The small-truck class suddenly revived, one of which was the launch of the Ford Maverick. However, Hyundai, who did not want to lose, also released the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
This pickup truck builds on the company's recent successes, with an edgy look, plenty of power and lots of features. In fact, you could say the high-end limited version is the best choice.
While the limited version of the Santa Cruz retails for just over $41,000, you don't need to spend extra on the things you need unless you want a fancier paint job.
Advanced active safety equipment such as Highway Driving Assist comes as standard, as does a larger central touchscreen with Hyundai's user interface. And most importantly, Santa Cruz is sufficient for most of your trucking needs.
Hyundai Santa Cruz 2022 Limited Stats Brief
- Engine: Turbocharged 2.5 Liter I4
- Power: 281 Horsepower / 311 Pound-Feet (421 Nm)
- Towing Power/Load: 5,000 / 1,600 Pounds (2,267 kg/725 kg)
- Base Price: 23,990 + 1,185 US dollars Destination Fee
- Price When Tested: 41,100 US dollars
DESIGN
Not everyone will like the Santa Cruz style. Just like Tucson, Santa Cruz is bold, edgy, and bold. The tiered grille is the focal point, with silver hues overlapping to create a woven texture.This car is also equipped with a hidden LED mounted on the base of the bumper. While the original headlights are positioned lower in the fascia.
The SUV-like cabin and four-foot-long tub do make Santa Cruz look shabby from the side. However, the smooth transition of the sloping roofline from the cab to the body provides a cohesive look, while the design of the headlights and rear bumper creates a clean rear.
A touch of Blue Stone paint is also a plus, especially since it doesn't cost extra. The 20-inch wheel which is the only option also looks very sharp with triangular edges and a two-tone finish. While a firm impression is seen on the outside, this is not the case on the inside. In fact, the passenger cabin is essentially a "copy" of the Tucson interior. But, that's not a bad thing at all.
The Santa Cruz dashboard design creates a cockpit feel, with a four-spoke steering wheel that looks good and feels good in the hand. Not to forget, there are quite a lot of high-quality aluminum and leather features in this car.
The only negative to the interior of this car is the excessive use of piano black plastic around the infotainment system, which looks cheap and gets dirty quickly.
TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY
Wrapped in an 8.0-inch touchscreen, the original Santa Cruz offers a tech-packed infotainment package. The SE and SEL versions come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in, with the SEL also offering remote start and an optional wireless charger as well as satellite radio.
Meanwhile, the Limited version comes with a larger central screen, 10.3 inches, and a 10.3-inch digital cluster screen. This version is also equipped with a premium audio system from Bose, as well as several other features.
Admittedly, Santa Cruz has an outstanding touchscreen with sharp graphics, clean layout, and responsiveness. But, like other Hyundai/Kia products released recently, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are only available for the base version, for some reason.
The absence of volume and tuning buttons means you'll have to fiddle with the controls on the steering wheel or the capacitive touch function below the screen to quickly play songs or change radio stations. Honestly, both are quite clunky because they are complicated.
The 10.3-inch full-digital cluster allows the rider to customize things like fuel economy, audio settings and more, with unique graphics for each riding mode.
FUEL CONSUMPTION
With a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an all-wheel drive system, the Santa Cruz is capable of 19 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on the highway and 22 MPG on the combined track.
While the base version, with a non-turbocharged engine and front-wheel drive, is slightly better at 23 MPG combined. During the test, which included a balanced mix of city and highway driving, Santa Cruz almost never hit the 18 MPG mark according to readings on the digital cluster.
In fact, the Santa Cruz rating simply can't match the Ford and its more efficient powertrain. The 2.0-liter Maverick is capable of reaching 25 MPG in combination track with all-wheel drive mode, and 26 MPG with front-wheel drive mode.
While the Maverick Hybrid type is able to touch the number 37 MPG combination, or 14 MPG better than Santa Cruz.
