How Two Little Pickups Spread Some Cheer During Pandemic Gloom

During the dark patch of 2020 – 2021 it is worth noting that Ford and Hyundai lessened the gloom by developing a pair of small trucks that provoked lots of smiles, and sales.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick small pickups rolled up on the chaos of disruption and uncertainty with a jaunty presence that made people look.

Ford clearly envisions the Maverick pickup as a little bro line-up to the big Ford F-150 and the Ranger mid-size, offering the Tremor turbocharged AWD off roader and an efficient hybrid, as well as two XL and XLT models sticker priced under $25,000.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz was a display only sneak preview at the new Hyundai Tucson SUV media test-drive out in the Arizona desert. The story was that the engineering and product teams were so pleased with the new Tucson with its rough and ready HTRAC All Wheel Drive, they just spontaneously decided to spin-off a new sport adventure model. Doubt it … but what a practical fun rig for $26,000 and the bold new XRT for $41,000.