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The all-new 2022 Ford Maverick is a pretty unique vehicle—a small pickup truck built on the same chassis as Ford’s popular Escape and Bronco Sport compact SUVs. However, it does have a few rivals worth test-driving at the dealership, including the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the Honda Ridgeline.

If you’re in the market for a compact pickup rather than a full-size truck, the Ford Maverick isn’t your only option
The Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado have some of the lowest starting MSRPs for small trucks
The Hyundai Santa Cruz combines ample cargo space with a high-tech interior
Most compact trucks on the market are available with automatic transmissions and either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD)

MORE:

How to save on Ford Maverick insurance costs

1. Hyundai Santa Cruz

Starting price: $25,735 to $41,465

Selling points: Utilitarian cargo bed and a modern high-tech interior

Weak spot: Weak base engine and expensive top trims

The pickup’s short bed and compact size make the 2022

Hyundai Santa Cruz

the Ford Maverick’s most obvious competitor. Just like the Maverick, the Santa Cruz is compact with a unibody SUV-style construction that puts the fun in functional.

The Santa Cruz boasts a comfortable interior with high-tech features and seating for five. However, you’ll have to upgrade to higher trim levels to enjoy premium features like all-wheel drive, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

2. Honda Ridgeline

Starting price: $39,435 to $46,865

Selling points: Agile and refined, ample back seat space

Weak spot: A lack of off-road and towing capabilities

While the Maverick and Santa Cruz are all new, the

Honda Ridgeline

has been around for several years. It still exists as a best-of-both-worlds middleman between a pickup truck and a crossover SUV, but its slightly larger size makes its bed considerably more versatile.

Perhaps the best thing about the Ridgeline is its ride quality—the engine feels incredibly smooth, while the interior is unmatched in terms of practicality and comfort. Passengers in the back seat will have more room than they would in any other truck in this class.

3. Ford Ranger

Starting price: $27,425 to $41,000

Selling points: Increased off-road and towing capacity

Weak spot: Boring design and less-than-modern technology

If you’re intrigued by the Maverick’s small size but want a more traditional pickup truck chassis, the

Ford Ranger

could be a great option. This mid-size truck offers significantly higher off-road capabilities, especially if you select the Tremor trim or off-road package.

Plus, the tow package allows the Ranger to pull up to 7,500 pounds—without messing with ride quality. This is thanks to a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

4. Ford Bronco Sport

Starting price: $30,410 to $38,185

Selling points: Serious off-road capabilities, great fuel economy

Weak spot: A tight squeeze in the rear seat

It may seem strange to include a compact crossover on a list of pickup trucks, but if you’re intrigued by the Maverick’s styling but don’t need an open bed, then the Ford

Bronco Sport

—which offers a pickup-truck-like shape—is a wonderful option.

Whether you’re a city dweller, an outdoor adventurer, or a healthy mix of the two, the Bronco Sport will get the job done. The Badlands trim is extremely capable on any terrain, thanks to a 245-hp turbo-four engine, lifted suspension, enhanced all-wheel drivetrain, and top-notch dampers.

The fuel economy doesn’t disappoint, either, with an EPA rating of 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

5. Jeep Gladiator

Starting price: $38,765 to $55,675

Selling points: A wide range of trims to suit any driver, off-road ready

Weak spot: Unimpressive fuel economy, not built for the highway

Since we’re discussing pickup trucks that are SUV-inspired, we absolutely must mention the

Jeep Gladiator

. Designed after the ever-popular

Wrangler

, the Gladiator offers added versatility thanks to its truck bed and increased towing capacity of an additional two tons.

While it’s not quite as nimble as the Wrangler on rough terrain, the Gladiator is still an off-road-ready truck—plus, its removable body panels turn it into a fun summertime sports vehicle in a flash. The 3.6-liter V6 engine is powerful enough but can get a bit noisy and difficult to steer at higher speeds.

6. Chevrolet Colorado

Starting price: $27,230 to $44,345

Selling points: Fluid and nimble handling, comfy driver’s seat

Weak spot: Unimpressive base four-cylinder engine

Built on another classic pickup truck chassis, the

Chevrolet Colorado

is the smaller sibling of the

Silverado

, offering the versatility of a truck in an easier-to-maneuver package.

Choose between three engine variants: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 3.6-liter V6, or a 2.8-liter diesel four-cylinder. We highly recommend upgrading the unimpressive, relatively weak base engine option.

The Chevy Colorado’s spacious front seats offer optimal comfort for the driver, although the crew cab’s back seat is undeniably cramped. Overall, the interior materials seem overly simple and outdated—although the cabin does offer an ample amount of storage, including a very large center console and an under-seat compartment in the crew cab option.

If you’re looking for an even more compact truck from Chevrolet: The Chevy Montana could be an option, but not one that’s available in the North American market (yet).

7. GMC Canyon

Starting price: $28,595 to $44,395

Selling points: Handsome, modern styling

Weak spot: Weak, uninspiring base engine

The

GMC Canyon

is yet another mid-size truck great for people who want some of the capabilities of a full-size pickup but without all the bulk—plus, we think it’s one of the better-looking options on our list!

Once again, you’ll get to choose between a few different engines, although we’d advise against the uninspiring base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Instead, opt for the 308-hp 3.6-liter V6 if you have a need for speed, or the diesel four-cylinder if you require fuel efficiency and top-notch towing capabilities.

8. Nissan Frontier

Starting price: $29,985 to $38,390

Selling points: Modern interior and smooth on-road driving

Weak spot: Squished back seat, difficult to steer

The

Nissan Frontier

is the final mid-size pickup truck on our list, but its handsome bodywork and well-equipped interior make it a stand-out. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, ample interior cubbies, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and several charging outlets are standard, while available luxuries include heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Towing capabilities are admittedly average, topping out at around 6,720 pounds. The Frontier’s fuel economy doesn’t blow us away either, although the rear-wheel-drive option will get you much farther than the four-wheel-drive model.

Ford Maverick vs. the competition

Now that we’ve created a list of some of the Ford Maverick’s fiercest competitors, let’s take a look at their specs side by side:

Model	Starting price range	Engine options	Max seating capacity	Max cargo volume	Max towing capacity	Fuel economy (city/highway)
2022 Ford Maverick	$22,470 to $28,335	2.0-liter 4-cylinder; 2.5-liter 4-cylinder	5	33.3 cubic feet	2,000 lbs	42/33 mpg
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz	$25,735 to $41,465	2.5-liter 4-cylinder	5	27 cubic feet	5,000 lbs	21/27 mpg
2022 Honda Ridgeline	$39,435 to $46,865	3.5-liter V6	5	33.9 cubic feet	5,000 lbs	18/24 mpg
2022 Ford Ranger	$27,425 to $41,000	2.3-liter 4-cylinder	5	33.9 cubic feet	3,500 lbs	20/26 mpg
2022 Ford Bronco Sport	$30,410 to $38,185	1.5-liter 3-cylinder; 245-hp turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder	5	32.5 cubic feet	2,200 lbs	25/28 mpg
2022 Jeep Gladiator	$38,765 to $55,675	3.6-liter V6	5	35.5 cubic feet	4,500 lbs	22/28 mpg
2022 Chevrolet Colorado	$27,230 to $44,345	2.5-liter 4-cylinder; 3.6-liter V6; 2.8-liter 4-cylinder diesel	5	49.9 cubic feet	7,000 lbs	20/30 mpg
2022 GMC Canyon	$28,595 to $44,395	2.5-liter 4-cylinder; 3.6-liter V6; 2.8-liter 4-cylinder diesel	5	44.9 cubic feet	7,000 lbs	20/30 mpg
2022 Nissan Frontier	$29,985 to $38,390	3.8-liter V6	5	49.6 cubic feet	6,720	18/24 mpg