2024 Ford Maverick Review – The Best US Mini Truck?
By Damon Minks
| Updated 3 Days Ago
Mini or compact pickup trucks are relatively few and far between within the US market, and when the subject arises, many tend to think of Ford’s Maverick. Our review aims to dive deeper into what the 2024 Ford Maverick offers to more accurately determine if this model is the best compact pickup or simply one of the most thought of.
MotoPickers Rating: 8.1/10
Ford’s 2024 Maverick starts at an accessible price of $23,920. A turbocharged engine has been standardized for this pickup’s 2024 production year, and Ford now offers the hybrid powertrain as an option instead of standard within the base grade. The 2024 Maverick is part of the model’s first generation, which was introduced for 2022.
Key upsides to the 2024 Maverick include responsive and fuel-efficient powertrains, precise handling, and a spacious cabin. Ford also offers lots of optional equipment to optimize towing, a vital asset within the compact or mini truck class.
While the 2024 Maverick’s handling is high-performing, its ride feel can be a bit bumpy, and some may have issues with the steering wheel and driver’s seat’s limited adjustments. Regarding the competition, the 2024 Maverick’s primary rival is Hyundai’s Santa Cruz, which has a crossover-like design. Each primary section of our review will include comparisons between these two models so you can attain a fuller shopping perspective.
Exterior spotlight
LED headlamps come standard on the 2024 Maverick’s XL base grade and six cargo bed tie-downs. The bed is small, but 6” longer than the 2024 Santa Cruz bed at 54”. Shorter walls surrounding the Maverick’s bed help ease cargo access, and an optimal bed extender supplies up to two extra feet of enclosed cargo space.
Drivers can secure the 2024 Maverick’s tailgate with an available power-locking feature. Locking the truck will automatically lock your tailgate. LED box lighting helps illuminate the bed during nighttime cargo loading and unloading. The base XL trim also contains a black mesh grille with black surround trim, protective film on the hood and fenders, and front/rear splash guards. Ford offers 4-pin and 7-pin trailer hitches as upgrades in addition to a bed tray liner.
The XLT trim has 17” carbonized gray-painted aluminum wheels, a gray grille bar, and wiper-activated LED headlamps. Distinct tremor orange exterior accents are available in this grade, and an 18” machined-face bright aluminum wheel comes standard in the Lariat.
By comparison, Hyundai’s Santa Cruz offers 20” wheels, exceeding the Maverick’s largest 18” configuration. The 2024 Santa Cruz also boasts an optional panoramic sunroof option. If you prioritize practical exterior features, the 2024 Maverick is a better choice with components like its bed extender and power-locking liftgate. Alternatively, the 2024 Santa Cruz contains a more contemporary exterior design.
Interior analysis
The 2024 Maverick offers additional cargo solutions within its interior, such as rear under-seat storage and pocket doors. Available cargo accessories include extra cup holders, a trash bin, and dividers for under-seat storage. This compact Ford pickup’s base grade contains five-passenger seating and Black Onyx/Medium Dark Slate cloth upholstery. The base grade’s driver and front passenger seat adjustments are limited to six-way and 4-way manual adjustments, respectively.
A cabin particulate air filter and bucket front seats with rear passenger side map pockets are also standard, along with a full bench rear folding seat back with flip-up seat cushions. The XLT’s interior features a rear armrest with integrated cup holders and 6-way and 4-way power adjustments for the front seats instead of manual ones. Spice up this truck’s interior with the navy pier and medium slate, which contain vibrant orange touches. The Maverick Lariat offers desert brown ActiveX synthetic leather-trimmed seats.
Lariat drivers also receive a soft vinyl-wrapped heated steering wheel, an acoustic windshield, ambient lighting, and optional floor liners. While steering wheel and front seat adjustments are limited in certain 2024 Maverick trims, we’re more concerned with the fact that the power sunroof isn’t panoramic, and heated front seats don’t come standard, unlike the Santa Cruz.
In addition to standard heated seats, the 2024 Santa Cruz offers genuine leather upholstery in its higher trims for a more premium look and feel. The 2024 Maverick doesn’t offer genuine leather within any of its three grades. Similar to the exterior, the 2024 Maverick offers a more utilitarian interior with a focus on features like storage solutions, while the 2024 Santa Cruz emphasizes style.
Power and performance
Ford’s 2024 Maverick contains a standard 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine producing a solid 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Drivers can equip this 2.0-liter engine with all-wheel drive (AWD) or stick with front-wheel drive (FWD). The available 2.5-liter hybrid engine, paired with an automatic continuously variable transmission, delivers 191 combined horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. Drivers will receive 20-42 MPG on the highway and 24-33 MPG in the city with the 2024 Maverick, and 19-21/25-27 city/highway.
The optional 2.5-liter hybrid engine has a 1,500-lb payload capacity and an available 4k tow package with a 7-pin connector. However, to access this 4,000-lb maximum towing capacity, you’ll have to select the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine and AWD.
Hyundai’s 2024 Santa Cruz offers a 191-281 horsepower range, beating the 2.0-liter Maverick’s 250 horsepower. This Hyundai also exceeds the Maverick’s torque at 181-311 lb-ft and provides a higher towing capacity of 3,500-5,000 lbs. So far, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is beating its Maverick counterpart in the performance category, but looking at off-road capabilities, it may have more considering its Ford counterpart.
The 2024 Maverick offers an available Tremor off-road package with off-road-tuned suspension, increased ride height, all-terrain tires, and orange exterior accents. This Ford’s optional FX4 off-road package similarly uses all-terrain tires while providing performance suspension, two additional drive modes, skid plates, and hill descent control.
Standard drive modes include normal, tow/haul, slippery, eco, and sport, but the FX4 package adds sand and mud/ruts drive modes. Ford designed the 2024 Maverick to achieve quality off-road capabilities by testing the vehicle over 19 million miles in North America’s harshest terrains, such as steep grades in West Virginia. However, the Maverick’s ride quality can feel a bit bumpy.
Tech overview
The 2024 Maverick contains SYNC 3 tech, which facilitates features like voice commands. This Ford’s standard audio system has six speakers, and the available Bang & Olufsen sound setup has eight speakers, including a subwoofer. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard in the 2024 Maverick, but you’ll have to opt for a higher grade to receive the wireless smartphone charging pad.
Ford offers 2024 Maverick drivers the ability to complete remote vehicle commands via smartphone using the FordPass Connect app. These remote commands can include starting your engine, tracing your vehicle’s location, locking/unlocking doors, and more. The 2024 Maverick’s display middles at 8”, and its standard instrument cluster screen is on the smaller side at 4.2”. An optional 6.5” instrument cluster screen is also available, and Sirius satellite radio comes standard within the peak Lariat grade.
Hyundai’s 2024 Santa Cruz matches the Maverick’s standard 8” display but offers a larger screen option measuring 10.25”. Upgrading the Santa Cruz’s audio system means receiving eight speakers. Still, drivers may prefer this Hyundai’s sound from Bose instead of Bang & Olufsen, as Bose can deliver better bass and more transparent tones. It’s worth noting that this Bose sound system is only for the Santa Cruz’ Limited variant. While all 2024 Maverick trims contain standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, upper Santa Cruz grades allow you to use these features wirelessly.
You may be surprised to learn that the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz boasts an available 10.25” digital instrument cluster—far exceeding the Maverick’s larger 6.5” optional cluster. The Santa Cruz similarly offers wireless charging and Sirius satellite radio in upper trims. Overall, the 2024 Santa Cruz exceeds the Ford Maverick’s tech features, especially with its larger display sizes.
Safety capabilities
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) gave the 2024 Maverick their second-highest crash protection score of four stars, and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) didn’t award the Ford a Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick designation. Hyundai’s 2024 Santa Cruz was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but hasn’t yet received an official NHTSA score.
Standard safety
Ford Co-Pilot 360 tech supplies the 2024 Maverick with standard safety features such as:
- Auto on/off LED high beam headlights
- Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking
- Rearview camera
Optional safety features include a blind-spot information system with a cross-traffic alert, a lane departure warning, a lane-keeping aid, and lane-centering assistance. Moving into XLT territory brings the aforementioned hill descent control, but the Lariat trim has the most standard safety features, with its addition of adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane Centering, evasive steering, and rear parking sensors.
While both models are relatively equal in what they have to offer in terms of safety, the 2024 Santa Cruz is a slightly safer pick with its higher official ratings. The IIHS rates the Santa Cruz as having greater capabilities when it comes to preventing collisions with pedestrians. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA have released crash protection ratings for the 2025 Santa Cruz or Maverick.
Trim guide and owner considerations
Below you’ll find each 2024 Ford Maverick trim with their highlight-worthy features and starting prices listed. We’ll also cite Each of the 2024 Santa Cruz’ trims.
Maverick XL – $23,920
In addition to its attractive starting price, the 2024 Maverick XL features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 17-inch sparkle silver steel wheels, and six tie-downs.
Maverick XLT – $26,420
The number of tie-downs within the XLT increases from the XL’s six to 10. XLT drivers also receive LED bed lighting and 400W in-bed power.
Maverick Lariat – $34,960
A Lariat grade provides additional driver’s seat flexibility with an 8-way power adjustment. The exterior contains high LED Headlamps with LED signature accent lighting and incandescent taillamps.
Santa Cruz SE – $26,900
The base Santa Cruz has a higher starting price, but you’ll receive wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in addition to larger 18” alloy wheels.
Santa Cruz SEL – $29,650
An SEL Santa Cruz features remote engine start and the base 191-horsepower engine, which produces 23 combined MPG.
Santa Cruz Night – $38,460
Moving into Santa Cruz Night territory gives you access to the faster 281-horsepower powertrain, which maintains solid fuel economy at 22 combined MPG. The Night trim also boasts dark 20” alloy wheels and black synthetic leather seating surfaces.
Santa Cruz XRT – $40,100
The XRT grade comes with standard AWD, XRT wide fender cladding, and side steps for easier vehicle entries and exits.
Santa Cruz Limited – $41,320
A peak Santa Cruz Limited trim offers standard high-tech features like a 360-degree surround view monitor and a blind-spot view monitor.
Final verdict
The 2024 Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are neck-and-neck in many ways, and the better option will depend on your driving preferences. Overall, we prefer the 2024 Santa Cruz due to its slightly higher safety rating and more premium interior with better tech. However, many pickup truck enthusiasts are shopping within the class for utilitarian purposes, and the Maverick is a better choice regarding practicality with features like a longer bed and more interior storage solutions.
We also recognize that the Santa Cruz’ crossover styling isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and that its AWD capabilities fall short of the Maverick. If you primarily travel on-road and in cities, the Santa Cruz will likely better suit your driving needs. However, it’s worth noting that the 2025 Santa Cruz has upped its game when it comes to off-road capability with its newly-designed XRT trim.
The 2025 Santa Cruz XRT trim optimizes itself for more rugged activities like off-roading with a rear bumper containing taller and more robust corners for additional protection, which matches the door and fender cladding and shields the truck from environmental debris like rocks. Hyundai’s 2025 Santa Cruz XRT also contains new coil red front tow hooks that look and play the part of a useful pickup well. We’re rating the 2024 Ford Maverick at 8.1/10, and its 2024 Santa Cruz counterpart at 8.4/10.