Performance

You can tow more between Boise and Nampa in the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which has a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, topping the Ford Maverick's 4,000-pound max towing rating. Base models for the Maverick can only tow 2,000 pounds.

The Ford Maverick's powertrain features an output of 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. With its base 2.5-liter inline-4 engine, Hyundai's compact truck matches that power output with 191 ponies, and easily tops the torque figure at 181 pound-feet.

Both trucks offer a turbocharged engine, but the Santa Cruz is the superior powertrain. The Maverick's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine produces 250 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, lower figures than the Santa Cruz's 2.5-liter turbocharged powertrain producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can also handle a heavier payload in the Hyundai Santa Cruz with a 1,900-pound max payload rating, topping the Ford Maverick's 1,500 pounds.

Performance

Both trucks tow 5,000 pounds, but the Honda Ridgeline can only handle a 1,500-pound payload compared to 1,900 pounds for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Honda Ridgeline's standard 3.5-liter V6 engine achieves 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, but those performance ratings are lower than the Hyundai Santa Cruz's 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque from its turbocharged engine. Both pickups provide all-wheel drive, as the Honda Ridgeline has an i-VTM4® AWD system compared to the Hyundai Santa Cruz's HTRAC AWD. The Honda Ridgeline has lower fuel economy ratings of 18/24 (city/highway) miles per gallon compared to the 21/27 figures for the Hyundai Santa Cruz.