2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Truck’s Honest Review

March 31, 2023 Hyundai

2022 Santa Cruz truck is the first ever pickup truck manufactured by Hyundai. Read Typestruck’s full review below to find out more!

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Truck’s Honest Review

Hyundai manufactures the four-door santa cruz truck in form of 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 2022 hyundai santa cruz pickup truck is more likely to draw car or crossover buyers than owners of larger, more traditional pickup trucks. It sparks some debate along the way though, some stated that hyundai santa cruz truck is almost a hard pass to be called as a pickup truck. Some others seem don’t really mind it and welcome the pickup truck with glee.

It’s up for dispute whether the 2023 hyundai santa cruz truck counts as a proper pickup truck, but there’s less disagreement over its unique appearance and practical cargo box. The santa cruz truck can tow a maximum of 5000 pounds. There are mid-size trucks that can handle mud and rugged terrain better, but 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. Find out more interesting facts and information about the hyundai truck santa cruz below.

Hyundai Santa Cruz’ Body Size

The bed of this hyundai truck santa cruz is 52.1 inches long, 53.9 inches broad, and has a distance of 42.7 inches between the wheel wells. No, you won’t be flat-packing any plywood back there, but you can secure a lot of equipment with many tie-down points and sliding rail anchors. The bed’s tonneau cover is easily pushed back and forth, offering an additional level of security, and there is lockable, waterproof, drainable underfloor storage.

The Hyundai’s rear is easier to access, even if the bed is smaller than those of larger, medium trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado. With only 30.6 inches separating the bed floor from the ground, it is much simpler to carry big objects. In addition, the bed’s sides are very shallow, making it easy for you to reach in. Our Limited AWD tester can carry 1,609 pounds of payload compared to a standard Santa Cruz SE’s 1,753 pounds. Its capability surpassed The Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma altogether. As a matter of fact, this Hyundai pickup truck sits on the 2^nd rank

Hyundai refers to the Santa Cruz as a sport adventure vehicle. However, of course there’s some limits to some fun you can have. The truck’s 8.6 inches of ground clearance is comparable to that of other compact crossovers, and its off-road geometry, with a 17.5-degree approach angle, a 23.2-degree departure angle, and an 18.6-degree breakover angle, isn’t particularly impressive. The basic all-season tires on the Santa Cruz don’t help either, particularly the 245/50-series Michelin Primacy tires affixed to the Limited’s common 20-inch wheels.

Hyundai Santa Cruz’ Trims and Price

How much is santa cruz truck price? There are five trim levels and a variety of amenities available for the Santa Cruz. According to us, the SEL Premium is the best option. It has a more potent engine and finer equipment, including standard all-wheel drive, in contrast to the inferior SE and SEL. On lower trims, the system is a $1500 option. The SEL Premium includes a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and enhanced voice commands as well as standard LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and adaptive cruise control with GPS-based curve control.

As for santa cruz truck price and trims are as follow:

SE Trim: $27.035
SEL Trim: $29, 525
Night Trim: $37,395
SEL Premium Trim: $38,935
Limited Trim: $41,905

Hyundai Santa Cruz’ Transmission and Engine Performance

There are two different powerplant options available for the 2022 hyundai santa cruz pickup truck. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque is the base configuration. However, this entry-level engine is better avoided given the sluggish acceleration it gave the Tuscon crossover we tested. A 2.5-liter turbocharged four with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque makes up the improved engine.

With its increased power and snappier reactions, the Santa Cruz is much more suited to it. Both engines are compatible with eight-speed automatic transmissions, but only the turbocharged engine’s dual-clutch type. Both four-cylinder engines also come with an all-wheel drive option. The Santa Cruz is easier to maneuver in town because it is lower and shorter than its category rivals.

Hyundai Santa Cruz’ Towing and Payload Capacity

Even though the Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma, which are body-on-frame competitors, are able to haul more weight than the unibody Santa Cruz, the Ridgeline is the only other unibody in this class. The maximum towing capacity for both vehicles is 5000 pounds, but only when the Hyundai is equipped with its more potent turbocharged engine. The maximum towing capacity of the typical 2.5-liter four-cylinder is only 3500 pounds.

Hyundai Santa Cruz’ Interior and Comfort

Santa Cruz boast one of the best interiors among mid-size trucks. Hyundai has developed a reputation for producing cars with stylish materials and in-demand contemporary amenities that would fit in perfectly with more expensive models. We like that it has a conventional shifter on the center console rather than a fussy rotary knob or push-button configuration because it is the first truck in its class to provide a fully digital gauge cluster.

The hyundai santa cruz truck is only offered with a four-door crew cab. Both the front and rear passenger compartments are competitive with those of trucks of a comparable size. It’s about four-foot-long cargo bed is one of the smallest in the market. But it is quite adaptable thanks to a lockable tonneau cover and a practical in-bed trunk. It is similar to what the Honda provides.