World of Wheels

Ford Maverick Has a Trump Card Against Hyundai Santa Cruz, Or Not …

A 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine could be a serious argument in the future competition between the two newest pickups. However, not everything is so simple.

In the very near future, a rivalry between the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz is expected in the U.S. market. They are completely new developments with their pros and cons, but we’ve paid attention to one advantage of the American model.

As standard, the Ford Maverick not only has a 191-hp hybrid powertrain, but an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with 250-hp peak output. This engine can be a reason to help make choice between the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

The fuel economy of Ford’s EcoBoost turbo-four is roughly comparable to that of a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter unit of the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Our assumptions, however, are indirectly confirmed by Carscoops. They published a video of the YouTuber InterUnetAutomotive. The video shows a Maverick in the top-end Lariat FX4 trim with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Its dashboard displays an average fuel consumption of 26.6 mpg.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz has similar fuel consumption, but its engine produces no more than 190 horsepower – 60 hp less than the 2.0L EcoBoost.

At this, the starting price of the Santa Cruz is about 24,000 USD, and the Maverick with EcoBoost costs 22,575 USD.

You can also lose with trump cards…

True, the trump card may not play. Let’s remember that repair of naturally aspirated engines is cheaper, and this is not the only point.

A turbocharger complicates the engine. This means the likelihood of breakage is higher here. The more parts, the more they can fail.

Turbocharged vehicles are very sensitive to maintenance. The turbocharger increases the pressure and temperature inside the combustion chamber. This increases the load on all internal components including pistons, valves, and head gaskets. Let’s not forget: the harder any mechanism works, the engine in our case, the faster it wears out.

In addition, the turbocharger operates at extreme exhaust gas temperatures. Its shaft is lubricated with engine oil. This means more requirements for quality. A turbocharged engine will not withstand low oil levels or extended drain intervals.

However, not all is so bad. The turbocharger adds power when it is really needed. Returning to fuel consumption, boost allows a smaller and more fuel-efficient engine to be used with more power. Case in point: the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.

All this fully applies to the main character of this article – the  2.0L EcoBoost. Experts recognize it is a reliable engine with few typical problems. Internal parts and major components have a solid lifespan. Such engines can easily handle 150,000 miles. However, once this milestone is crossed, the EcoBoost will need more care.

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