I MAX OUT The Maverick, Santa Cruz & Ridgeline, But Which One Wins The World's Toughest Towing Test?

[@TFLtruck]

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[@Ornelas11B]

When you said Tommy’s gem was worth 4,000 pounds were you talking money?

[@jaredtown8947]

Your intro music is the same as Off the Ranch by Matt Carriker (may have misspelled that)

[@brennalynnn]

I thought u said up to .70?

[@tritchie6272]

@@Ornelas11B I believe they were talking weight.

[@C-Henry]

Can we just give these guys a round of applause for the having most unique payload ever for a tow/haul test?

[@miamisasquatch]

I laughed as soon as I saw the 2CV! Took me back to my childhood playing Need for Speed 2.

[@richardhouvener6423]

@@miamisasquatch I drove one in France in the 60s. It was a blast!

[@mistert1097]

@@richardhouvener6423 are you referring to the 60’s

[@jeffreyblanton9877]

I would like to see these same vehicles towing 5 years from now. My money is on the Honda.

[@nilsjohansson9739]

Regardless of the vehicle towing it, that's probably the fastest the Citroen has ever gone!

[@Dirtyharry70585]

and longest without a break down.

[@jamesd6801]

At least in the mountains!

[@TheHelado36]

Still a better car than the others ! 😁

[@abee3515]

geneally in a 2cv but they build some others...

[@Peter-cj2ml]

lol

[@Kristian_Saile]

The Maverick in XLT trim with the 4K package would Gabe performed the same and been done in sub 30k which I feel makes it so much more of a better value. Seems like the lower trim level Mavericks are the sweet spot and where it really excels as a value proposition. A high 30k Maverick kind of defeats the purpose?

[@SEVENTEENPOINT1]

Yeah I agree, mine was 31 and it is rather loaded from what I can see. XLT FX4 w Lux. I do not see an FX4 badge on that "maxed out" Maverick either so that leads me to believe it has standard all season tires on it.

[@christopherhamilton5557]

I agree, at that price, I would get a Ranger. Maybe? Car market is freakin whack right now.

[@SEVENTEENPOINT1]

@@christopherhamilton5557 I wanted to get something used but every car was such bad value used. So I ordered one waited and picked it up at MSRP. 31 isn’t bad for a new car let alone a truck/crossover but 37 is in big bronco territory.

[@jakes5530]

Nah fully loaded the Maverick is $37k, to get similar tech and interior features in the Ranger, you’d be looking at $45k. Apples to oranges… the Maverick is still significantly cheaper when similarly equipped.

[@TheRanscat]

I got mine with xl 4k towing awd 2.0 spray in bedliner Ford copilot 360 (includes power side mirrors for the xl) "full size" spare rear window and two USB ports and 120v outlet in the back seat for 27k I could have saved a good 1.5k if I saved on options.

[@racinglightning01]

It's a really great comparison. Although the Ridgeline is a little larger than the other two, they're really catered to the same sort of customer. The person that doesn't necessarily want a truck, but wants more utility than a SUV.

[@markspence3750]

EXACTLY!

[@mikenormandy9250]

The Ridgeline is DEF a mid-size truck. Much more than the other two are Trucks....The Ridgeline is probably more truck than MOST truck people need! Just bc it's not a Body On Frame vehicle....It gets so much shit, when most truck people crawl the mall or get groceries.... The Ridgeline can do practically everything a mid-size truck can do.....And I have to say, It is the most comfortable ride in its' class. The Lockable Trunk in the truck bed IS A GAME CHANGER...My Father's 2006 Ridgeline, the first model year ever made, is more comfortable of a ride then my 2020 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 4X4.....

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@mikenormandy9250 The Ridgeline FWD is a class 1 truck together with Tacoma, Ranger etc. and the Ridgeline AWD actually falls into class 2a together with F-150!

[@mikenormandy9250]

@@imnotusingmyrealname4566 Ummm.No the Ridgeline is a mid-size truck...NOT a half ton or Full-size...And How would a FWD Ridgeline compare to a 4X4 Tacoma??? Ridgeline AWD competes with the 4x4 Ranger and Tacoma...You have some things backwards...LOL

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@mikenormandy9250 It's considered a half-ton as the GVM is 6019 lbs. Half-tons are from 6001-8000 lbs GVM. The Tacoma has a GVM of only 5600 lbs. Weird how low that is. The Hilux has a GVM of 6725 lbs.

[@macgybel7951]

Well, the real winner of the World’s Towing Contest is TFL - your videos are the only ones that manage to pull me out of bed every day… true story! ;-)

[@TFLtruck]

Thank you for watching and your kind words!

[@markspence3750]

WORD!

[@williammiller9813]

I'm not a fan of fan people just gotta go with the info

[@BigGroupHug]

It boggles my mind that y'all don't use a OBD data logger to make sure you get the same data regardless of guage cluster style. Also get to see "power demand" according to the ECM among other figures. Put it on a tablet, you can export rhe video from the tablet as an overlay.

[@ocrapo9327]

Tell me your car backfires without telling me.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Andre, This truly is a world first for TFL. Yes, this is the first time in world history the Ridgeline has been called a 'benchmark'.

[@beartankoperator7950]

Ha that was good

[@JoseVargas-mn1ek]

Honda v6 plus 9 speed is a tried and true drievtrain. Sounds like a benchmark to me.

[@NatesHomeTours]

27:36 That Maverick is almost overheated. That is not good. If you would have had to go any farther I think you would be pulling over to cool off.

[@billchesney8949]

I agree

[@ocrapo9327]

Wow dude I don't know what video you watched or mechanic you listened to. The gauge shows the temp being in the middle or 1 notch over to warm. As long as you're not in the red there is no need to stop. If youre in the white you're in the normal.

[@ocrapo9327]

@@billchesney8949 I don't agree

[@NatesHomeTours]

@@ocrapo9327 Looking at it more closely I missed the bars at the top. I only saw the line at the bottom

[@billchesney8949]

@@ocrapo9327 One more bar and it would be in the red

[@Whalerguy]

I finally got my Maverick in and I have to say so far I'm very happy with it. I haven't had a chance to tow with it yet but having the brake controller built in makes a huge difference IMHO as you don't have something bolted to the dash every day for the times you want to tow. I absolutely love the placement of the receiver as well that is worth a lot to me.

[@joeypts]

Thinking of getting one myself. Can I ask if you still like it and if you’d recommend?

[@Whalerguy]

@@joeypts I do. We have both a gas and hybrid and both are excellent. The hybrid gets crazy good mileage.

[@stephenzerfas5307]

I totally agree on the TBC. Having the hitch from the factory, also great. Less brake applications are going to reduce heat and wear. Saving over $4k is a lot to me. Tow/haul mode. Enjoy your Maverick.

[@andrewsbbq]

Sport mode is likely what should be used when towing with the Ridgeline and Santa Cruz. Holds gears, firmer shifts, if it has any active aero it likely disables it.

[@eastonreid]

we have a 2016 pilot and when we tow with it sport mode is what we use and it behaves similarly to a tow/haul mode

[@marks6072]

I like the way you guys are not afraid to stir-fry a few transmissions during your road tests!!!

[@ocrapo9327]

lmao

[@jaydoingstuffandthings6635]

I just picked my 2022 Maverick up, XLT with FX4 package and towing package for 27k and I LOVE IT! 32 mpg on the highway as well.

[@Parker53151]

Towing a 2CV on a trailer is a stroke of genius. Well done, gentlemen.

[@TFLtruck]

Who would have thought that you can tow a car with a compact pickup truck!

[@nismomike3182]

"That VTEC kicked in yo!"

[@TFLtruck]

Oh yea!

[@x_ghost_x6612]

Test drove the Santa Cruz and i fell in love with it. This was an awesome test and I encourage anyone interested in any of these two vehicles to drive the Santa Cruz.

[@W_T.F]

The Santa Cruz is definitely the most comfortable car I've ever driven.

[@nemavezee]

Ridgeline would toe much better with transmission in sport mode. Would like to see if that helps.

[@MeliorIlle]

tow

[@michaelwalus2154]

Just FYI, on the sound test in the Maverick you guys had the sun roof curtain open. The other trucks were closed That will affect the sound level in a vehicle.

[@zbfng812]

EXACTLY.

[@Combat556]

Fast forward 2 years..I shopped for mid size pickups, and bought the 2025 Ridgeline Black edition. Love the AWD system with torque vectoring and very smooth ride quality. The interior is spacious, and as quiet as our Lexus RX450h.

[@aaronbehindbars]

The Ridgeline would have held it's speed better down the mountain in S mode. I'd say it went pretty well for having no turbos which puts it at a bigger disadvantage at high elevation.

[@zerog2000]

I tow a 4400 lb travel trailer with a 2020 Ridgeline and it does tow better in S, especially in hilly areas. S mode wants to hold shifts longer which is better for up & down grades.

[@aaronchristianson]

I tow a 28 foot camper that’s at the Ridgeline’s max rating. I turn off eco mode and drive in Sport mode. No issues.

[@christianbenedict5136]

Totally agree

[@zhencaizan6663]

中文翻译

[@georgea6403]

@@zerog2000do you use eco when on level roads?

[@Gene1969]

Great review guys! Both pickups are wonderful. It's going to boil down to personality. Which do you prefer? I pick the Maverick because its more truck like.

[@ianberry5562]

I’ve heard the Maverick described as a car like truck and the Santa Cruz as a truck like car couldn’t agree more.

[@WhoThisGuy515]

I wouldn't mind a Maverick but i'd put a lot of highway miles on it so comfort is a big one for me. But I have a 3/4 Ford for truck stuff so I'd have a Cruz over the Maverick, plus i do like the styling of the Cruz more.

[@robertsn6584]

More truck like ??? You know the hyundai can tow 1000 pounds more right ???

[@Gene1969]

@@robertsn6584 I was speaking about their personalities.

[@tri3pleagent]

@@robertsn6584 yet it doesn't come with brake controllers from the factory 🧐

[@514aam]

One thing is for sure, the ridgeline will outlive both the maveric and hyundai!

[@jamesbrock1306]

Probably need to read up on the V6 Honda is using. Not great.

[@514aam]

@@jamesbrock1306 the J35? Trust me, it's a great engine, rock solid reliable, and you can even make it more reliable by coding out the cylinder deactivation.

[@Combat556]

I have a 2025 Ridgeline, and I’m going to disable the VCM with a VCM 2 unit. Also going to install an oil catch can because of the GDI.

[@jimmorrison2124]

Tell us you don't know shit about the J35 without telling us.

[@JohnConnor636]

That Ford was getting pretty hot near the end.

[@lllateralus]

27:37 that Maverick coolant temp bumped up ANOTHER mark.. and was very close to the red. Cmoooon. That sucks.

[@diegovn]

THAT!

[@drewthompson7457]

And the 4K yow package includes extra engine and transmission cooling...

[@herewegoagain7403]

27:37 wow the Maverick is getting a lot of heat soak. look at the coolant temp skyrocket... and require premium fuel? Santa Cruz def won

[@ShersGarage]

Maverick does not require premium fuel. You can use it for more power.

[@hakkai153]

I'm all for the Maverick but I did notice that it started to heat up at the end there.

[@oogleboogle123456789]

just curious but did the other two even have a gage to look at the temp with?

[@kacyharper8142]

oogleboogle yes they did, both managed to stay below half way.

[@W_T.F]

@@ShersGarage Read the manual for the Maverick. It recommends premium for towing heavy loads. It also warns you to listen for engine knock if using regular, which is just a way of saying it was designed for premium.

[@DavidPopowich]

Love my 2017 Ridgeline! Great ride, good towing and cargo capacity. Ticks all the boxes for me. And much roomier than the other two.

[@richrachner1260]

The RL is more expensive and less economical as well

[@njhampster]

I like the Maverick but it's obvious the real winner here is the Honda Ridgeline. Larger, more powerful, and comparable in price.

[@will41031]

Did anyone notice that at 27:35 the Ford coolant actually heated up 3 notches total? One away from Max temp. I remember the new F-150 of Andreas having heating issues and Ford gave them some lame reason about elevation reducing town rating. Seems like Ford EcoBoost owners that tow might be having some issues.

[@0HOON0]

Seems like Ford may be sacrificing cooling airflow for better fuel efficiency. If a brand new truck overheats you can guarantee the issue will only get worse with age.

[@MDKN22]

Typical Ford. Breaks under pressure.

[@gotchagoing8843]

I love the Nathan and Andre show...always full of good info, and some good humor to boot. My pick is the Maverick-hands down. If I wanted a 'car like' ride, I would have owned a car. But I love trucks, and I am waiting on a build date for MY Maverick Lariat/max tow/FX4. AND, it's the same color as the test vehicle, Red Hot Pepper. Hell yeah...thank you tfl.

[@bechtoea]

I understand your point but what I am curious about is, if the truck like ride and feel is what you are after, are you really the customer for the Maverick, or are you going to go get a Ranger anyway?

[@billchesney8949]

Better ask for an extra radiator to keep it cool

[@boatdesigner12]

I own a Mexican Ford, never again. Remember, you vote with your wallet. So don't blame the politicians because you're the problem like i was. Only American made for me from now on. Hyundai or Honda. Screw Ford.

[@andrewb1064]

@@bechtoea right, I really don't understand the Maverick's appeal but apparently I am in the minority...

[@gotchagoing8843]

@@bechtoea I have a 2019 Lariat/FX4/max tow. For the past year, it has become increasingly difficult to get in and out of it. I have a spine that is held together with titanium rods, bolts/plates etc, and I have Parkinson's. I have driven the Maverick FX4, and found it to be easy for me to get in and out of, it's comfortable for me. So I ordered a Maverick/Lariat/Lariat lux pkg/max tow/FX4 back in October. Waiting on a build date now...

[@DaveKootchie]

15:16 nice to see a big empty pick up truck doing 70+ mph in a construction zone probably upset that this little Santa Cruz is doing more truck stuff than it.

[@jolenebarrow1450]

Thank you! I bought my 23 Santa Cruz to tow my Jayco and this video proved I made the right decision!

[@Austin-iq7ds]

Very interesting the Maverick was pretty close it seems to getting a coolant overtemp warning/derating the power. If it’s 80 degrees, I see it getting to that zone…

[@0HOON0]

Colorado had some scorching hot weather early in the summer last year. The Maverick would have overheated.

[@isaac198428]

Yes the Maverick would definitely overheat in the Summer and having a turbo charger doesn't help. It's funny how they made a towing option yet very limited on what it can actually tow without getting all heated up.

[@fokuz02]

I'm still here happy I made my 2021 Ridgeline purchase. If I had to choose between these three, I would still choose my regular gas drinking J35 RL.

[@lutomson3496]

That engine will last the longest also

[@jayw900]

The maverick can also use 87

[@rcr-zt4of]

I bought a Ridgeline but the Santa Cruz and Maverick both use 87.

[@crimsonzorro]

Thanks for the Great Content! Nathan crushed that Sinclair Ad Read! Nice job dude.

[@TFLtruck]

Oh yea!

[@saltyspades7493]

this hill is definitely a good test. can't wait to see the winter tests when the snow drops!

[@LAP1050]

👍Ridgeline👍 - No turbo to rebuild - No 💵💵💵 Premium Gas ⛽️ to make HP. Yep 👍 Ridgeline

[@andymontero7394]

Santa Cruz uses regular gas also, even with Turbo

[@brad3139]

16:17 those blinker gauges on the Santa Cruz are really clever!

[@Arcturuseyes]

I love the wing mirror cams that become visible when the turn signal is activated, on that Santa Cruz

[@christopherhamilton5557]

Hey that really was pretty cool! Nice touch!

[@desertfresh3740]

I've driven cars with this and *despise* them. But to each their own.

[@williammorgan5032]

My new 2022 Ridgeline tows the best when I put the transmission in "S" mode. It holds great going downhill on the cruise control too.

[@allenstuck2861]

Junk

[@dalefrolander3583]

@@allenstuck2861you think a Ford or Hyundai are more reliable than a Honda....smh.

[@NWI_Steel]

What does your husband drive?

[@eddiepeele9810]

What do you tow with it? Weight?

[@syazwanchawan8779]

That Ridgeline looks so sick!

[@jakes5530]

Christmas came early this year - well done gents. Of the 3 I’d pick the Maverick. Like Andre said, it’s way more trucky than the other two, and significantly cheaper when similarly equipped. With the SC, besides being worse at brake applications, Nathan’s thoughts on the dual clutch is another reason I’d be hesitant to choose it over the Maverick.

[@gwpeoples]

Well it's also a Ford. And I've owned Fords. If you want to take out a college loan amount of debt to own one... you can! I just hope you get to use it for the amount of time you can afford to pay back the loan. (Hint: In the 70,000+ miles you might see some high repair bills).

[@Argedis]

@@gwpeoples Yeah when they said the Maverick was $37k that blew my mind. Ford is laughing their way to the bank.

[@lesterparker1594]

@@gwpeoples funny, I’ve owned 2 cheap fords, wife had 1. My 2 made it to 200k with zero issues. Wife’s made it to 150k and I had to replace the throttle body. Cost $40 and 15 minutes. My buddys 2020 trailboss just had the engine rebuilt. Give me Ford over GM any day

[@ocrapo9327]

@@Argedis When they said the maverick was 19.9k that blew my mind. I am thanking ford all the way to my next destination.

[@Argedis]

@@ocrapo9327 Ford is charging a ridiculous $1,500 destination fee so it's not actually $20k. They are laughing at all the suckers calling it $20k because that's exactly what they wanted. Speedkar99 did a in depth mechanical review on the new Escape (which the Maverick is based on) and it's built EXTREMELY cheap... There's a reason why it's cheap

[@ChadHargis]

The Ridgeline is wired for a brake controller. The wiring harness is included from the factory in the glove compartment. It's a simple hook up to any standard brake controller. Then you simply plug it into the connector found under the dash by the parking brake.

[@markgosser9578]

I want a stock brake controller and Ford has the best when it comes to towing. Honda knows zero when it comes to towing! Correct me if I’m wrong.

[@specialopsdave]

@@markgosser9578 They know enough to tow 4K pounds, at least

[@doubled8247]

@@markgosser9578 Honda actually knows a lot about towing. It can actually tow what it says it can even with passengers. The owners manual is the only one that breaks down what you can tow with how much cargo and people in truck and Honda knows that 5,000 lbs towing at 13% tongue weight is 650lbs so that’s what their hitch is rated at.

[@csh000]

@@doubled8247 finding tongue weight above 10% the towing rating is getting harder to find. 10%-15% is the recommended tongue weight of travel trailers.

[@zerog2000]

@@doubled8247 not sure where you got 650 Ridgeline has Class 3 hitch, which is 600/6000 Payload is around 1500 depending upon trim level, so unless you are limited by payload because you have loaded the cab and/or bed, 600 is supposed to be your max tongue. I tow a 4400 lb travel trailer with about 12-13 % tongue weight and it handles well, but putting any more on it would push it over limits. Yes it could handle more, but I won’t because I’d be cutting into my safety margins, which isn’t wise. (I have also looked at Both front & rear GAWR, and total GCVWR by pulling the rig over scales, which anyone getting close to max payload and/or tow rating should be doing. Supposedly Andre is CDL so he knows better. A bit surprised TFL team doesn’t actually do this, or capture actual metrics from OBD as others have mentioned. It’s just some light fun testing they are doing. Nothing scientific or objective here.

[@sicilianr1]

Already have a 7.3 so went with the Santa Cruz and so far I love it. Trans takes a bit to get used too, but for day to day driving when I don’t need to haul a skid steer or heavier… great little comfy truck. On the highway with cruise I get around 32-33mpg with it so I can’t complain to much over the 15-16 I get in the 7.3. I do think the limited model should have power folding mirrors, power passenger seat and memory seats too. Aside from that… throw an intake on and whoosh whoosh all the way home. 🤣😂

[@Bob-tn2yz]

No power passenger seat on the limited kinda blows my mind

[@mcrn12]

The temp rising like that on the Maverick is concerning.

[@zacharyzoeller5214]

Yeah right before it cut away at 27:37 it's close to Hot, note the outside temperature is 46F. If you are close to max towing on a hot day in the mountains I'd be worried.

[@NWI_Steel]

I did not see that. Good catch!

[@robertsn6584]

Keep in mind it was only 40 degrees. Summer. It would of been real interesting

[@EmotionalTree]

Or it is more honest than the other 2. They didn't have obd readings to confirm. I've had my own car read 225-230f going through Arizona at 110f but the gauge didn't move.

[@BlitzHack]

to be fair the Maverick max tow is 4K and they said their trailer weighed 4K, You have to add all the hamburger riding in the front of that rig as well so they went over the GVW of the truck by at least 500 pounds. If I was going to tow 4k over a mountain I would want a F150 to that job.

[@TheSingleTrucker]

Maverick performed better with less cu. In. And towed better. Santa Cruz was comfortable and did not outperform a .5 ltr engine smaller. Great ep guys!

[@perpelle]

Did you strap the 2cv to the chassi? It has soft suspension! I have mentioned this many times, strap the wheels! It's unsafe to strap the chassi as it allows the straps to get loose on bumps.

[@jayrichards3672]

I'm sure DOT would consider that bouncing around as unsecured.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

Those 2cv have so much suspension travel, it really moved around!

[@smokeyj3983]

The video I've been waiting for. I wanted to see how the Maverick handled ike. Thanks guys.

[@03centgt_]

I’d like to see these two get tested in the summer time when it’s hot. It appeared to me like the maverick got really close to getting hot right before the end of the hill. In 45’ weather it makes you wonder if it can really pull 4K pounds up a steep grade like the Ike. Love the videos guys. Keep up the great work!

[@jakes5530]

Good point, I’d be interested to see that too

[@awesomearizona-dino]

Good point Jorge, i think both will run hot towing in summer, AND will make far less power as well. My 2.3 Ranger makes great power in cool weather, in 105 degrees, i have to use 3/4 throttle much of the time.

[@Whalerguy]

I bet both run hot being boosted engines but I know the Mav is at the edge in cooling capacity as the tuners are having to swap out for a bigger intercooler to get any meaningful gains.

[@TWX1138]

I'd also like to see transmission temperature monitoried. It's one thing to tow once, but it's quite another if the transmission's life is significantly shortened or if it requires significantly more regular service. It may be possible to monitor it with a sufficiently advanced CANBUS device, if the codes are known and the device can interpret. Otherwise it might require putting a sensor in place of a plug on the side of the transmission itself and recording the data the old fashioned way.

[@TurboAdam]

Ford recommended de-rating the towing on the F-150 due to the high altitude, did they recommend the same on the Maverick?

[@CRVgarage]

Nobody's gonna tow with small trucks but this video is fun.

[@B_noJ]

I just bought the Santa Cruz and will have an aftermarket class III hitch put on, but I'm only going to use my 5'×8' landscaping trailer, lol. I have the 2.5L NA.

[@MrFordguy73]

Been watching your Ike Gauntlet challenges for a while, I think you should time the acceleration from 35 to 60, that way it would be more objective as far as the acceleration goes

[@jasonpaiva4793]

Well done 👏, The Honda Ridgeline was my first choice for a new vehicle but it doesn't have a Dedicated 2 speed transfer case. waiting on a 22 Tacoma TRD Off-Road

[@Nr15121]

Buy a ranger it’s better than both

[@timshelby2324]

Thanks for doing this , I am 100% getting the Honda Ridgeline now .

[@chuckd7423]

I like the Ridgeline and would consider it if it wasn't a few inches too long to fit into my garage bay without tearing out my full width workbench and storage cabinets in the front of the garage. I'm not interested in tearing out the garage built-ins, and am not going to buy a new vehicle that I have to park out in the driveway while leaving a perfectly good garage bay empty. The Maverick and SC will both fit in the garage, and they'll both do all the things I need a truck for, while coming in at a cheaper price than a comparably equipped Ridgeline.

[@txp-tuff4358]

I'm a big Ridgeline fan. Does everything well. Might go with a Santa Cruz in a few years IF 1) It gets a few better MPG or more over the Ridgeline in everyday driving AND 2) there aren't issue with the engine or transmission, which seem to dog Hyundai for decades. Don't mind the small recalls, but when there are recalls for engines packing it in and fires...then I'll stay with the Ridgeline with it's great J-series engine and (now) reliable 9-speed.

[@miaatch1]

the maverick bumped up one more temp right after you said that. it was only 1 tick away from the red zone. That motor was working HARD!!!

[@BlitzHack]

to be fair the Maverick max tow is 4K and they said their trailer weighed 4K, You have to add all the hamburger riding in the front of that rig as well so they went over the GVW of the truck by at least 500 pounds. If I was going to tow 4k over a mountain I would want a F150 to that job.

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

Santa Cruz wins in my book. It has much more comfortable ride, lower noise, better fuel economy, and higher towing capacity. The Maverick was stressed to the max and nearly overheated in 46 degree weather.

[@CanadianMax]

Agreed.

[@0HOON0]

Add a hot summer day to the mix and the Maverick would have been in limp mode trying to finish the climb.

[@KyleEbright]

It's also about $5,000 more than the maverick, which is important to note.

[@martincadenas5839]

Long term reliability is probably ass

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

@@martincadenas5839 Your grasp of the English language is just 🤌🏻.

[@burtonrider369]

First off, great video and great place to evaluate towing! The only thing worth pointing out is that you could get the same towing capacity in an xl maverick, which would be ~$30k (in 2024) and the Hyundai needs to be at $40k to get the increased towing ability with the boosted engine. So ford is definitely the budget option.

[@johnmoore3504]

I'll be taking the SC. My normal tow is 2 hours one way or 4 hours round trip, so I want the extra comfort... easily worth a few thousand more when your spending that much time behind the wheel. Thank you for doing this test!

[@fubarmedic4222]

I think you will see more of these compact/midsize unibody trucks. More folks want one of these trucks for the bed for DIY reasons but want the space, fuel economy and ride of an suv. Imagine how much more huge the “truck” market will get if you had a choice between payload and ride vs off road and towing. 5k towing and 1500+ lbs of payload with an suv ride would be enough for 6/10 truck buyers. And the solid axle body on frame 4x4 would satisfy 4/10 needs. Perfect combo.

[@dean_carries5940]

"V-tech kicked in yo!!" 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@chiemekaa]

I'm looking forward to the R1T on the Ike to see if it lives up to the towing hype.

[@javilink7]

My pick would be the Santa Cruz. It is a top safety pick, it is more comfortable, better sound insulation, and it has a more efficient and powerful engine. They could have selected the sel premium trim of the Santa Cruz to be closer to the Maverick pricing.

[@anthonycastillo7625]

Thanks I have a 23 Santa Cruz and getting ready to tow a lightweight camper. I was curious about the performance before I had to get used to it in the road

[@bechtoea]

Ford brought out the Maverick with price being the primary objective. What they have found out, especially on the higher capability models and higher trims, is that people will throw Ranger or even F-150 money at a Maverick if it's worthy. I know, for example, I'd pay that $4000 more for Santa Cruz level refinement. So yeah, put the engine cover on it, make the seats more substantial, and charge me more. And I think they will. I do predict the 2 year Maverick refresh will have some more equipment for the XL at an entry price of around $23K, and with each model, the equipment and refinement will increase as will the prices.

[@pabloyanez2235]

Great video... wish you had tested the Maverick HYBRID, wonder how it would have done in the downhill. Would it generate lots of battery power (with less breaking) and then used that power on the uphill?

[@sewerman911]

Can only tow 2,000#.

[@dantheman4life]

You guys always come through for us. Thanks for all you do and have a happy holiday guys!

[@TFLtruck]

Thank you for watching and the kind words! Happy Holidays!

[@freedomisntfree_44]

Merry Christmas

[@darkpepsi]

I notice the temperature was climbing more on the Maverick than the Santa Cruz or the Ridgeline (benchmark vehicle). Is it because the ford was towing at the max or it is mostly the nature of inclining any vehicle uphill in a steep grade?

[@jg8263]

You guys know the Honda has a plug under the dash for a normal aftermarket brake controller, and includes a wiring harness and fuse for that in the glove box. Just saying, you took the roundabout solution.

[@thekat9593]

The “manscape” (elbow room) in the Ridgeline is a big advantage if you don’t like rubbing with each other bumping along the road of life.🎉🎉😂❤

[@sergiosolis4538]

For years the Ridgeline has been criticized for not being a "real truck" right along with the El Camino and the Ranchero. The question will be if the Santa Cruz and the Maverick will share in the criticism, since they're comparing themselves to the Ridgeline? Keep up the great work guys. 👍

[@marklion315]

@J. Dns Ridgeline was always marketed as mid size, it competes well against Tacoma trim for trim on road ofcourse.

[@plmn93]

The Maverick is what people expect in a unibody truck. Cheap, economical, and still looks like a truck. That's why it's been so successful while the Ridgeline has been a sales dud for nearly 20 years now.

[@diegovn]

Maverick's engine overheating is a RED flag!

[@kidamere2408]

it didnt overheat

[@BlitzHack]

to be fair the Maverick max tow is 4K and they said their trailer weighed 4K, You have to add all the hamburger riding in the front of that rig as well so they went over the GVW of the truck by at least 500 pounds. If I was going to tow 4k over a mountain I would want a F150 to that job.

[@jonathanrose829]

All of these test are helpfull, But I want to see a 3500lb 22 foot travel trailer being towed up and down that road and see how well the maverick handles it. I have the fx4 awd on order and thats what I will be towing twice a year dog included

[@bourbonrebel5515]

Should be fine even though you’ll be really close to the max

[@waynekorzan2496]

Great video! I am so glad to be able to watch your video's again. The Tommy ones forced me to find other sources for content. Thank you so much for taking him off the channel. Thanks again I love your stuff. I believe i will re subscribe. 😀

[@marky1b]

The Ridgeline is also pre-wired for a trailer brake controller.

[@ericm3327]

At 41k you can get a brand new with some options Colorado trailboss. Would much rather take the maverick xlt at 32k over the ridge line or Santa Cruz

[@ripfletching]

I would choose the maverick 💯

[@Scottstunts]

I regularly tow my 88 4Runner on a 16ft steel deck trailer with my 2020 Ridgeline and it does great.

[@alekseyabramchuk6718]

I like Honda v 6 on my Acura 321000 miles engine still working with out any trouble but my Ford start getting trouble after 26 000 you guys be the judge 👨‍⚖️

[@vonJaerschky]

Hopefully Hyundai has their DCT figured out. We had a 2016 Tucson with the 7 Speed DCT. It would overheat regularly. Sometimes you stepped on the gas and it wouldn't go anywhere. Quite a few complaints. I think after 2 years, they dumped it. It was a different transmission, being a dry vs. the current wet 8 speed. I'd wait a year or two and let others be guinea pigs before I bought the Santa Cruz.

[@BarcelonaBlitzer]

Did Hyundai honor your warranty on the DCT?

[@MDKN22]

I mean my 2016 is doing well with the DCT. I've gotten used to how it drives and can do pretty smooth starts at any time. But I can assure you the new 8-speed is FAR (by solar systems) better and more refined than the old 7-speeds. Feels almost VW/Audi-like.

[@makan1568]

Yes you right. I wish to get SC with dry clutch here in Canada but only choice it’s dual clutch. I’m not convinced about wet clutch especially with recent recall. Obviously something is fishy here and I’m gonna wait. Beautiful crossover though.

[@DragonKnightX12]

​@@makan1568A recall doesn't mean it's bad. Always go wet, dry DCTs are trash and more prone to breaking.

[@omelborpon3159]

DCT trannies, dry or wet clutch, do not do well in stop-and-go (city) driving and when going at slow speeds (like when backing up to a trailer). The slipping clutches like to heat up very fast, which is sure death to a clutch. I would be all over a Santa Cruz with a 5000 lb. tow rating and HEV, or preferably a PHEV plant. A Tucson-like PHEV rated for 5k would be nice.

[@billchesney8949]

I wonder how hot the Maverick will get with warmer outdoor temps considering the temp. is only 46. It was already starting to overheat, 6 bars on the gauge Another couple miles would probably put it in the RED

[@rubenrodriguez1209]

Was wondering the same thing, especially with the Texas heat.

[@2A4U.S.A]

@@rubenrodriguez1209 Not too many mountains in Texas.. I'm sure with normal highway driving it would be fine.

[@rubenrodriguez1209]

@@2A4U.S.A true, but doesn’t mean they won’t push it’s limits towing.

[@RickysHP]

yeah, staying true to Ford's turbo engines, it runs hot... Didn't seem to be such an issue on the Hyundai. My Ecoboost F150 would always run hot when pulling real mountains.

[@Stuka87]

How does the Santa Cruz do in really low speed maneuvering with the trailer? Like, lets say you had to back into your driveway which has a bit of an incline? Does the dual clutch do ok?

[@NukePooch1]

This. Can't imagine the DCT would be happy about it...

[@Stuka87]

@@NukePooch1 Yeah, which is why I asked. They hate slow speed offroading. Slow speed with a trailer isn't much different.

[@MDKN22]

If you don't bash the gas and be smooth with it, it shouldn't complain much.

[@GIGABACHI]

That Maverick got TOO HOT 🔥 for comfort, IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. 😳 Had the towing continued for any longer and it would have overheated.💩👎

[@BlitzHack]

to be fair the Maverick max tow is 4K and they said their trailer weighed 4K, You have to add all the hamburger riding in the front of that rig as well so they went over the GVW of the truck by at least 500 pounds. If I was going to tow 4k over a mountain I would want a F150 to that job.

[@Kevin-hp5fk]

I love the realisation he has when the Mav gets to the top of the hill. "Is that the same as the Santa Cruz?!?". Yes, if you drive an equal distance in two vehicles at the same speed, on the same surface, you'll cover that distance in the same amount of time.

[@spyder000069]

What you are missing is the account for the initial acceleration to the speed limit and whether it maintains that speed the whole time. Either can affect the overall time. In many of these tests the vehicle is sluggish to the speed limit (where more gears may have an advantage) or not enough reserve power and it requires it to be floored the whole time (also dinging the sound measurement test).

[@chrismatheny4957]

Nice video comparing two of the hottest vehicles on the market right now. I have a question regarding the Santa Cruz. With the self leveling rear shocks, do you all drive around a bit to give the shocks a chance to level out or do you take your measurements for squat as soon as you hook up the trailer? I thought you had to drive a bit to give the self leveling shocks a chance to level out. I'm really looking forward to you getting to test a Santa Cruz model with the naturally aspirated 2.5 engine.

[@rusty383]

The KN filter totally eliminates the Turbo lag! The Performance and extra fule milage makes up for the mileage.

[@javilink7]

It seems like the Maverick was about to overheat right at the end of the video. That is not safe at all.

[@BlitzHack]

to be fair the Maverick max tow is 4K and they said their trailer weighed 4K, You have to add all the hamburger riding in the front of that rig as well so they went over the GVW of the truck by at least 500 pounds. If I was going to tow 4k over a mountain I would want a F150 to that job.

[@Julian-do7bv]

Santa Cruz all day just needs a tow haul mode

[@cesarpalmos8235]

Id take the ford (not that trim) because you can get the XLT with Fx4, 4k tow package, Turbo 2.0L Ecoboost with a Sunroof and gets better MPG (unloaded) than the Santa Cruz for $29,279. That's how I optioned mine.

[@jammcguire1276]

Where are u getting them for that price?

[@cesarpalmos8235]

@@jammcguire1276 You can't get that price anymore. The same truck today is 34k. That price was at the launch of the Maverick, when the base model was $19,995. I regret not going through with my order. The dealerships are still marking up these trucks.

[@jeffpittman8725]

Honestly I think time will be the best gauge here. Durability is worth a lot. We will see.

[@P51]

Ford

[@sergeantschlumpf6368]

15:58 Damn! That’s impressive! 16:30 Santa Cruz!😮😮😮

[@dalefrolander3583]

I would take the Honda Ridgeline over the other two with it's in bed lockable trunk, side swinging tailgate for easy loading, torque vectoring AWD, 9 speed transmission, and reliability.

[@illusioncity]

I was recently looking at the Honda Ridgeline myself. For the price of a well loaded new Maverick XLT, I was finding 4-5 yo Ridgelines (RTL-T or E) with 40k -50k+ miles. You do get a lot with a Ridgeline, and Honda has a good reputation for reliability, but new comes with a 3 yr bumper to bumper warranty.

[@jonathanallen8236]

I would just get a real truck.

[@tracy2928]

@@jonathanallen8236 I get tired of hearing this. A comparably equipped full size is going to be 20k more. Sure, you can get a WT in the 40k-ish range, but it's just that, bare bones. I've been researching for over a year now and this always gets thrown out there. That said, I'm going Ridgeline unless my brain convinces me to get the Ranger for the low range and ground clearance.

[@jonathanallen8236]

@@tracy2928 Your choice. I just don’t see a unibody holding up to any real work. It’s comparable to heavily modifying an older jeep Cherokee and off-roading it. Sure they can do great things off-road, but do it too much and the chassis starts tearing up. The spot welds break and slowly become worn out. As a mechanic I’ve been under a lot of vehicles and can honestly say that Japanese vehicles use the thinnest of metal in all of their body structures. So for me and the safety of my family, I’m gonna have a body on frame truck or no truck. Do as you wish!

[@adir_1]

If you or anyone else does decide on a Ridgeline make sure you pull the rear sill panels and check for water under the carpet. They've been having sealant issues since 2017. The rear cab wall lets water in where it pools in the floor under the carpet. Most don't know it since the carpet will not let water soak through. Honda will fix it but it's a very involved process.

[@nlpnt]

I've said before, with towing capacity "how often" is as important as "how much"? If I were pulling 4k in the mountains every day I'd want at least a fullsize 150(0) with the max towing options to have that margin of safety/durability. And if it's just a couple times a year I still say renting and putting the strain on U-Haul's transmission and brakes rather than your own is the most cost-effective option.

[@EGGINFOOLS]

The Santa cruz also had the camera mirrors for the turn signals. I liked that.

[@palebeachbum]

Yeah that Santa Cruz costs more because you're getting more. It's a more premium vehicle than the Maverick. More features, better seats, better ride.

[@jaydee5156]

Coming from a lifetime of full-size trucks. The Maverick isn't even on my list. I'd pick the Santa Cruz hands-down.

[@mandytuning]

criticized for years, Ridgeline created that segment almost 2 decades ago and is a proven solid unibody pickup.the rest just want to reinvent the wheel but as a tech we all know the bad reliability reputation of ford transversal Powertrain ,way worst than hyundai.

[@patmason7276]

You want a car get the others want a truck get the Maverick.

[@AlexLepoutre]

Great video! I love these sorts of comparisons. I do wonder if the Cruz would’ve performed even better, both uphill and downhill, if it was kept in Sport mode instead of Smart mode. I’ve noticed Sport keeps the revs hanging higher and longer, which really help with engine brake and torque when towing my camper. Also, was the squat measurement on the Cruz done before or after the self-leveling suspension had time to do its thing?

[@johanchastain]

I would like to see these trucks compared off road. Which is better. How about new tremor maverick . Also for shits and grins what about the old Subaru pickup that was discontinued?

[@fabulousoffroaddesigns5080]

I also don't feel it's good practice to take off points based on the fuel mileage stated on the dash without verifying it was accurate.

[@IamGroot786]

Can't you put that 2021 Ridgeline in D4 when towing? That's what the manual says to do with the 2017-2019 6-speed transmission

[@Euryheli]

The 9 speed in the 21 I have says to just tow in D.

[@IamGroot786]

@@Euryheli Got it!

[@bbeckers24]

With a lack of tow mode in the Honda, I would have tried sport mode. Sport has more aggressive shifting, even for downshifiting, and I think it would have been more like tow mode than standard.

[@nicholassmith7048]

Agreed