1 – Built for adventure
Given everything mentioned above, the Santa Cruz is not a traditional pickup truck with a big, beefy engine and very powerful towing capability. Traditional pickup designs are built on a ladder-style body on the chassis, however the Santa Cruz is based on the Hyundai Tucson with an open bed that basically translates to the question of whether it's really a pickup truck or not, right?
But this pickup is guaranteed to sell, and people will continue to buy this for good reason. Again, not everyone needs that traditional beefy pickup design because sometimes it's too much for their use or what they originally planned for. This truck is truly built to simply take on adventures, be more than capable when you need it most, and perhaps be more than enough to meet your personal needs.
2 - Security
The Hyundai Santa Cruz also offers excellent safety and convenience features. With that, it helped Hyundai Santa Cruz to win many prizes at the beginning of its release, and was awarded as the best pickup by the Washington Automotive Press Association.
It has many advanced safety features available on the Hyundai Santa Cruz in addition to the standard features mentioned above. Optional safety features include Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assistant, Safe Exit Assistant, Blind Spot Vision Monitor, Highway Driving Assistant, Surround Vision Monitor and Rear Traffic Collision Avoidance Assistant.
3 - Engine
The engines, as mentioned, come in two different powerful engine options. The standard powertrain is a 2.5-liter direct injection 4-cylinder engine with an estimated 190+ hp and 180+ lb-ft tq. The second option is the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine with an estimated 275 hp and 310 lb-ft tq and both are mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The eight-speed automatic transmission to the standard 2.5-litre engine delivers fast, precise shifts for an engaging and efficient driving experience. This transmission adds a ratio for the top and bottom output speeds that allow for extra off-the-line thrust and a more fuel-efficient ride.
4 - Practicality
Although the bucket is smaller compared to other trucks on the market, it is still very practical when loading your gears outdoors and bulky things. There are hidden compartments available on both sides of the bed which are covered to give it a clean look and also protect your important stuff from the harsh environment. The right side also offers a regular plug for you to charge your electronics or power certain things when you're outdoors.
The center of the bed itself also has hidden storage that offers more additional space. It also has a drain plug that gives you the option of using it as a built-in cooler.
5 - Maneuverability
Given its specifications, the refined chassis and short wheelbase also allow the Hyundai Santa Cruz to be very efficient in terms of manoeuvrability. The Santa Cruz is just 195.7 inches long and has a width of 75 inches. To put that in perspective, the Honda Ridgeline has a length of 210 inches and a width of 78.5 inches.
The difference in numbers also makes a huge difference when it comes to your everyday driving characteristics. It makes the Hyundai Santa Cruz much easier to maneuver around town and park in challenging urban parking lots. It also offers a curb-to-curb turning radius of just 20 feet.
