The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been a hot topic since its reveal in April, introducing something of a middle ground between a crossover and a traditional truck. Together with the new Ford Maverick, these compact trucks are interesting options for customers who don't need the capability of a full-size pickup. With its smaller size, the Santa Cruz should surely come with a smaller price tag, right? Well, Hyundai has just revealed official pricing for the Santa Cruz in the USA, and immediately, it's notable that it carries a surprisingly big premium over the base Maverick.

The cheapest Santa Cruz will cost you $23,990 for the front-wheel-drive SE trim. This price excludes a destination charge of $1,185, effectively raising the cost of an entry-level Santa Cruz to $25,175. By comparison, the Ford Maverick begins at $19,995, excluding a destination charge of $1,495. That equals a total of $21,490, making the base Maverick $3,685 less expensive.

Further up in the lineup, the Santa Cruz SEL costs $27,190 and is followed by the SEL Activity at $30,460. This is followed by the SE AWD at $25,490, the SEL AWD at $28,690, and the SEL Activity AWD at $31,960.

Topping the Santa Cruz lineup are the two turbocharged models. The SEL Premium AWD retails for $35,680 and the Limited AWD costs a steep $39,720, so it will exceed $40,000 including destination. We specced a Maverick Lariat with the turbocharged engine, the First Edition Package, and the Lariat Luxury Package, and still only got to just over $36,000 including destination. Yes, even the base Santa Cruz is well-stocked with features and it does benefit from Hyundai's industry-leading warranty but will that be enough to convince buyers to spend so much more relative to the Ford? That's a question we'll be able to answer in the coming months as both trucks start impacting the sales charts.