- The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is priced at $28,500, marking a $1,600 increase over the 2024 model.
- Key updates for the 2025 Santa Cruz include standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a redesigned cockpit featuring a panoramic display, and new advanced safety technologies.
- In comparison, the 2025 Ford Maverick starts at $26,295 and offers more options, including a hybrid powertrain with all-wheel drive, appealing to a broader range of buyers.
- Market performance data shows Ford leading the segment, with 77,113 Mavericks sold in the first half of 2024, compared to Hyundai’s 17,945 Santa Cruz units.
Hyundai has officially revealed the pricing for its 2025 Santa Cruz, which will start at $28,500, not including a $1,395 destination charge. This marks a $1,600 increase over the 2024 model, which is still available for $26,900 plus the same destination fee.
The announcement, made on August 21, 2024, comes as the South Korean automaker aims to refresh its compact pickup with several enhancements.
The 2025 Santa Cruz, first showcased at the New York International Auto Show in March 2024, features updated exterior styling and a redesigned cockpit that integrates a curved panoramic display, combining the instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system.
Additionally, Hyundai has made wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the lineup, alongside new advanced safety technologies.
Despite these upgrades, the question remains whether the price hike is justified. Externally, changes are minimal, leaving some to wonder if the extra cost is warranted. Inside, the updates include new switches, buttons for infotainment and HVAC controls, and rear center armrest cupholders.
Convenience upgrades such as over-the-air firmware updates, USB Type-C ports, and a new towing drive mode for the 2.5-liter turbo Limited and XRT trims add some value.
Hyundai has also introduced Forward Attention Warning as a standard feature across all models. However, the lack of a hybrid powertrain or a performance-oriented version has left some potential buyers considering other options, such as the Ford Maverick, which also debuted its 2025 model with significant updates.
In comparison, Ford has responded to customer demands by offering the Maverick Hybrid with all-wheel drive and introducing a new street-performance version called the Lobo, which features a Mustang-inspired track mode. With a starting price of $26,295, the Maverick remains a strong contender in the compact pickup segment, undercutting the Santa Cruz and appealing to a broader audience.
Sales figures from the first half of 2024 further highlight the gap between these two rivals. Ford sold an impressive 77,113 Mavericks, with nearly 40,000 of those being hybrids, making it the most popular hybrid truck in the U.S. In contrast, Hyundai struggled to move just 17,945 units of the Santa Cruz, a number that doesn’t inspire confidence for the 2025 model’s commercial success.
