2024 Ford Maverick

The Hyundai Santa Cruz doesn't look like every other truck on the market — and it isn't trying to. The Santa Cruz defies convention with its radical styling and feature-rich bed that adds more utility than you might expect from a lifestyle vehicle. The Santa Cruz is more expensive than its chief rival, the Maverick, but it makes up for it with a well-designed cabin that's packed with tech and convenience features. Plus, since it's a Hyundai, it has one of the best powertrain warranties in the business: 10 years/100,000 miles.

Completely redesigned for 2023, the Nissan Frontier is now a much more competitive offering in the midsize pickup truck class. It drives better, has more standard and available tech, and looks like something that was designed in this century. As a body-on-frame truck, the Frontier has higher capabilities than the Maverick. Its max towing capacity of 6,720 pounds far exceeds the Maverick's max of 4,000 pounds. You'll pay a few grand more for the Frontier, however, and the most efficient Frontier still lags behind even the most powerful and off-road-ready variant of the Maverick.

The Maverick's bigger sibling, the Ford Ranger, is freshly redesigned for 2024. We haven't had a chance to drive the new truck yet, but the refresh appears to have addressed many of our complaints with the rough-riding last generation. Capable of towing up to 7,500 pounds or carrying 1,805 pounds in the bed, the Ranger is vastly more capable than the Maverick. But with prices starting about $10,000 higher than the smaller truck, you'll want to seriously consider your needs before choosing between the two.