Trucktober: Exploring Ford’s Lineup of Tough Trucks

The 2025 Ford Maverick and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz are two standout compact trucks redefining what it means to drive a versatile, city-friendly pickup. Whether you need everyday practicality, adventurous style, or work-ready toughness, each brings unique strengths. Let’s take a closer look and find out which compact truck is the right fit for you. Style & First Impressions The 2025 Ford Maverick stays true to Ford’s tough truck DNA in a smaller, more approachable size. It looks rugged yet modern, with bold lines, a signature Ford grille, and a design that feels instantly familiar to traditional truck fans. Explore the Maverick On the other hand, the Hyundai Santa Cruz leans into its crossover-inspired styling. With a sleek silhouette, sporty curves and a more urban vibe, it appeals to drivers who want something fresh and less conventional in the truck world. Result: The Ford Maverick delivers classic truck looks in a compact package, while the Santa Cruz stands out with its sporty, urban-inspired design. Performance & Capability The 2025 Maverick offers two powertrains: a standard hybrid delivering impressive fuel efficiency and an available 2-liter EcoBoost engine with up to 250 horsepower. It’s engineered for everyday use, towing up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. It’s more than enough for small trailers, boats or gear. Schedule a Test Drive The Hyundai Santa Cruz provides a 2.5-liter engine with up to 281 horsepower in its turbocharged version. It also tows up to 5,000 pounds, edging out the Maverick slightly, and delivers sporty acceleration that appeals to drivers who enjoy a more spirited ride. Result: While the Santa Cruz offers more raw power and towing, the Maverick balances capability with hybrid efficiency and a lower starting price. Interior Comfort & Technology Inside, the Maverick feels practical yet advanced. It offers Ford’s SYNC infotainment system, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and clever storage solutions throughout the cabin. Higher trims add premium touches like upgraded seating and enhanced connectivity features. The Santa Cruz brings a more SUV-like interior, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen on higher trims, a clean and modern design, and available leather seating. It’s geared toward drivers who prefer a sporty, upscale vibe inside their truck. Result: The Maverick emphasizes practicality and user-friendly tech, while the Santa Cruz delivers a sleek, premium interior experience. Cargo & Utility Ford designed the Maverick’s 4.5-foot bed with versatility in mind. The FLEXBED system includes multiple tie-downs, dividers, and DIY customization options. It’s ideal for work tasks, home projects, or weekend adventures. The Santa Cruz also features a 4.3-foot bed, but its standout feature is the integrated under-bed storage compartment. It’s great for securing gear, groceries, or tools. It also offers a lockable tonneau cover for added convenience. Result: Maverick wins for customizable, practical cargo flexibility, while Santa Cruz shines with creative storage solutions. Safety Features The Maverick comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 technology, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and available adaptive cruise control. It’s designed with everyday safety and confidence in mind. Hyundai equips the Santa Cruz with SmartSense driver-assist features, such as forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and highway driving assist. Its suite feels comprehensive and modern, appealing to tech-focused drivers. Result: Both trucks excel in safety. The Maverick leans on proven Ford driver-assist tech, while Santa Cruz emphasizes advanced highway features. Value & Trim Options The 2025 Ford Maverick shines when it comes to value. With a lower starting price than the Santa Cruz and multiple trims, including hybrid and EcoBoost options, it appeals to a wide range of buyers. The Santa Cruz costs more upfront and offers fewer configurations, but it positions itself as a unique lifestyle truck for adventurous, style-conscious drivers. Result: Maverick leads for affordability and variety. Santa Cruz is best for those who want something less traditional and more niche.

What a great story to get you into the Christmas spirit after a year of uncertainty. This holiday season, Ford Motor Company and Ford dealers are showing their support for U.S. military heroes by donating $3.5 million to military charities as part of the company’s Proud to Honor program, which works to raise awareness of the needs of veterans and to support partners who address those needs. “We are humbled by the sacrifices made by our military service members and their families,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “Our Ford dealers are woven into the fabric of their communities and I’m proud of the support they provide to make a difference in the lives of our vets.” Through the Proud to Honor initiative, Ford raises awareness for members of the military, strengthen existing programs, and create a viable connection with those serving their country. Presently, Ford employs approximately 6,000 veterans. We can all help too with raising awareness for our veterans. Anyone who shares a post on social media reflecting pride in a member of the U.S. military, using #proud honor, Ford will donate $100 to be split evenly between the seven Ford Proud to Honor military charities, up to $3.5 million through Dec. 31, 2020. Proceeds will be directed to wonderful programs such as Blue Star Families, Guitars for Vets, DAV, Workshops for Warriors, Oscar Mike, Bunker Labs and Boulder Crest Foundation. In other news, Ford Motor Company and Pro Football Hall of Fame are combining efforts for the Ford Proud to Honor Hall of Heroes, in recognizing deserving military men and women who exemplify hard work, selflessness, and a commitment to excellence. Kathy Roth-Douquet, the founder of the national nonprofit Blue Star Families, became the first member of the Hall of Heroes. Ford will donate $10,000 worth of toys for Blue Star Families’ charity drive benefiting the children of military families. Let’s all get into the Christmas spirit and do our part to raise awareness for our military heroes who have made sacrifices for our country. To learn more please visit fordproudtohonor.com. McLarty Daniel Ford Lincoln in Bentonville believes in our community and is proud to be part of it. Whenever you need assistance when purchasing your vehicle, come visit your friends at McLarty Daniel Ford Lincoln in Bentonville, we are here for you, Bentonville. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE MCLARTY DANIEL SALES TEAM