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.
In This Article...
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, which costs $24,000, is a truck that drives like an SUV, making it the ideal vehicle for adventures.
- The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is unlike anything else on the market, being both a pickup and an SUV.
- It has a modest but surprisingly adaptable truck bed and costs $24,000.
- It’s the ideal vehicle for weekend activities since it combines SUV proportions with pickup-truck functionality.
Three different people approached me and asked the identical question in the course of just one afternoon while I was driving Hyundai’s new pickup truck, the 2022 Santa Cruz: “What the heck is that thing?”
If we didn’t live in a time when many people’s social skills have completely vanished, much like their early-pandemic sourdough starters or their desire to dress oneself below the Zoom line, I imagine the figure would have been higher.
The majority of folks haven’t actually seen a Santa Cruz up close because it only came onto the scene this summer. However, there’s another reason why people always ask inquiries and give Hyundai’s small truck perplexed looks: it’s freakin’ strange.
The Santa Cruz is unlike anything else you can purchase today, occupying the odd space between a pickup and an SUV. In essence, Hyundai took an SUV, removed a sizable portion of the roof, and added a tiny truck bed where the trunk should have been.
Although the end result sounds horrifying, it flawlessly combines the functionality of a pickup truck with the comfortable form and feel of an SUV. The Santa Cruz is a brilliantly funky response to the big trucks and generic crossovers that rule US roadways, and it is in a league of its own.
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 tiny 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.
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.
Will Kia produce a truck?
Kia has announced its AutoMode self-driving car technology, a new electric pickup truck that will go on sale by 2027, and that it will produce the pickup and electric SUVs in the United States in a presentation outlining its business objectives for the remaining 2020s.
Does Hyundai produce compact pickup trucks?
The small pickup truck is back. An unorthodox combination of trucks creates a new class of vehicles. The Ford Maverick comes from a company that has been producing trucks for more than a century, but the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the Korean brand’s first foray into this market. These two little trucks bring back memories of the days when small trucks ruled the highways. These two engage in a contemporary conflict.
Will Kia release a pickup truck?
Kia steps up its efforts in EVs. With a target to increase the lineup to 14 BEVs by 2027, the business will begin releasing at least two new battery-electric models (BEVs) every year beginning of the following year.
The plan includes “an entry-level BEV model” in addition to the Kia EV6 – debuted in 2021 – and its impending GT version. The Kia EV9 flagship SUV is scheduled to launch in 2023.
The South Korean manufacturer really revealed two electric pickup trucks, one for developed markets and the other for emerging countries:
- a completely electric pickup truck
- “an emerging markets strategic model”
Kia will add two electric pickup trucks—a specialized electric pickup truck and a strategic model for emerging markets—as well as an entry-level BEV model to its prior goal to introduce 11 models by 2026.
According to one of the presentation’s slides, pickup trucks won’t debut until 2026, or in about 4 years:
It’s interesting to note that there is also one “Pick-up/commercial” model listed for 2021, which most likely refers to the South Korean Bongo 3 EV (see Kia’s website here).
Kia withholds all information regarding the pickup trucks. There is still plenty of time to create those new models, after all.
There is currently no information available, but it will be intriguing to see whether the Hyundai brand (both are a member of the Hyundai Motor Group) also releases an electric pickup truck.
Kia may choose to manufacture its all-electric pickup trucks in the US whenever they are ready to be released. The presentation on the expansion of EV manufacturing contains a hint regarding that.
The South Korean automaker announced that beginning in 2024, American factories will start making electrified versions of mid-sized SUVs and pickup trucks:
“For instance, starting in 2025, small and medium-sized EVs will be manufactured in Europe. Mid-sized SUVs and pickup trucks are popular in the United States, and starting in 2024, electric versions of these vehicles will be made here. In China, Kia expects to release mid-size EV cars starting in 2019, while India plans to start making entry- and mid-size EV models in 2025.”
If electric pickup trucks are anticipated in 2026, the 2024 deadline must apply to new mid-sized SUVs.
Rivian (R1T) and GMC have already introduced the first contemporary all-electric pickups (Hummer EV Pickup). Ford will start giving the F-150 Lightning to customers this Spring, and several other companies have indicated intentions to do the same (including Tesla, Chevrolet and Toyota).
Where is the Hyundai Santa Cruz truck manufactured?
- Hyundai will manufacture the Santa Cruz pickup in Alabama in the future. Hyundai has stated that the company’s assembly factory in Montgomery, Alabama will be used to build the next Santa Cruz pickup truck.
- Review of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Car or Truck?
- First impressions of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Now for Something
Is Kia a Hyundai property?
Some people consider Hyundai and Kia to be simply rebadged versions of the same cars. The two brands do have a close relationship, despite the fact that this is not the case. Hyundai acquired Kia in 1998 and now owns 51% of the business. The two corporations are now regarded as sisters because that share has decreased to around a third.
Hyundai and Kia frequently use one another’s vehicle platforms as a result of their tight cooperation. Do the cars from both brands have the same engines?
Does Kia produce trucks?
It’s time to put the rumors to rest because Kia has verified that a real Kia pickup truck is in the works and will go on sale in 2022 or 2023. Apparently, Kia thought the Telluride’s blocky shape, sharp edges, and off-road prowess made it the ideal basis for a Kia pickup truck. Many of the technological advancements and amenities that made the Telluride such a well-liked option among purchasers of midsize SUVs will be found in the new truck. Gasoline and diesel engines, as well as a single or double cab, will be available options for turning some of the Telluride’s 87 cubic feet of cargo space into a pickup bed.
The new Telluride-based Kia truck is being released in Australia, according to the Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors in Australia. So, does Kia produce a pickup truck that will eventually be sold in Anderson and Fishers dealerships? Despite being hesitant to respond, Kia Motors America didn’t completely rule out the prospect of a Kia pickup for the US market.
Hyundai is dependable?
According to Consumer Reports, Hyundai cars are “excellent all-around performance, with straightforward controls, impressive fit and finish, and helpful amenities.” The company is renowned for building vehicles with powerful engines, svelte interiors, and a ton of affordable standard amenities. Numerous Hyundai models are listed as “recommended” by Consumer Reports due to their high overall ratings for dependability, customer satisfaction, safety features, and road test results.
RepairPal also gives Hyundai high marks for dependability. RepairPal offers car owners peace of mind by providing free, bespoke repair estimates, automobile reviews, and referrals to nearby, honest auto repair shops.
The Hyundai ranks fourth out of 32 automobile brands on RepairPal, with a dependability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. This evaluation is based on the average of 345 different models. Hyundais typically cost $468 annually for repairs, compared to $652 annually for all other vehicles. Both large planned maintenance and unforeseen repairs fall under this category.
What kind of framework did the Hyundai Santa Cruz have?
One Created for Adventure The Santa Cruz is based on the Hyundai Tucson and has an open bed, which basically begs the question of whether it is a truck or not since traditional truck designs are built on a ladder-style body on frame.
A Santa Cruz—is it a truck?
The Santa Cruz blends the practicality of a compact truck with quirky styling and a fun-to-drive attitude. It costs a little more than its primary competition, the Ford Maverick, and the style might not be to everyone’s taste, but the extensive list of features and the high-end interior more than make up for the higher price.
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.