The Hyundai Santa Cruz debuted as a prototype at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, and we’ve been excited about the prospect of seeing this compact-sized trucklet come to life during the past six years. It is time to rejoice for the fellow car nerds given that the 2022 Santa Cruz is right here. As a matter of fact, this can be considered to be the most attractive truckini since the launch of the Subaru BRAT.
Even though you might be of the notion that Santa Cruz happens to be a midsize pickup truck, it is much smaller as compared to that. Its platform is shared with the Hyundai Tucson crossover implying that it is essentially a unibody just like the Honda Ridgeline, and is a minimum of 10 inches shorter as compared to the Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and the previously mentioned Honda. In fact, the Santa Cruz comes with a shorter wheelbase for booting and this feature helps to make it much simpler to navigate in the city environment.
Instead, try to visualize Santa Cruz as a fully functional small-sized crossover. Although it is possible to carry surfboards and bikes in the bed, the smaller stature of the truck implies that it will be easy to load. It is simpler to access given that the corner step is only about 19” from the ground while the height of the bed happens to be a couple of inches lower than the previously mentioned midsize trucks.
However, although it might appear to you, the bed is not that small. It happens to be 4’3” in length, 4.5’ in width, and approximately 3.5’ in width between the wheel wells. On the contrary, the bed of the Ford Ranger is 5’1” in length, a bit more than 4.5’ in width, and measures 3’9” in width between the wheel wells.
Till the arrival of the new Ford Maverick, Santa Cruz does not face any real competition right now. Although we can get closest with the car-based Honda Ridgeline, there are lots of differences between these two. Moreover, in case you think the Hyundai to be almost the identical size as a 2nd-generation Chevrolet S10 pickup, you have probably guessed it right.
It will be possible for the bed of the Santa Cruz to carry approximately 660 pounds of gear, and it provides as many as 6 tie-downs as well. There are also lockable storage cubbies on the sides as well as in the floor. One more layer of security is provided by a discretionary locking tonneau cover, and you will likewise come across LED bed lighting plus a 115V outlet.
Engine options
The Santa Cruz is equipped with a robust 2.5L inline-four motor having a torque of 181 pound-feet and 191 horsepower. Apart from this, an 8-speed automated transmission provides power to the Nissan Frontier wheels. Nevertheless, a turbocharged version of the 2.5L engine along with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque will be provided by Hyundai in addition to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The base engine will allow the Santa Cruz to tow as much as 3,500 pounds and the upgraded powerplant is going to become bigger with an astounding rating of 5,000-pound.
Even though the Santa Cruz comes with optional 20” wheels, it will be prudent to stick to the regular 18” wheels in case you are going off-road. Although you will come across a center differential locker for distributing the torque proportionately between the front as well as rear axles, the Santa Cruz is surely not an off-road monster by any means. The truck features Sport as well as Smart drive modes in addition to hill-descent control; however, nothing is going to provide help in case the going gets tough. Despite the fact that Santa Cruz should be able to get you out to the lake, it is essential to bear in mind that it is only a small-sized CUV featuring a bed.
Safety and convenience features
Although several driver-assistance features are provided, the majority of these are optional. You will only be getting lane-keeping assist, forward-collision assist, and driver attention warning standard. In fact, useful stuff such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and Highway Driving Assist of Hyundai which will aid in keeping the vehicle centered while driving are optional.
Inside, wireless Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto along with an 8” touchscreen is available. It will be possible for the drivers to option up to a bigger 10.3” display, and although Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are nevertheless included, the larger screen does not offer wireless functionality. Apart from this, a 10” digital instrument cluster along with a wireless charging pad is optional. The Digital Key feature of Hyundai is here as well for Android users which enables drivers to lock plus unlock the doors remotely and get the engine started as well.
Styling
Given that Santa Cruz is linked to Tucson in many ways, it is not surprising that they look almost similar as well. The contemporary grille features the identical cool concealed daytime running lights which are visible from behind the geometric panels. While the headlamps are positioned low down on the fascia, you will come across a faux skid plate that ties it all together. Although it will not be sensible to believe that the skid plate can prevent rocks from perforating the radiator, it nevertheless appears nice.
Even with the bed of the truck, the silhouette of Santa Cruz is quite attractive along with the awfully raked rear pillars. The width of the bed is emphasized by the rear light signature (which happens to be T-shaped) and this should provide the truck with a cool appearance after sunset.
Fuel economy and pricing
Although fuel economy or pricing info has not been released by the Korean automobile manufacturer just yet, those are expected to be declared in the near future. There is no need to wait for a long time for driving the Santa Cruz either; in fact, the first trucks are going to roll into Hyundai suppliers this summer only.
