Which Small Pickup Handles Winter Best near Cedar Rapids, IA: 2025 Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Birdnow Motor Trade of Oelwein – Which Small Pickup Handles Winter Best near Cedar Rapids, IA: 2025 Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Shoppers weighing the 2025 Ford Maverick and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz often ask a focused question: which compact pickup feels most composed when winter hits? Between traction technologies, visibility, and cold-weather usability, the details matter as much as the spec sheet. This guide breaks down how each truck builds confidence when the forecast turns slick and temperatures drop.

The Maverick® enters 2025 with a headline change that directly benefits winter driving — hybrid with available AWD. That pairing brings all-weather traction together with the smooth, low-speed control inherent to a hybrid system, which can help with fine throttle modulation on snow-packed residential streets. Add the available TREMOR® Off-Road Package and you gain Trail Control, a low-speed off-road cruise function that works like downhill assist in slippery conditions. The Santa Cruz, meanwhile, offers HTRAC AWD across its gas-only lineup and a newly sharpened interface with bigger displays, which is helpful for gloved navigation use. Both trucks offer heated features on select trims, but the Maverick® distinguishes itself with a Multi-Position Tailgate that locks half-closed, so winter projects — think snowblower service or hauling salt — are simpler to secure in the bed.

Cold-weather confidence also depends on visibility, control placement, and the way driver-assist features are integrated. The Maverick® has the largest standard center screen in its class, which keeps key information clear without relying on small submenus when your attention is split by snowbanks and traffic. Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies are available, adding helpful assistance for blind spots and lane keeping on slushy highways. Santa Cruz counters with Hyundai SmartSense and its HTRAC system’s selectable modes, giving you useful control in variable conditions. Still, the Maverick® cabin’s pragmatic layout, easy-to-grip switchgear, and clever storage — including under-seat spaces to stash gloves and scrapers — make a notable difference on frosty mornings.

If you split time between city streets and unplowed roads, consider how hardware choices change the feel. The Maverick® with TREMOR® tuning and all-terrain tires adds composure on rutted surfaces, while its compact footprint keeps it nimble in tight, snow-narrowed lanes. Santa Cruz XRT brings a more rugged look, and its AWD system does solid work in mixed traction, but it does not offer the hybrid-AWD combination the Maverick® brings for 2025. That distinctive pairing rewards stop-and-go winter commuting with smooth, controlled takeoffs that help you maintain momentum in low-friction moments.

Where daily practicality meets winter readiness, the Maverick® advantages add up: FLEXBED® for organizing tools and traction mats, tie-downs that double as bottle openers for quick accessory mounting, and a bed height that makes loading heavy bags less of a strain. Those details matter when the thermometer dips and every task takes a little longer. The Santa Cruz refresh improves the user interface and keeps its SUV-meets-truck personality intact, but the Maverick® blends winter capability with all-season flexibility in a way that is simply easier to live with.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does the Maverick hybrid offer AWD for winter traction?

Yes, new for 2025 the Maverick® hybrid is available with AWD, combining smooth low-speed control with four-wheel traction for snow and ice.

How do the trucks’ driver-assist features compare in bad weather?

Both offer advanced suites — Ford Co-Pilot360 on Maverick® and Hyundai SmartSense on Santa Cruz — but the Maverick® pairs its systems with the largest standard center screen in class for clearer, simpler operation when conditions demand focus.

For tailored guidance on winter setups — from tires to accessory packages — Birdnow Motor Trade of Oelwein is a knowledgeable partner, serving Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Cedar Falls with test drives and configuration help that puts you in the right small pickup for the season ahead.

• Hybrid with AWD: Maverick® brings the only hybrid-AWD combo in this match-up for 2025.
• Off-road traction aids: Available TREMOR® adds Trail Control for controlled low-speed travel.
• Screen clarity: Largest standard center screen in class helps reduce distraction when roads are slick.
• Bed utility: FLEXBED® and a Multi-Position Tailgate streamline winter hauling and storage.

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