The compact truck segment's two leading value picks, the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, finished within 22 dollars of each other in CarCostCX's complete monthly cost analysis. The 2026 Ford Maverick XL comes in at $1,033 a month on a $27,936 sticker price, with a loan payment of $565, insurance of $85, fuel of $273, maintenance of $75, and title and registration of $35. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE comes in at $1,055 a month on a $29,260 sticker price, with a loan payment of $592, insurance of $85, fuel of $273, maintenance of $65, and title and registration of $40. The two trucks are close enough on cost that the decision between them should come down to bed size, interior space, and styling preference rather than complete monthly cost. Both significantly undercut the segment average of $1,770 a month, making either one a strong value choice compared to a full-size truck.

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