# Hyundai Santa Cruz Outperforms Ford Maverick in J.D. Power Ratings Hyundai leads in quality and driving experience in the compact pickup segment. - **Source:** [SlashGear](https://www.slashgear.com) - **Published:** 2026-08-26 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/14d03e27-a98e-4df0-a8e4-3ac3de709433 ## The Two Rivals in Compact Pickup Segment Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz stand out as the only two true compact pickups sold in the U.S. According to the 2026 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, Santa Cruz ranked first in its segment while Maverick came in third. Both models scored 82 points overall, but Hyundai led in quality, driving experience, and reliability categories. Ford balanced this with higher predicted resale value. ## Expert Comparative Evaluations J.D. Power's in-house reviewer noted the Maverick 'feels less refined and sophisticated compared to Santa Cruz.' Consumer Reports placed the 2026 Santa Cruz ahead of Maverick in the small pickup class. However, Ford scored higher in predicted reliability. Edmunds rated both models equally at 7.6/10 but highlighted Hyundai's better interior, comfort, and warranty advantages during test drives. ## Consumer and Media Comparisons U.S. News rankings placed Maverick first at 9.1/10 and Santa Cruz second at 8.8. Throttle House testing team was divided, calling both models 'more livable and affordable than traditional trucks.' Independent tests favored Hyundai's more premium interior feel, while Ford scored higher in owner satisfaction surveys. ## Sales Performance and Segment Dynamics Ford sold a record 155,051 Mavericks in 2025 (18.2% increase). Hyundai saw a 20% decline with 25,499 Santa Cruz units sold. Both paled in comparison to Ford's F-Series sales of 828,832 units. The compact pickup segment remains small due to the 25% 'Chicken Tax' since 1964 and 2010 fuel economy regulations based on vehicle footprint. ## Discontinuation of Santa Cruz Production Hyundai plans to discontinue Santa Cruz production in Q2 2027, replacing it with a midsize body-on-frame truck before 2030. This decision reflects the segment's small volume and higher profit margins of full-size trucks. However, Maverick's record sales prove consumer demand exists for compact pickups in the market. ## Historical Challenges of the Segment The compact pickup segment's struggles date back to the 1960s. The 1964 'Chicken Tax' imposed 25% tariffs on imported light trucks. 2010 footprint-based fuel economy regulations set stricter targets for smaller vehicles. Automakers prefer investing in more profitable full-size and midsize segments, making compact models economically unappealing. ## The Paradox of Consumer Preferences Maverick's record sales in 2025 prove demand exists for compact pickups. Yet this demand hasn't convinced other manufacturers to enter the segment. While consumers want small, efficient, and affordable models, automakers focus on more profitable segments. This has left Maverick nearly monopolizing the compact pickup market. ## Implications for the Automotive Industry J.D. Power and independent evaluations show Hyundai Santa Cruz as a superior product to Ford Maverick. Yet sales figures reveal consumers prefer Ford's value proposition. The segment's future may change with electric compact pickups. Hyundai's decision to discontinue Santa Cruz could signal the end of combustion-engine compact trucks. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.slashgear.com/2244053/small-pickup-trucks-with-better-ratings-than-ford-maverick-jd-power/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._