.
A lot of good points.
I could be wrong but I think the Maverick’s sales numbers are bolstered by company and government fleet vehicles. Also, the price range ($23-40K) for the Maverick hits a few more price points than the Santa Cruz (26-40K).
It also doesn’t hurt that the Maverick’s fuel economy is astonishing.
Ford also has great relationships with fleet managers, government agencies love hybrids, so do auto supply/local businesses doing small deliveries. The only people I see driving hybrids are federal employees or taxi drivers. In spite about all the hype about hybrids, I still don't seem them going mainstream.
The Santa Cruz has a very goofy style more meant for surfer dudes. It won't be popular with fleet managers. Plus it's a foreign vehicle.
Fleet managers buy cheap junk is the key to that. They use them up and dump them the Ford Taurus was one of the big ones when I was growing up. They used the same trash transmission for over 20 years. The torque converter would fall apart.I have known five people including my parents with same issue.
@@STRIKER520 Ford trucks are legendary for their durability. Fleet managers care more about long term costs, including maintenance than they do about buying the cheapest thing out of the gate.
At least half, if not more, of the Mavericks I see in the wild are fleet vehicles, not personal vehicles. Honestly, I see a lot of Santa Cruz's in the wild, so it can't be selling that bad.
@@panzer_TZ This explains a lot. Regular people can't afford cars and trucks anymore.
The main problem with the Santa Cruz is price point. They start around 25K but most of them coat well into the 30K range. The main reason the Maverick sells so well is the price, these auto companies need to realize they will sell more cars if they stop pricing so many people out of them.
Price doesn’t help for sure, but the gas mileage is what kills it for me. I want a 4 door truck for extremely light truck use that gets good fuel economy. We already have a nice vehicle for family traveling. Just need something for commuting, occasional Home Depot trips, and picking up the kids. I know I’m not alone. Santa Cruz fuel economy is comparable to full size trucks…. That’s a problem.
yep!
I now average 29
Incorrect you clearly haven't owned or driven one. I get low 30s mpg.
@@laya8880 I get that with Subaru Forester, which should have way more gas mileage. It's just the way you drive. Don't jump the gun at the light etc.
I have a 2022 SC limited, absolutely one of my all time favorite vehicles. Super handy, super useful, super fun to drive. Absolutely love mine
I have a '22 limited also. I took it in today for the forecasted DCT transmission situation. I hope it's an easy, permanent fix or I will look away from the limited.
I think the root of the issue is that the Maverick is more like a traditional compact truck than the Santa Cruz. The other issue is the hybrid drivetrain. Which is attractive to a lot of people including fleet buyers. Personally, I'm waiting to see what Toyota's new Stout is going to be like.
The hybrid is attractive to fleet buyers, but regular people are buying it for the cost, not hybrid. That COULD be an issue down the line for these low-income buyers if they need to get the hybrid part fixed.
@@dickriggles942 when does the "hybrid part" need to get fixed? Asking as an 11 year hybrid owner.
@@WordsMatter1982 11 years old with 20K miles, you mean.
I reserved a santa cruze when the first came out. Should have been a $26,000 deal. After it arrived the dealer tried to charge me $31,00. I walked away. I'll never buy a ford. They just are hard to work on and you HAVE to work on them. The toyota stout will be the best option. I have a tacoma, fj, and a rav 4. All are high milage and better then most new cars made today.
@@dickriggles942 125K, but good try.
I have zero regrets in buying my Santa Cruz! I've had it for a year now and still find new things to love. I havn't seen a lot on the road, but I've seen a lot less Mavericks. I was probably not Hyundai's target demographic by being a middle aged, sedentary male. This is coming from someone who was a Mopar fanatic in his younger days.........
You are a blessed man. 👍👍
God knows, ifff I had a the money, it would be a no brainer that I would get the Limited Santa Cruz. ❤
I think you’re missing the point. The Maverick was built to compete with other small trucks like the Canyon and Ranger. I find the Honda Ridgeline the closest direct competitor to the Santa Cruz. Anyone who’s ever wrestled lawn supplies or lawn equipment into a SUV or Minivan knows what a hassle it is dealing with having the hatch overhead and worrying if the mower or other item is going to damage the sidewalls or headliner. This is the niche market these vehicles were designed for
Ok Hemi Head, how the Santa Cruz doing now? I'm considering one.
Why go that small for 22 mpg? Thats full size truck numbers. I still like it, but the Maverick is too dominant to even consider this thing.
Maybe because they don't want to pay $90,000 for an F-150.
Maverick is falling apart already. It's just built too cheap. Just look under the truck, it's already rust out after a few months.
With all the options on my 2023 Limited Santa Cruz (40k) you cant TOUCH a similar truck thats optioned like it (leather seats and steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, surround view/blind spot cameras, LED headlights, 5k towing capability) for less than 50k out the door.. easily 55-60k ford and chevy.
@@tomjohnson8737 link for source? Have my maverick hybrid for 6 months now and no rust...
@@Tech4Ten they have recalls every month. You know how Fords are.
My Wife and I just bought a 2023 Santa Cruz and we love ours!!
We have the best of both worlds, we have a car, a truck and it is fun to drive!
We did a lot of reading and looking at many small trucks and SUV’s and we even talked to our ford dealer and we where told it would take any time from 18 to 28 months to get a maverick and we wanted to buy right then! So we went and got our Santa Cruz! We are happy we did!
Just to be clear. Neither the Santa Cruz nor maverick are anywhere near a truck
@@VanquishedAgain compact truck
@@VanquishedAgain not everyone wants a massive truck… there’s a reason the little trucks of the 90s are still incredibly
Popular
@@VanquishedAgainwhy would you say that, can you expand on your comment
@@VanquishedAgainI mean the vin on the vehicle says “truck” so you’re wrong lol
Hyundai needs to give it a more rugged look! The styling is just weird and it doesn't look like a truck.
It reminds me of the 80’s Subaru Brat
@@toomanyhobbies8351 omg😂
As a Subaru Baja owner, I appreciate the look. Because it's not a truck.
That’s because it is NOT a “truck”.
Who told y’all this vehicle was a flop???? The dealerships around here can’t even get them before they are sold….and it’s been that way since they day they were introduced.
I paid 37k for my tacoma, and this santacruz is 43k? Lol😂😂😂
The Santa Cruz can be had for $37, and less and has an independent rear.
The Tacoma is more primitive, and SHOULD cost lees.
@@Incomudro1963 sure, whatever you say lol go ahead and buy it then 😂
@@AlphaKorr It's not "whatever I say" it's the truth.
Unibody and independent rear is more sophisticated - more costly - than body on frame and a live axle.
@@Incomudro1963 all I’m saying is thats not what most people who wants to buy the real truck not truck wannabe unibody crap, but if you want to purchase it than I’m not against it GLHF brother
@@Incomudro1963 should last 2x if not 3x more
I keep hearing the Ford Maverick is selling so well, but I’ve only ever seen one!
Same here, I've seen more Hyundai, to be honest.
So...why very few on the dealers lots?.They are going somewhere.
@@billgarbutt7844 I hear “investors” bought a ton of the hybrid models at $23K new from Ford, thinking it was the next big thing after how much UA-camrs hyped them up, so they turned around and sold them to Carmax and other used car dealerships at $32K during the chip shortage when used cars were more expensive than new cars. So they made profit but now there’s a lot of these trucks sitting in used car dealerships or in fleets.
Just saw one for the first time at my job. I literally did a double take cause I was surprised.
Ben, nice comparison. You covered a lot but I know how hard it is to think of everything while filming. I supplement the videos on my channel with subtitles but that takes much longer to edit. With your volume of content that would be tough.
Anyway, there are 2 other problems with the SC bed you could have shown if you had permission to open the tonneau: 1) The bed is plastic composite vs Mav steel. 2) The usable bed is actually much smaller than 4 ft because when open, the cover takes up almost a foot of the front of the bed, leaving only about 3 ft of space. It's hard to fit even a small bicycle.
A few points... I cross shopped a surprising number of vehicles before purchasing a 2023 Santa Cruz Limited.
-Towing, it can tow up to 5k lbs, plenty for a small boat. Most of the time, I am just putting a kayak on the roof and putting a bunch of gear in the bed though. For most applications, this will tow just fine.
-Off road, I like having the ability to go on dirt roads, forest roads, fire trails, etc... but I wouldn't take this or any other $40k rock crawling... that is for a purpose built setup... or a little UTV. Even the tests done by youtube channels are pretty funny... don't stop halfway up a gravel slope. Some vehicles can overcome it, but not many can, so for most light duty off road treks, it is perfect.
-The transmission... having had Subarus for the last decade, I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying not driving a CVT. If I wanted/needed a beefy transmission with a torque converter, I would have purchased a larger vehicle.
-Utility, the bed is perfect and it offers multiple tie downs. I can use the under bed storage securely or lock the tonneau cover. I have flat carried multiple sheets of plywood for weekend projects. The utility is there for sure. Real world fuel economy nets me 22 mpg in the city, but on the highway at 70-72, I am realizing 28 mpg with ease.
For now, this vehicle suits my needs entirely, it is an immensely capable utility vehicle, nearly a complete package of technology and features that make it perfect about 95% of the time.
OMG don't get me started on the Subaru CVT! After months of research, we purchased a brand-new Subaru Outback, it drove like utter crap! Turns out there was a recall on the transmission. When we got the car serviced, they gave us a loaner Subaru Outback and it drove like a race car compared to ours. Got ours back with the CVT recall complete and it actually drove worse than before the recall. We got into it a bit with Subaru service, and I told them we were leaving and dumping the car at Carmax, and that's what we did. We should have steered clear of that car from the beginning due to the red flags! first it was on sale in a local newspaper, called the dealership and was told it wasn't even built yet, but they would honor the sale price. Then it arrives and it's not even the same color... it was just red flag after red flag. Good riddance!
@@worldsokayestcook9003 That is horrible! CVT is terrible technology in my opinion. In theory, it should be fantastic, but in practice, it simply is not. My Subarus always got me home through some amazingly bad driving conditions, but I never enjoyed the transmission unless it was their manual... and even that was pretty clunky. Subaru makes a great vehicle for snowy conditions, but their technology has lagged far behind most other brands. The last model I had was a 2020 XT Limited and, while the engine was great, the infotainment center was the worst I have ever used. it constantly crashed, constantly froze, and it frequently limited access to all the car's settings. It was the most infuriating piece of technology I ever had to work with. I dropped it at CarMax.
By comparison, the Santa Cruz is so much more fun to drive, the infotainment is so much quicker, smoother, and responsive, and again, no CVT. In Sport Mode with the turbo, it is actually comically quick.
I love the size of the Santa Cruz, it's the shortest compact truck kind of vehicle currently available.
If it was an EV I would buy it in a heartbeat, even with that small 4ft bed
I would prefer if it was a 2 door, and shortening the cabin allowed for more bed length rather than increasing the overall length of the vehicle, but I don't see we'll ever see that size truck again
We’re on the same wavelength my friend.
100% correct. I would also recommend a less monochromatic black interior. Something more fun and adventure oriented in it's design and color palettes.
The pros/advantages of the Maverick being a hybrid goes away with dealers selling them for $10K+++ over MSRP....
I have the Santa Cruz and love it...and they are always sold out except for the basic package. I think the Maverick is nice but the interior is very cheap and plastic feeling and the santa cruz feels premium. and the bed has worked well for me.
There you go. 😎👍👍
Agree. I bought a hybrid maverick despite liking the Santa Cruz’s taller height and styling better. My reasons - Maverick was much cheaper and gets better fuel economy.
Prob more reliable long term as well considering the hybrid system in the maverick is legendary for it's durability, meanwhile Sante Cruz's with 5k on it are dropping transmissions left and right.
yeah--every ford i have ever had has needed some major repir.
@@khronin neat
@@POVwithRC Sadly its the truth and all 3 also leaked oil and they started to do it at the 30k to 50k mark right after the 3 year warranty was over--I actually took them to small claims court and won.
@@khronin Sample size of three. Very cool. If this is at all true, which I doubt, why the hell would you buy not one, not two, but three just to go through the same problem not once, not twice, but three times 🤥
The Maverick Hybrid is cheaper and more efficient than a Honda Civic. It may be limited as a truck, but it's still way more useful than a small sedan. Because of that, it's taking market share from vehicles nobody considered to be competitors before.
Maybe, i would still pick a Corolla over a maverick any day of the week though
But it's piece of junk .
No its not. A small sedan has much better passenger cabin. I'm actually shocked that anyone would buy a maverick for their personal vehicle.
@@VanquishedAgain Having owned a Civic for 10 years, I'm shocked anybody would choose one over a cheaper and more efficient and far more capable truck. Then again I couldn't care less what my dashboard feels like when I caress it like a lot of so-called reviewers do, that's just not something I do. And it's not like any small economy cars are luxurious anyway. Sedan sales continue to dwindle in large part because human anatomy is not designed for sitting so low with your feet splayed out in front of you. Some of us put up with it because it was efficient. I decided life is too short for that and don't miss it one bit. But, to each their own.
@@plmn93 a lot of SUVs especially compact ones arent faring much better, they're basically just lifted hatchbacks, you still find yourself just as a cramped, a Scion XB provides more space than most SUVs on the road.
Weird how it's such a flop but I literally cannot find the color/trim I am looking for because it's sold out everywhere I look unless I'm willing to drive 200+ miles.
Great review. I went to buy two trucks for our company. The Maverick hybrid is still "on order" and it is 9 mos ongoing. Price OTD is-was approx 26K. We have the Hyundai in hand, it was approx 35K OTD with the NA engine in AWD SEL trim. Trans was prone to hunting a bit and it was burning some oil the first 5 K miles. Both of those problems went away and oil chemistry looks good. Both mileage and power surprised me. Light foot on the Fwy in two tests showed in excess of 32 MPG. Drives well in inclement weather and handles way better than I expected that it would. We would buy it again. Not sure if the Maverick will ever show up. We have gotten three e mails from Ford pleading Covid supply line issues. We also do not know what the dealer might try to pull on price as delivered. TBD I guess.
I was at a Hyundai dealer over the weekend. They had 3 Santa Cruz s, all were over 40K, BEFORE the 3k markups.
Try another dealer, there are tons at MSRP right now.
Markups are BS! I contacted a dealer about an hour and a half away and asked them up front what the price is before I drive all that way and find out it's not in my budget. That was a week ago and they still refuse to tell me what the asking price is. So, wrong or right I have no choice but to assume they are playing the markup game so they're out as a dealer for me. We have a dealership down the street from us that has 14 on the lot, we'll check them out this weekend since they are so close. But with interest rates the way they are now, I will not pay over MSRP for any vehicle.
@@TGZ32 I wasn’t there for a Santa Cruz. I bought an ELANTRA with no markup.
I think the reason they have so many turbos is no one wants to spend the extra money.
and the lack of lease incentives and deals. The only offer they have is $350/month with $4K down for the base 26K Santa Cruz SE. My guess is the turbo is likely $500-$600+/month right now.
My brother said, "Turbo is just a way to push more gasoline through the engine." True in a way, especially if you don't want to hot rod the thing.
The 6 speed in the Tucson hybrid is their regular planetary automatic (A6MF2) but with a motor in place of the torque converter. Shared with Tucson, Santa Fe and Sonata hybrids. The dry DCT is in the Ioniq/Elantra - smaller hybrids.
They need to de-content the Santa Cruz to reduce the price. Take out the bells and whistles, put in a less expensive drive train, simplify the fancy interior and reduce the price. The target price needs to be 26k, not 38 to 42k. A new economy of hard to get car loans and thrift is here.
We bought one for my wife recently, a 2023 Limited and she absolutely loves it. It won’t replace my GMC Sierra for me, but I like it quite a bit too.
To me the midnight edition looks the best. They should advertise that trim more. They should make an off road midnight edition with a lift and off road tires.
I think the OEM 18” wheels look much better than the 20” options that come on the Limited trim.
Lots of good points. As a satisfied Hyundai Kona owner, the Hyundai value proposition attracts me but I'm not a big fan of the Santa Cruz's styling personally. I have an SE Kona and you get a lot more for the base then on other cars, including Ford. So, a base Santa Cruz, which I see locally with AWD for around $28k, is appealing in that regard. The far better warranty is also something I like. However, the lack of a hybrid is absolutely a killer for Hyundai right now. As far as its off road capability, the 8.6" of ground clearance is almost identical to what Subaru offers so I don't think they really need to go beyond that.
The first company to offer a small AWD hybrid truck will do pretty well, though. I have to assume its supply chain reasons holding that back at this point, though.
The sales figures alone are decent and on par with their models such as the sonata. Most of the hype seems to be that the Maverick has doubled what the Santa Cruz has. However I am curious to know if that is purely individual consumer sales or total sales as many utility companies have taken the Maverick on as their service trucks for line markers and meeter checkers.
I really value your opinions on new cars. I am so interested in a silverado 5.3 4x4. Do you think the lifter issues are behind us now?
Those engines still have issues
Avoid gm
This version of the 5.3 is really good for a hot rod or something. But I'd stay away from gm and Ford. Ford's drive trains fail and come with a revolving repair bill. GMs fall apart around the drive train. I don't have much knowledge on the rams. But they have always been as garbage as gm and fall apart around a broken transmission. Toyota seems to be the best. The last tundra I owned, gave me 350,000 truble free miles before dieing in a 5 car pile up on the interstate. Let's see how the stout goes. I am willing to bet they will be way better then the Ford or hyundi.
Great review as usual…; very detailed.., cover all we need to know.., really.. great reviews
Thank you again for taking your time 👍🏻
Are you out of your mind? I absolutely love my Santa Cruz. The issue is lack of availability. All dealers in my area cannot keep them in stock. I’m totally satisfied and absolutely delighted with my SEL Premium!
We looked at both, the sante Cruz isn't bad. But it's a case where the maverick beats it in most of the areas that matter. Trust me, we have a maverick hybrid in our driveway right now, and it's much harder to get than a sante Cruz.
I wouldn't quite call it a sales flop. Sure, there may be some on the lots now, but it's not like they don't have demand.
There's advantages to the Cruz vs. the Maverick depending upon what your looking for in a small trucklette. My Maverick is scheduled to be built next week and I still debate if I should forego the Mav and opt to look at the Cruz. After all, I wanted one of these since they came out with the concept too many years ago; and the only thing which prevented me from pulling the trigger on one was it departed too much from the concept and I currently work at a Ford dealership. That said, with all the recalls on Fords and some really shoddy new vehicles leaving our lots and returning in a rather short period of time with major issues or recalls which don't actually address the reason for the recall, and little to no parts availability, I'm thinking of alternatives for my money vs. the potential for being stuck without my vehicle. Needless to say, my current six year old Ram needs some minor work, but it's been reliable for the few years I've owned it with great fuel mileage and respectable performance for a full-sized pickup.
Anyways Ben, whether I opt for the Mav will be what they offer me for my trade-in vs. what I can get on a used alternative.... We have a beautiful Genesis G80 Sport and CX30 on our lot, and both would suit me fine if I didn't want some utility.
I bought my hyundai in November 2022. It is a 2023. I have had numerous warnings ⚠️ lights implying my car needs servicing. I've had to wait over one month each time before I could get the car serviced. I can't drive the car to far away from home due to warnings that there may be a defective engine. What now?
The problem of the SC is that is expensier than the Maverick, it doesn't offer new interior style because it's based on a Tucson, and it's not as recognized as the Ford brand. SC is only a Tucson with a good looking with a bed that costs 3k more.
I was really interested in the SC when the concept was released and Hyundai was promising a mid gate and the telescoping bed extender. They apparently decided that was to expensive and just went with that lame bed extender you can get on any other pickup and a cover that eats half of an already tiny bed. The DCT was a completely boneheaded decision. I think the Maverick is ugly and probably will fall apart after 5 years but it's cheaper and has way more utility. Ford knows trucks and knows what truck buyers want and value. I hope Hyundai doesn't give up on the truck market though, they had a great concept but totally screwed up the execution.
That is the only thing Ford does. Lie to sell then bandaid that pos together until the warranty is up. I'll never buy one.
I’m picking up an SEL(non dct) model for 36k out the door. Using it to move from apartment to apartment as I’m tired of renting moving trucks every year. Gonna just daily drive as a normal car, maybe take it camping. Seems good for that. The maverick looks and drives like a truck, which is to say, ugly and bad at high speed. So the Santa Cuz it is.
If the Santa Cruz got better fuel economy (doesn't even have to be a hybrid), had a slightly larger bed, and had a less complicated infotainment system in it I'd seriously consider it for the same price I'd consider the Maverick for ($29k). At the moment with the fuel economy and price I might as well buy a full-size truck.
I just got mine and I love it!!!!
Excellent video. Thank you. Another reason for the inflated Maverick sales numbers is the huge amount of speculation and scalper mentality purchases. There are a lot of "used" Mavericks available that are selling for 5-10K over the price of new. Sooner or later, the price will crash. Those who truly want a Maverick have to wait for the order banks to open and even then are only open for a month. Wait time for your build is extremely long as Ford is plagued with inadequate production capacity. Some who placed their order in 2021 are still waiting.
I got my new hybrid Maverick XLT for only$24k how many cats can you get in that price range? Am getting 42 mpg daily, just drove from Michigan to Florida and back, got 38mpg on hwy
Having owned a 2.5T for over 18 months and hauled a fair bit of home reno stuff from Home Depot, as well as driving cross country twice, I find most reviewers don't know what they are talking about. The Santa Cruz has BMW 328 power numbers. I had a 328 convertible when I test drove the Santa Cruz and the power and feel were very similar.
The Maverick is just Me Too. It's plain and uninspiring.
I wouldn't put inspiring and truck in the same sentence. Truck is a utility niche vehicle. And Maverick looks like a truck should, in the current human perception of such. Of course, everything is relative and things may change. But, the sales numbers tell otherwise, and that's all that matters to automakers. Mavericks are picking up, while SC is probably going away...
I think the Ridgeline competes directly as well as it’s unibody too, but has a V6 and a much more usable bed.
Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size and it's $40k starting price above most Santa Cruz or Maverick. So more a Ranger, Colorado, Frontier competitor.
The Ridgeline starts at 38k I think.
Doesn't get very good mileage I had an 08 and got 18 to 20 miles per gallon
Every Ridgeline I saw was 46k+
Every Santa Cruz I even had a mild interest was 40k+ though as well so idk. I ended up getting a Genesis. "Average" cars are way too expensive right now
@@VanquishedAgain Your last point hits hard. We were casually looking into the Toyota RAV4 PHEV. Dealer was marking it up to $60K+ and they were still selling. Same owner of the Lexus dealership down the street had the Lexus NX PHEV, literally the same car under the hood but with luxury features, being offered at MSRP $58K. People think they are getting an average price because its an average car but not so lately.
Do your sales figures for the Maverick actually ones that owners have taken delivery or just on order? I’ve had my Santa Cruz for a year now and see way more in my area in SW Florida. Hardly any Mavericks around.
I got one and love it. Didn’t need a full sized truck and definitely was not going to pay for how much they are asking for full sized trucks now… new and used
Agreed Ben. The dual clutch should be the first thing to go.
I would also like to see them lengthen the vehicle a few inches. But I’d like to see some of the added room go to the backseat as well as the bed.
I waited years for the Santa Cruz to arrive. My previous 2 Hyundais have been good to me.
But the cramped backseat has me leaning Ridgeline now.
Do your Maverick numbers include the ones sold as fleet vehicles?
A Ridgeline is a huge step up in price just for a bigger back seat.
@@nodak81 I agree. It has a much larger bed and in-bed trunk as well.
I’m having a hard time thinking about cramming by kids into the backseat of the Santa Cruz for the next 10 years!
@@Cody_Codi_Code who in the world buys a truck for the backseat. the car market has gone insane. i miss the days of two door, 3-seater bench seat trucks. i just need a damn work truck that wont cost 30k
@@intravenousradio People with a family need a back seat. If you want a 2 door truck with an 8 foot bed, get one. Nothing is stopping you.
The dual clutch is great. So much fun to drive with it.
What I want is a replacement for my S10 standard cab with 7.5 ft bed. I want a useful truck but don't need to tow 10k lbs up a mountain.
Yea I know what you mean,they keep making the small trucks bigger and bigger. I’m on my 6th Toyota,currently have a 99 Tacoma, 5 speed ,4 cylinder 280 k miles, runs like a watch and burns no oil. Paid 3800 3 years ago but the new ones are the size of a 90s f150 and 45k ,no thanks.
Don't forget the recalls on the 8 speed dual clutch. For nearly a year there was a recall where your vehicle could shut down and not be drivable and there WAS NO FIX put out by the manufacturer. Sure you could get your vehicle towed to the nearest shop or dealership with whatever roadside service you have but the vehicle would just sit there with no projected fix in sight.
Does it burn oil like other Hyundai cars?
A lot of good points made. To win me over it needs more physical buttons like on the interior of the Santa Fe, longer bed, and drop the dual clutch.
Santa Cruz and Maverick seem to he for two different buyers.
The Santa Cruz is more of a life style vehicle. It has deisgned in California written in it. The styling is either a hit or miss.
The Maverick is definitely more traditional and obviously going to appeal to more normal truck buyers. Plus I have seen several in fleets.
Biggest reason is the hybrid and 40 mpg
Neither one of those is a truck. I don't know why people continue to perpetuate that lie.
@Broeheemed Then what are they? They certainly aren't sedans or crossovers. A bit to high off the ground and too many doors to be a ute.
@@baronvonjo1929 They're abominations as far as I'm concerned..... just "edgy" vehicles to cater to those that want attention. Probably 9 out of 10 of those sold will never carry more than a couple bags of shoes and purses.
@Broeheemed But what are they?
That's my question. What category do they sit in if not trucks?
Also literally most cars from small compacts to the largest suvs never carry more than a few things and just several people. This is nothing new. Don't see why it's a issue here.
Body on frame trucks have gotten way too expensive. Nice to see more affordable stuff for us less privilege. But even 20 grand is still for the wealthy.
I got a 2023 2.5 Turbo Limited and absolutely love it. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned. If I could, I’d buy another one.
Since the vehicle was released in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I may be seen two in the wild? And that doesn’t include the ones that are sitting at the dealership waiting to be sold.
Charged no markups, but still added dealer packages that are basically the same thing 😂
If the Santa Cruz had a hybrid (for the better gas mileage), I would consider it for my next vehicle. I have marginal needs for a truck, but there are times when it is very desirable. The mileage of the Maverick make it the first place we'll look this year.
I wouldn’t. Ever driven a hybrid Hyundai before? Big problems.
@@double_joseph327 please elaborate. My 2018 Hyundai ioniq hybrid has 130,000 miles and runs perfect. No issues whatsoever to date.
@@CRcvideography maybe things changed I had a 2015 sonata hybrid. Amazing car.. except for the hybrid engine. Had nothing but problems
@@double_joseph327 technology advances a whole lot in a year let alone nearly 6 years in my case and 9 in yours. Their knew hybrid technology is amazing. The price point of a Santa Cruz is the demise due to the Hyundai name and all of the naysayers who do not believe that Hyundai is a top quality automaker.
Good video. I looked at the Santa Cruz, since a Maverick is nowhere to be found. The MSRP is more than a Maverick, if I could find one. The Santa Cruz was sitting next to a Tucson. Tucson was cheaper and better appointed. For example, the Santa Cruz did not have AC vents for the back or USB ports, where as the Tucson did. Why pay more for less? Having a crappy little bed is not worth the premium. I am waiting for the Maverick order window to open up this summer. Hopefully I can snag one.
For me (6'6" driver) I'd rather get a base model silverado or F-150 for interior space.
For my wife (sportage lover) the Santa Cruz is so aggressively ugly that she calls it the mullet on wheels.
Ben, you nailed it. Not much to add. I am not brand loyal at all. But, the Maverick offers so much more. You want MPGs, get the Maverick hybrid. You want more traditional truck duties in a compact size, go for the Maverick with the 2.0EB. The dual clutch transmission is a loser for Hyundai in this application. And, size matters, LOL at least in this scenario. 6 inches makes all the difference in the world! I have seen the Santa Cruz with the roll-top tonneau cover. It renders the already short bed almost useless. They are sharp vehicles, but they are truly for an SUV buyer that wants a token bed for occasional work duties. I would easily choose the Maverick over the Santa Cruz.
I wanted one of these at one time. Then I went to the Sandy Expo car show and after seeing it in person. It wasn't a great buy for what you get. They are cool looking though. Great Review Btw... Ben
Very informative. My friend still has the Ford Ranger that you did a review on and test drove. lol... That's more what I'm talking about.
I really like the look of this car/truck. Not practical for myself but I liked your review here. I'm going to follow you Ben. Well done.
Santa Cruz is Hyundai's Subaru Baja. Odd duck. Doesn't appeal very much to sedan, SUV, or pickup buyers. Maverick is a legit small pickup.
Agreed. Baja was around only couple years. With those miserable sales figures, I expect the same to happen with the Santa Cruz. Maverick is a nice small pu.
I just looked at their inventory and the lowest MSRP I found was well over 30k$! People can't and won't pay that kind of money for this kind of vehicle. You can buy a full sized pickup starting in the 30s (which is STILL too freaking high) but that's a story for another day. Most of these that I saw the MSRP was in the 40s! Crazy!
You haven't priced a new crew cab full size truck in 20 years.
@@82mattlopez That’s where youre wrong. I drive a nice crew cab truck that’s not yet 20 and you can bet your bottom dollar I didnt pay these inflated prices for it! dont care what anyone says these prices are ridiculous!
@@jeepinspence I agree, but people are buying them. A desent f150 XLT 4x4 is 60K
@@82mattlopez yep and that’s the problem. People don’t want to say no. It wouldn’t take long for prices to drop if they had lots full if trucks that no one was buying.
@@jeepinspence What a stupid statement. Of course people aren't going to say no, because if they do someone else will buy it. And if people aren't buying them, the price dropping isn't what is going to happen. They will stop making them is what will happen.
Do you think they are going to drop the price and sell them at a loss or break even, just because you don't like the price? LOL. People want vehicles loaded to the hilt with luxury features these days, and they sell that way. That's why they are expensive and more profitable. Very few manufacturers are making cheap basic vehicles anymore, because nobody was buying them. Consumers brought it on themselves, doing the very thing you are suggesting.
I’m finding that more people aren’t going for the usual models and trims anymore and are actually focusing on not going over they’re budget. Let’s be honest most of us can’t afford a 60k vehicle.
I’m seeing quite a few around where I live. I had a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that got caught up in the engine recall. It had a lot of other issues and to be honest it soured me on ever owning another Hyundai. I drive a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport now.
I think it is a cool little thing
The Santa Cruz is more of an urban Sport Activity Vehicle and not even close to an off-roader except for maybe a dirt/gravel road or the beach. I don’t think they expected to sell more than 50k units; although, they probably thought more than 24k.
A lot of good points by you and others. Problem #1 is price followed by the DCT, size, fuel economy, and lastly looks.
The Maverick is relatively cheap and more spacious than a Ranger. Now underneath Ford does a lot of cost cutting to keep that price low so we’ll see how long it lasts.
For the price of the Santa Cruz, you could get a Frontier, Ridgeline, Ranger, Colorado/Canyon, or Taco.
The powertrain in the maverick is known for lasting over 500k on older escape hybrids. You're already seeing quite a few reports of transmission failure with the sante cruz's. I have way more faith in the mavericks longevity than the sante cruz's. I've owned products from both brands btw so I'm trying to be objective here.
@@themidnighttavern6784lasting over 500k miles in the Escapes? Um…no. Don’t buy that line for one second. Show me the proof on that, because a quick Google search will lead you to all kinds of reports of catastrophic engine failure on early Escape hybrids. And there’s already been 2 major recalls for the 22-23 models, again for engine issues.
Does anyone know if the sales figures for the Ford are just in North America - given that the Hyundai is only sold in the US and Canada that might explain part of the difference - I believe though the main reason is that with the $19995 price some thought "heck, I'll buy two"....
My neighbor just bought a Ford Maverick. It was ordered from the factory and took 10 months to come in. It's the Lariat trim with AWD. He's an old timer and enjoys tooling around town in it.
I think the Santa Cruz needs the hybrid or the phev.
I think this car has a good vibe for going to the beach or doing some weekend camping or a tailgate. It would be cool if they had a convertible one. Some bright vivid colors would be nice.
after 3 months of ownership of the Maverick XLT, AWD, FX4 with the 4K tow package. This is what I get: City: 24/25 Highway: 25/27-with 3 adults. The AWD does quite well. I am able to really push the vehicle-no smell, no computer trying to figure things out. I am interested to learn what it is with a trailer and hunting gear (Jon boat, decoys, men and equipment.). As well as very comfortable for men 6 ft 3 inches and 5ft 7".
The santa cruz is in my opinion hands down better but you have people who think the "big three" are more American and won't buy any other brands.
The maverick is more truck like, affordable, fuel efficient, reliable, and with a more restrained and classy design. The sante Cruz offers a more premium interior, more car-like handling, sportier styling and has a better warranty by 2 years. The maverick rides rougher, and uses more plastic in the interior. The sante cruz's come from a brand with significantly less truck experience and it shows.
Both have their pros and cons. It comes down to, do you want a more traditional, robust truck. Or a more high end truck.
There are countless reports of transmissions failing in the sante Cruz, as well as engine issues, suspension issues, braking issues, electrical issues, and fit and finish issues.
The main issue the maverick hybrid's had was a faulty wiring harness causing hybrids to go dead. But this was only addressed and doesn't affect the trucks built past May of 2022.
Way less issues with the maverick than what we're seeing with the sante Cruz, and it appears as though Ford is being far more proactive in addressing the few issues that do arise. Nothing we didn't expect going in.
I don't hate Hyundai/Kia, I've owned 4 of them. But they've almost always had more issues than our ford's, and the dealerships have always given us a hard time repairing them under warranty. So I don't think I'll be buying a 5th anytime soon. Our 2009 Kia Rio doesn't have anything on it to break, it's so basic, yet it's still managing to have issues.
@The Midnight Tavern i will agree I am not impressed with my hyundai dealer. They broke my usb during a software update and did not mention it. I found out when i went to plug a charger back into it and they tried blaming it on me before finally fixing it.
I've had alot of full size trucks as well.my favorite being a 2014 roush raptor. The santa cruz is fun but if toyota were to make something similar I would probably go for that instead.
@@barchie9757 I like Toyota, but they aren't a reliable as people as people say they are. When it comes to Tacoma's, it's about 50/50 between people who've had a great experience, and people whose truck is just falling apart based on what I've seen. The newer Tundras are also having engine issues with only a few thousand miles on them. Quite a few Toyota models are having low mileage engine failures right now, the tundra based suv, the gr86, battery issues with their ev stuff, even this gen of Camry had mass engine failures when they first came out due to a manufacturing defect. Whereas most Ford ranger owners I've met loved their trucks.
When it comes to trucks/SUVs I tend to stick with American stuff, mostly Ford. As for sedans/ hatchbacks, I mean more towards Japanese/Korean brands.
My mentality is to buy the products that companies stake their reputations on the most. With Ford, that's their trucks, they tend to invest a lot of resources into their trucks to ensure they're reliable because their trucks are so profitable, they can't risk making unreliable trucks that cost them that valuable revenue stream.
Looks like a hello kitty 🐱 truck 🛻
great job and a pleasure to explore the nuances of the truck...thanks
It's the PRICE man... top price Cruz will get you into a real truck
I see you haven't noticed Ford is selling F-150s for $90,000 these days.
We're not on same page
@@wolfshanze5980 You do realise that you can get a F150 for less than $90,000, don't you?
@Eankar 818 you do realize that you totally can pay $90,000 for an F-150 don't you?
Educate yourself on what's going on:
ua-cam.com/video/fWq7M5ArEgk/v-deo.html
@@wolfshanze5980 just because you can doesn’t mean you have to, as you are implying.
I like the look of the Maverick on the outside... the inside is pretty cheap looking. I know, Ford wanted to make it affordable, so that's why the interior is the way it is. However, here on the Illinois/Wisconsin border the dealerships are playing their games with the Maverick. I honestly don't know if I'll ever buy another Ford with the dealer mark-ups they are doing. We test drove a Mach-E and during the test drive the salesman told us they were asking AT LEAST (his exact words) $20K over MSRP - making that particular vehicle a $90K vehicle. He told us "We know what we've got here, and we're not letting it go cheap". $90K is more than I paid for my first house, and it came with land!
We are interested in the Santa Cruz, we are older homeowners and only need a truck for hauling things like topsoil, mulch, etc. so it would be a perfect fit for us. But a dealership that has one we like refuses to tell me what the asking price is. So, I refuse to communicate further with them.
I don't think the statement "Well, they're hard to get" is valid anymore here, since the Ford lots are full of F150's, Broncos, and Rangers. And a Hyundai dealership down the road from us has 14 Santa Cruz's on the lot.
Ford "stealerships" are the worst at unjustified markups. It's always steered me away from buying their products.
@@Yul-Uhlu There's no way in today's market with lots full of vehicles and interest rates as high as they are that I would ever buy another Ford as long as they continue to play their games.
Funny how since interest rates are so high and sales are down, almost overnight the "supply chain" and "microchip" issue has all but disappeared.
Just go to Long McArthur Ford . They have EV's at msrp because nobody is buying them. Order a Maverick when order banks open and you can get yours at MSRP like I will be getting mine in a week.
I agree with all the points you are making. Get rid of the dual clutch transmission, 6" more bed length, provide a hybrid with cvt and lower price by 2-4k depending on model.
So far the only real cons worth listening are the dual clutch ish and dealer markups the santa cruz is a lovely vehicle overall for those who know exactly what its for!! Light off roading and light works!!
Hyundai doesn't advertise or promote the SC NEARLY as much as Ford does with the Maverick. So, essentially, the SC sales numbers are mainly from the SC selling itself without the need for crazy marketing. So, honestly, Hyundai is KILLING it with SC sales in relation to their marketing overhead.
I think price and fuel efficiency has more to do with sales numbers. People still want cheaper run around trucks. Santa Cruz is not that. Maverick is around $25k and that's hard to beat.
@@ShersGarage I mean, an SE starts just over $25K MSRP and the SEL starts just over $27K. Yeah, it's still not Maverick MPGs at those price points, but the SC still has some more practicality and capabilities than the Maverick in terms of towing, hauling, comfort, and storage.
@@tac79phoenix right. Maverick starts at $22k with either hybrid or 2.0 turbo. Santa Cruz comes with 2.5 NA and Ford Ranger range of MPG.
Tooo expensive
Why is the gas mileage nearly the same as my Tacoma double cab sporting 265 tires and a 4 liter V6?
My question is....if your not taking it off road and the only " truck stuff" your gonna do would be the occasional bags of mulch from home depot to home....if 98% of your driving is gonna be on road everyday driving....should They don't clutch be a problem?
The Santa Cruz looks sooooooo much better than the (3rd grader designed) Ford Mav. That said, if I'm buying a truck in this price range it's going to be the Nissan Frontier that comes standard with a stout V6 and a lot more capable.
Because it’s ugly 😂
I don’t know about this one but love this show, according to it not one single car or truck is selling, which makes me wonder where all the new rides on the roads come from… where is the magic tree they grow on ?
Vehicles are still selling quite well, despite all the propaganda on UA-cam….
@@leedanielson7452 exactly...Washington state here...new rides everywhere. I'm in the market on buying 2 rigs. Both are tough to come by right now. I'm watching dealers move used and new inventory pretty decent. You tube must only be talking about small towns or low income states.
@@BluegrassNBass FL here.. there are lots more vehicles on the lots than a year or two ago. I really don’t know how well they’re selling though? Not many discounts on the new ones cause I’ve been looking unless you want a new 2022, but that is really a year old already lol
Was shopping for a truck, this one got the axe because there is a maximum bed weight rating of around 600 lbs regardless how close you are to the gvwr
I have S C 2023 LIMITED almost after 2 years I drove 8200 miles , I experienced one recall and last week check engine light light turned ON took to dealership found out there is a bad sensor 😢 after a little search found out there is problem with TRANSMISSION 😅 and I am still waiting for part
It needs more masculine styling.
More look alike Tonka Truck styling?
@@Incomudro1963 it’s what men want!
@@AntLive29 It is unfortunately.
I still prefer the Santa Cruz over the Maverick. Maverick is too "truckish" of a look, for someone like myself who is not into trucks. The Santa Cruz just gives me the best of both worlds. Modern stylish SUV- like design with a functional bed. The Maverick just look too cheap for me. Especially, in the interior. #teamsantacruz
Yeah, my thoughts exactly.
I'm a car guy who kind of hates trucks - or - hates the arms race of gigantacism that trucks have undergone.
I remember well the small trucks from Nissan and Toyota in the 80's.
Anyway, I could use some of the capablities of a truck, but don't want to give up the handling and lack of garage space that a car takes up.
I really like the Santa Cruz.
My guess is you are a Hyundai salesman.
@James D I'm not a salesman. Just someone who knows what they like. I don't like the Maverick, and it's my choice.
@@JamesD-HB I bought one for those reasons. It is the shortest pickup available in the US which helps when you park in the garage. I had a Subaru Outback, which I loved, but it had two issues. Not enough cargo space and not enough power. MY SC Limited solves both those problems.
@@Incomudro1963 We have a 2-car garage and owned a Ford F150 Limited, when parked in our garage we had exactly 6 inches of space between the front bumper and garage door, it was a nightmare to park! Now that we're older we don't want to deal with that anymore. As homeowners we need a truck to haul smaller items like bags of mulch, etc.
I was lucky to get the 2022 Santa Cruz for the base price without the huge markup when it first came out. Today there's dealerships that charge more for a mid Santa Cruz that cost more than a Tacoma. I've already had 4 different recalls on my Santa Cruz and it's not worth leaving it at the dealership on top of the 2 hour oil change every time I take it in.
DCT transmission, what were they thinking?
Atleast it's a true american car, assembled in Alabama.
Bam! "Ford built in Mexico".
Not Ford built tough...
Making money is an action. Keeping money is behaviour. Growing money is knowledge..
That's true you've to put money working for you instead of you working for money
I ordered my Santa Cruz in June and Picked her up two days ago. So far I love her. My lst truck. She drives just like my small car did. I am 75 and this will be the last of many vehicles I have owned over the years. The small bed does not bother me as I just haul mulch, flowers etc. a few times a year. I love that she is low to the ground as other trucks are so high I have trouble getting in and out. Also not a big deal but all of the hidden compartments in cab and bed are kinda neat.
@Ben Hardy: I did not buy one because the rear seat leg room was too small compared to the Maverick and the bed was a little short as you stated.
Easy Answer: It’s a Hyundai….Enough said
I would have considered one if you could get the turbo motor with a traditional auto trans. That dual clutch is problematic and doesn't belong on a "truck".
I agree with your points on the box size and transmission. In Canada we don't even get the non-turbo, traditional automatic, fwd model. AWD turbo DSG only. which prices it about 10k more than the Maverick, which Ford kept their same lineup as they have in the US. our base Santa cruz is the same price as the Maverick Lariat. but doesn't have leather, vented seats, upgraded infotainment, etc...