Hyundai has unveiled the 2025 Santa Cruz, desperate to inject life into a model that has struggled to capture the market’s attention. The new version rolls out with some modest upgrades, but it’s hard not to wonder if this is simply a futile attempt to stay relevant in the increasingly competitive compact pickup segment.
Let’s start with the so-called enhancements: the 2025 Santa Cruz now includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a facelifted exterior, and a redesigned cockpit featuring a sleek panoramic display. These changes, though, seem more like window dressing than substantial improvements. The updated safety tech and the few added conveniences, such as new USB Type-C ports and a towing mode for specific trims, are hardly game-changers.
Presented at the New York International Auto Show in March 2024, the 2025 Santa Cruz will hit dealer lots this fall. The starting price? $28,500—before a $1,395 destination charge. That’s $1,600 more than the 2024 model, which begs the question: is it really worth the extra cash? The answer, when considering the superficial exterior changes and minor interior tweaks, is a resounding “no.”
Sure, the addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto sweetens the deal slightly, but it’s hardly enough to justify the price hike. Meanwhile, Hyundai’s rival, Ford, has been busy delivering exactly what buyers are asking for with the 2025 Maverick. Ford’s answer to the market? A hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive, a bold new street-performance version called the Lobo, and a starting price that undercuts Hyundai’s lackluster offering.
The numbers tell the real story. In the first half of 2024, Ford sold a staggering 77,113 Mavericks in the U.S., with over half of them being hybrids. In stark contrast, Hyundai managed to move just 17,945 Santa Cruz units—an embarrassing figure by any standard. The Maverick Hybrid, now the nation’s most popular hybrid truck, outsold even the mighty F-150 PowerBoost.
Hyundai’s failure to offer a hybrid option or a compelling performance variant for the Santa Cruz speaks volumes. At a time when first-time truck buyers are leaning towards more practical and versatile options, Hyundai is sticking to a formula that simply isn’t resonating. Meanwhile, the Ford Maverick is poised to extend its lead, leaving the Santa Cruz in the dust.
The verdict? Hyundai’s 2025 Santa Cruz may look a little fresher, but it’s still vastly outgunned by the 2025 Ford Maverick. If you’re in the market for a compact pickup, it’s clear where your money should go—and it’s not towards the Santa Cruz.
