Sport Adventure Vehicle
Be lured to the Santa Cruz because of its tiny size and everyday usage
Performance
The Santa Cruz is Hyundai’s first pickup truck, and it’s available now. So, is it a truck, or is it something else? A cab and bed are included, however Hyundai describes the Santa Cruz as a “Sport Adventure Vehicle” rather than an ordinary pickup truck. Whatever it is, it has a distinct appearance. Some may consider the Santa Cruz to be more of a crossover with an open bed, thanks to its unibody design and independent suspension, as well as its FWD-based platform that shares its underpinnings with the Tucson SUV. Hyundai believes that customers will be lured to the Santa Cruz because of its tiny size and everyday usage, even if it’s towing and carrying capabilities are limited when compared to “real” trucks now available on the market.
Models
The Santa Cruz truck’s two engines are FWD with AWD options. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter I-4 with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Automatic front emergency braking with bicycle and pedestrian detection is included on every 2022 Santa Cruz. Adaptive cruise control, side and rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring are among the available driver-assist and active safety technologies.
Technology
While in AWD mode, the Santa Cruz can tow up to 3,500 pounds when equipped with the standard 2.5-liter I-4 engine, which is rated at 25 horsepower. The Santa Cruz has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when equipped with all-wheel drive, which is the same as the maximum towing capacity of the Honda Ridgeline equipped with a V-6 engine. If you require a towing capacity that is greater than that, there are additional options accessible to you.
Rivalry
Take, for example, the Ram TRX, our Truck of the Year winner for 2021; this monster is an absolute beast of a vehicle. Consider, for example, the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is a mid-size sedan. Putting these two things together in the same category seems impossible. From the outside, the Santa Cruz appears to be a truck, but its design and structure are more akin to that of a crossover than a traditional truck. It is capable of competing with the greatest in the business, but is it powerful enough to compete with them? Maybe it won’t make much of a difference in the end.
Feature
the experience is with us
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz comes fitted with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment. There is a 10.3-inch touchscreen available, but you must link the device to your phone in order to use the phone connectivity functions. More expensive trims are also equipped with an eye-catching 10.0-inch digital gauge display, while lower-priced models are content with a smaller display between the conventional gauges. While in AWD mode, the Santa Cruz can tow up to 3,500 pounds when equipped with the standard 2.5-liter I-4 engine, which is rated at 25 horsepower. The Santa Cruz has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when equipped with all-wheel drive, which is the same as the maximum towing capacity of the Honda Ridgeline equipped with a V-6 engine. If you require a towing capacity that is greater than that, there are additional options accessible to you.
Systems
The two engines in the Santa Cruz truck for 2022 are both front-wheel drive with the option of all-wheel drive. With an eight-speed automatic transmission, the base engine, a 2.5-liter I-4 with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, can be had for as little as $21,500. We expect the 0-60 mph acceleration to take just over 8.0 seconds, and the EPA estimates the fuel economy to be 21/27 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive. Models equipped with front-wheel drive are rated at 21/26 mpg. It is possible to get turbocharged power in the Santa Cruz thanks to an updated 2.5-liter I-4 engine that produces 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with overdrive. When fitted with AWD, the vehicle should accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over 6.0 seconds, while its fuel efficiency is rated at 19/27 mpg.
Substitute
To be sure, the Santa Cruz isn’t built for hauling heavy loads or crushing rocky trails, but that isn’t what it is aiming for. As a matter of fact, it fills a need that has mostly been left unoccupied as trucks have grown in size: Small and city-friendly, yet capable of light labor and weekend excursions, this car has all the features you need. Look no farther than our first drive right here to get a sense of our early views, followed by our first test to see how well the Santa Cruz Limited performed in our testing. It will take time to see how the Santa Cruz is received by the market, as the truck segment is possibly the most rigid and orthodox of any. We appreciate, though, that Hyundai is ready to take a risk and push the envelope. Perhaps there are new truck enthusiasts to be discovered, individuals who were intrigued in the Honda Ridgeline but would like something a little more manageable in terms of size and weight distribution.
