The Santa Cruz, a brand-new addition to the range for the Korean carmaker this year, is Hyundai’s first pickup for the US market. The Ford Maverick, which is essentially its only direct rival, has a starting price of $23,990 before fees, which is very similar to the Santa Cruz’s.
That applies to the base SE grade, which has front-wheel drive and a 191 horsepower four-cylinder engine. There are a total of four model levels, with the top two — SEL Premium and Limited — coming standard with all-wheel drive and a more potent turbocharged engine. Last month, Hyundai lent me a fully loaded Limited model for a short period of time. The whole cost, with destination charges included, was slightly over $41,000.
There are several SUV-based trucks, but none compare to the Santa Cruz. Hyundai’s latest entry is less of a normal midsize truck than Honda’s Ridgeline, which has boxy dimensions, a longer bed, and a larger overall footprint. Similar to the Santa Cruz, Ford’s recently released Maverick is about the same size but resembles the F-150 more than it does anything else.
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Overview
It’s up for dispute whether the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz counts as a proper pickup truck, but there’s less disagreement over its unique appearance and practical cargo box. The Hyundai’s maximum towing capacity is 5000 pounds, and there are mid-size vehicles that can handle mud and rough terrain better. However, the Santa Cruz isn’t attempting to pass like one of those irate-looking, trail-eating, jobsite mule pickups. Consider it as a little Hyundai Tucson with a truck bed instead. After all, the vehicles’ platforms and drivetrains are similar. A weak 191 horsepower four-cylinder and a 281 horsepower turbo-four that is an option both power the Santa Cruz’s performance. The stronger engine is only compatible with all-wheel drive; it is only offered with the top two trim levels. The stronger engine is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The SEL Premium and Limited offer the best technology and the nicest interiors, but they forego a greater number of physical controls in favor of less practical touchscreen buttons and are significantly more expensive than the less expensive variants. However, the 2023 Santa Cruz stands out for striking a mix between usability and enjoyable driving characteristics.
The price of the Hyundai Santa Cruz in 2022.
The SE basic variant of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is priced at $26,885. The SEL, SEL Premium, or Limited are all available after that for $30,085, $37,075 and $41,115, respectively.
The 2022 Santa Cruz appeals to individuals deciding between a compact vehicle and something a little larger because it is smaller than most midsize pickups. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque is included as standard. Although all-wheel drive is an option, that is paired with a front-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
A six-speaker sound system and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are also included. The 2022 Santa Cruz has forward collision warning and lane-keep assist as standard safety features. One of the nicest aspects of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, according to Edmunds, is how it almost seems like an SUV thanks to these features.
The genuinely compact pickup is revived with the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
The brand-new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a two-row, crew-cab style vehicle that is aimed at city people seeking weekend getaways. The compact pickup holds four adults in the cabin and has space for their belongings in the bed. It is the manufacturer’s first consumer pickup truck of any size or design to be marketed in the U.S.
An adequate amount of luggage and recreational equipment may fit in the pickup bed’s four feet, and a locking, metal roll-up tonneau cover keeps them safe and secure. The tonneau is a sensible feature that will probably be a well-liked factory option. In addition, the Santa Cruz has a lockable storage space built into the floor of the bed, similar to the Honda Ridgeline’s bed storage box.
opinions about driving
The steering on the Santa Cruz is crisp, well-balanced, and far more direct than that of most trucks. The Santa Cruz is not designed for serious off-roading, despite having an acceptable 8.6 inches of ground clearance. As wild as most owners are likely to go, an overgrown two-track through the woods, or hard-packed sand at a beach or backyard, and the little pickup appeared more than up to the task.
Although I didn’t get a chance to tow in the Santa Cruz, Hyundai claims that it complies with J2807 towing standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers, so you may have faith in its capability to brake and haul. On the obvious assumption that the Santa Cruz will transport more cargo, more frequently, Hyundai tested its first pickup to stricter durability criteria than it does with cars and SUVs.
My top-of-the-line Santa Cruz’s 2.5L turbo engine provided quick acceleration on the interstate and when navigating hilly roads.
Probably the sportiest and most pleasant Hyundai I’ve driven, the handling was a revelation. The Tucson’s track is 1.6 inches narrower than the Santa Cruz’s. In addition to having excellent grip from the Limited’s 20-inch tires (regular 18s), the Santa Fe’s incredibly rigid body is a key factor in its responsive handling. Compared to the open spaces of an SUV, the rear wall of the cab acts as a significant stiffening component. Further increasing stiffness, the C-pillar is properly positioned to transfer forces to the rear suspension.
Additionally, the turbocharged Santa Cruz gets all-wheel drive as standard. Only front-wheel drive is available in Hyundai’s designated performance cars, the Veloster N and the incoming Kona N.
Hyundai does it have a truck?
The new Hyundai vehicle was just released in 2021, so it does now. The Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup is what it is named. It aspires to combine the adaptability and comfort of an open-bed truck with the room and comfort of an SUV.
What is the name of the Hyundai pickup truck?
Hyundai manufactures the four-door Santa Cruz compact pickup vehicle. The Santa Cruz is Hyundai’s first 4-door pickup truck offered in the North American market, and it will go on sale in 2021 for the 2022 model year. The car features a unibody chassis architecture instead of the ladder frame used in most pickup trucks and is based on the Tucson crossover SUV. According to industry observers, the Santa Cruz is more likely to draw car or crossover buyers than owners of larger, more traditional pickup trucks.
Will Kia release a pickup truck at some point?
Kia has made the unexpected revelation that it is creating two new electric pickup trucks. However, as you’ll see, this has been in the works for a while. By 2027, it intends to introduce a total of 14 new EVs at a rate of two each year. While Niro EV sales have increased, it recently debuted its EV6 crossover. The Niro has increased by 132% just in the past month.
Is a pickup truck being developed by Kia?
By 2027, Kia intends to release 14 new electric vehicles (EVs), including its first pickup truck. The idea was presented by the Korean manufacturer, which is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, this week as part of its “roadmap to 2030” event.
Where is the Hyundai Santa Cruz truck manufactured?
- Hyundai will manufacture the Santa Cruz pickup in Alabama in the future.
- Review of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Car or Truck?
- First impressions of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Now for Something
A 2020 Hyundai truck’s price.
Although the two pickups’ characteristics are extremely similar, the Maverick has a lower starting price of at $19,995 (plus a $1,495 destination fee). The top Lariat trim of it starts at $25,490. But with upgrades, additional AWD, and a more potent 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, it approaches the $40,000 mark.
A Santa Cruz—is it a truck?
The starting price is $25,450. Although the Hyundai Santa Cruz is an unusual pickup truck, many drivers find it to be the ideal vehicle. It has the practicality and driving qualities of a compact SUV similar to the Hyundai Tucson on which it is based thanks to its small size, car-like chassis, and capacious 4-door body.
What do you name a car that has a truck bed?
One of the Road’s Most Versatile Cars (or Trucks) You may create a “Ranchero” by taking a functional pick-up truck bed and adding it to a sleekly designed two-door American sedan.
Who creates vehicles with truck beds?
The Chevrolet El Camino is perhaps the first vehicle that comes to mind when you discuss a car with a truck bed. Even though you don’t often see the El Camino hauling a noteworthy quantity of cargo in the truck bed, many people nevertheless adore its novelty. This sportster, which is categorized as a coupe utility muscle car, looks to have it all.
Will there be a new Chevy El Camino?
A conventional pickup truck is not what the new Hyundai Santa Cruz is. Hyundai refers to it as a “Sport Adventure Vehicle” instead. The Hyundai Tucson serves as the tiny Santa Cruz’s foundation, hence it rides on a unibody platform. It is a Tucson that has a pickup bed, therefore making it a ute.
Although this body type is well-liked in Australia, it hasn’t recently been made available in the US market. The Chevrolet El Camino was one of the most well-liked American utes before to the Santa Cruz’s introduction this year. Chevrolet stopped making the El Camino in 1987, and currently has no intentions to bring it back.
Casados Design, an Alabama-based metalworking company, is creating its own contemporary Chevrolet El Camino to fill the hole.
Based on a heavily modified 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, the custom ute was created. The chassis has been lengthened and the back doors have been opened to accommodate the bed. Additionally, there are bespoke fender flares and a b-pillar that was inspired by a Chevrolet Avalanche. Although the Camaro was never meant to be a pickup, the bed fits in with the body well without distorting the proportions.
The design features and proportions have been completed, and since work on the project started about two months ago, an aluminum diffuser and rear bumper cover have been installed. The Camaro-based ute will also get an additional set of exhaust tips from Casados Design to give it a more aggressive appearance.
The client “didn’t want to imitate an actual automobile but rather, rethink the notion with his own very precise limits,” the designer claims, even though it appears to be a contemporary El Camino. We are eager to see the outcome of this project because it is obviously being undertaken with a lot of effort and love.
How large is the bed on the Hyundai Santa Cruz?
Dimensions of the Hyundai Santa Cruz’s bed: length, width, and height 48.4 inch bed length with the gate closed. Bed Length (52.1 inches) from Floor to Closed Gate. Bed Length (74.8 inches, Floor, Gate Open)
Which automobile has a truck bed?
Chevrolet installed their big-block engine under the El Camino’s hood and gave it the SS moniker in 1968. El Camino, Chevrolet’s first crossover vehicle, has been on the market for ten years.
Which automobile is the greatest for sleeping in?
You’ll meet pals you didn’t realize you had if you purchase a Ford Grand Tourneo Connect. It is based on a van, as suggested by the style, but this gives you access to a spacious boot big enough for a living room sofa. Throw that out; you can essentially fit the entire lounge there.
It makes sense that this would result in the ideal situation. When you get to a music festival, you sit on the sofa to have an excellent view of the show before sleeping soundly and dryly in the load space. Because of its wipe-clean interior, it will be simple to get rid of the dirt and filth left over from the festival. Perfect.
The Grand Tourneo Connect is one of the greatest cars for sleeping in because the seats can be folded down to create a completely flat floor.