The newly-formed segment of pickup trucks already has two players in the game. One of them is Ford Maverick, while the other one is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. This pickup arrived this summer and already established a good position on the market. The overall design is pretty unique and doesn’t have many things in common with conventional mid-size pickups.
This one comes with a unibody layout, just like Honda Ridgeline. We like its refinement and ride quality, which are the key advantages over BoF pickups. Also, there is a quite potent optional turbo-four engine, while the max towing capacity of 5.000 pounds makes it pretty functional as well. The Santa Cruz is a good alternative for all those drivers who like the open bed design, but don’t necessarily need a vehicle for hard work.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is already available on the market, with a starting price of around 25.000 dollars.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Design
When it comes to the overall design, the most interesting part of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is its platform. It rides on a unibody platform, just like the Honda Ridgeline. Therefore, one of its key benefits is ride quality, which is pretty much on par on crossovers. That’s no wonder considering that most of the parts are shared with Tucson.
This doesn’t refer to mechanics only, but also to the visual appearance. The front end of the truck looks nearly identical to the compact crossover and also brings that unique 3D grille and integrated headlights. The rest of the vehicle, though, comes in a typical pickup layout. The only version you can get is a double-cab model, which measures around 118 inches in wheelbase and a little bit over 195 inches in total length.
Interior
This is probably the strongest point of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The cabin looks really upscale, like nothing that you would expect from a pickup truck. The dashboard looks very similar to the mid-size Santa Fe crossover and also includes that massive center console, loaded with nice physical buttons. Of course, there are numerous tech goodies as well, starting from a nice and intuitive infotainment screen, instrument cluster etc.
As we already mentioned, the only version on the offer is a double cab model, with four doors and two decently sized rows of seats. The front seats are massive and supportive, while the second row accommodates adults as well.
What we particularly like is the overall build quality, which is really impressive. The sound insulation is also very good, while the visibility is good in all directions. Every Santa Cruz comes with a 4-foot cargo bed, with a max payload of up to 1753 pounds.
Features
Even the most basic version of this pickup comes with a decent list of standard equipment. Some of the highlights are goodies like an 8-inch touch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth, HD Radio, a six-speaker stereo, and keyless entry. Additionally, you can get goodies like a 10.2-inch touch screen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, navigation, wireless device charging, an eight-speaker stereo, satellite radio, two additional USB ports, a digital key, push-button start, remote start, a sunroof, ambient lighting, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
When it comes to safety features, all models come standard with a rearview camera, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, automatic high beams etc. Optionally, you can get upgrades like blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot camera, surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control etc.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Engines
Two variants of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz are available regarding powertrain. Base models come with a 2.5-liter inline-four engine, which puts out around 191 horsepower. The engine comes in pair with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to either front or all wheels.
The optional turbo-four is currently available with AWD layout only. That’s a 2.5-liter turbo-four engine, which puts out around 281 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Also, this engine comes with 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
When it comes to the max towing capacity, models with the base engine can tow around 3.500 pounds. On the other hand, models with the turbo-four are good for up to 5.000 pounds of the max towing capacity. The base engine returns around 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, while the turbo-four is slightly thirstier.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pricing
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is already available on the market. The starting price goes around 25.000 dollars, while the most expensive versions can go over $40.000. Key competitors are models like Ford Maverick and Honda Ridgeline.