Bigger isn't always better. The recent rise in gas prices saw small trucks take over some of the market once held by the big trucks. While these compact trucks won't take over all the full-size pickup truck duties like towing trailers and heavy loads, they have their place as more versatile SUV options and more efficient, affordable, and accessible alternatives to the bigger trucks.

Micro-trucks shot into the limelight in 2022, with the new entrants, the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz shaking up this segment while injecting some welcome competition. Both come with unibody construction and have proven to be great trucks. We've pitted Hyundai's truck against its rival from Ford, and here are reasons why you should consider one over the other.

10 The Hyundai Santa Cruz: Premium Feeling Cabin Material

2023 Santa Cruz Front View Via Hyundai
Via Hyundai 

Lately, the Hyundai Motor Group has been putting in great effort to make its vehicles feel premium across its Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands. The Santa Cruz isn't different and comes with the same plush and sophisticated interior as the Tucson SUV.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Hyundai

You get some features not available on the Maverick, like ventilated seats. On its part, the Maverick feels roomier and uncrowded in the backseat.

RELATED: A Closer Look At The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night Edition

9 The Ford Maverick: Classic Pickup Truck Styling

Green 2022 Ford Maverick driving
via: Ford

Ford has been in the pickup truck game much longer than Hyundai's existence. This experience translates to their spunky compact pickup truck, and from first glance, the Maverick looks more like a proper pickup, unlike the Santa Cruz, which looks more like a car.

2022 Ford Maverick
via: Ford

It comes with a boxy 70s-inspired exterior design that gives it that old-school 1970s vibe. It should slot right next to its Ford Ranger and F-150 workhorses in the family.

8 The Hyundai Santa Cruz: Plenty Of Driver Assist Tech

2022-santa-cruz
via: Hyundai

The Hyundai Santa Cruz gets slightly better tech than the Maverick in infotainment, safety, and driver assist tech. Hyundai has more advanced safety features like semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist available on the standard Santa Cruz. Also, the standard infotainment offering on this truck is better than on the Maverick.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The Fast Lane Truck YouTube Channel 

You will have to spend money on the more expensive top Maverick trim to get features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and evasive steering, which come bundled into the pricey and exclusive Luxury package.

7 The Ford Maverick: Improved Off-Road Capability With The FX4 Package

Ford-Maverick_Tremor-2023-Bike
via: Ford

Unibody trucks can't pride the same level of capability as their body-on-frame counterparts. They are suited for other less demanding uses, but still, they can do some light work in the dirt. Ford offers the Maverick with the optional FX4 Package, which helps grant it a higher level of off-road capability than its rivals.

Ford-Maverick_Tremor-2023-Mud
via: Ford

The FX4 Package features an off-road-tuned suspension, skid plates, and useful terrain drive modes, giving the driver more confidence in unpredictable road and weather conditions.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The Ford Maverick Is One Of The Coolest Trucks On The Market Right Now

6 The Hyundai Santa Cruz: Clever Bed Design

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz on the trail
Via: Hyundai

The micro-truck segment aims at city dwellers with an active lifestyle who need to haul their camping gear, mountain bikes, and sometimes furniture from the stores. Hyundai got creative with the Santa Cruz, featuring a clever bed design to fit city usage.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz on the road
Via Hyundai

While its bed is smaller than the Maverick's, it is still quite capable and has crafty features like built-in steps, hidden storage cubbies, an under-floor cargo bin, and a slide-out locking tonneau cover. These make it incredibly versatile and protect your cargo from the elements.

5 The Ford Maverick: Better Truck Utility

2022 Ford Mavericks
via: Ford

Ford leans towards creating a baby F150, while Hyundai aimed at building a sports adventure vehicle. Consequently, the Maverick feels more like a proper truck than the Santa Cruz.

Ford Maverick_Lariat_Hybrid Front Quarter View Blue
via Ford

The Maverick has a longer and deeper bed with a lower load floor and offers more customizability with the molded slots for DIY bed dividers. It receives standard Ford truck features and hence provides better truck utility. Also, it has a slightly higher payload capacity, although the Santa Cruz comes with a better towing rate.

4 The Hyundai Santa Cruz: Handles Like A Car

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz on the trail front view
Via Hyundai

Most small trucks come with a crossover soul stuck in a truck body. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a big surprise seeing it drives more like a Sonata with a bed than a crossover.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz side view
Via Hyundai

It handles like a car on curvy roads where it feels planted, powerful, and with plenty of grip on loose and rough surfaces. Its lower stance and shorter silhouette make it agile and easier to maneuver around town with a comfier and relaxing ride.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why We Love The Hyundai Santa Cruz

3 The Ford Maverick: Efficient Hybrid Powertrain

Ford-Maverick-2022-tow
via: Ford

The standard Ford Maverick comes with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain and front-wheel drive. It is the first fully standard hybrid pickup from America, and it returns a combined fuel economy rating of 37 mpg, which is quite impressive even by city car standards.

Ford-Maverick-2022-parking
via: Ford

The most efficient Santa Cruz trim comes with more daily running costs than the Maverick with a combined fuel economy rating of 23 mpg. Even the turbocharged Ecoboost engine from the Maverick fares better, with a combined rating of 26 mpg.

2 The Hyundai Santa Cruz: One Of The Best Warranty Plans In The Segment

2023 Santa Cruz Front And Side View Via Hyundai
Via Hyundai 

Hyundai offers some of the best warranty terms in the automotive industry, and the Santa Cruz gets an envious cover. It comes with a limited warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain warranty covers ten years or 100,000 miles.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night Edition rear third quarter view
Via: Hyundai

Also, buyers get a complimentary maintenance cover for three years or 36,000 miles. The Ford Maverick gets much less coverage, with a three-year limited warranty and a five-year powertrain warranty.

RELATED: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2023 Ford Maverick

1 The Ford Maverick: Accessible Base Price

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source:ford

Affordability is one of the tiny-truck segment's main appeals, and the Ford Maverick comes with the most accessible base prices. The 2023 XL model with the standard 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain has a starting MSRP of $22,195. Even the top-spec Lariat trim doesn't cross the $30k mark and starts at $27,955.

The base Hyundai Santa Cruz proves marginally pricier starting at $24,440. The fully loaded Limited trim with high-end features starts at $40,170. Once you load up the Maverick, the price evens out between the two vehicles.