The Santa Cruz’s truck bed is incredibly useful, despite being on the short side compared to every other truck on the market; the bed is some six inches shorter than its closest competition. But for everyday use, and more leisurely applications, it’s often more useful than the cargo space on a crossover. We love that you keep the smell of wet and/or dirty gear out of the interior, and you can hose the bed down when you’re done. Hyundai also has solutions to fit a couple of bikes in the back, but our bikes have quick-release front wheels, which makes that unnecessary.
The key accessory for any trim level, we believe, is the lockable tonneau cover. Being able to leave stuff in the back while stopping for coffee or wandering away for a few hours on a hike is something Hyundai should think about making a standard feature.
Is it better than a Ford Maverick? For most people, yes, but it is more expensive, which is likely why the Ford sells more Mavericks. Where the Maverick starts at under $25k for 2023, the 2023 Santa Cruz’s MSRP is $25,450 for the base trim. However, the user experience is much better in our opinion – unless six inches is make-or-break for you.