New Hyundai Santa Cruz Bridges the Small Truck, Small SUV Gap

At first glance, Hyundai’s new 2022 Santa Cruz truck—dubbed a Sport Adventure Vehicle—may be a head-scratcher for many. Like, what’s going on here? Is this a mid-size pickup with a compact SUV complex—or is it the other way around? What is Hyundai attempting to do, who’s going to buy this thing, and does this quasi-SUV truck even make any sense? 

However, the new Santa Cruz makes a lot of sense. It bridges the gap between the capabilities of a small pickup and the comfort and maneuverability of the ever-popular compact SUV.

Sporting a multi-utility open bed to haul gear, a 2.5L turbo engine with AWD, and 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity, all packaged into an agile compact footprint with the benefits of a Hyundai SUV, this adventure-going hauler will traverse rough terrain while managing the suburbs without breaking a sweat.

As Hyundai’s CEO puts it, “Our customers will wonder just how they managed before owning one.” And we may just have to agree with that.

2022 Santa Cruz Price and Release Date

Expect the 2022 Santa Cruz to hit dealerships sometime this summer 2021.

US Pricing:

The US market has several choices when considering Hyundai’s new truck starting at $23,990 – including engine, transmission, and either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive options.

Canadian Pricing:

All 2022 Santa Cruz models in Canada come with all-wheel drive, with 3 trims available starting at $38,499.

Power and performance: 2.5L turbo making over 270 hp

There will be two powertrain options for the US market, including the standard 2.5L direct-injected in-line four-cylinder with an estimated 190+ horsepower and 180+ lb.-ft. of torque. And the optional 2.5L direct-injected turbocharged engine makes an estimated 275+ horsepower and 310+ lb.-ft. of torque.

The more powerful turbo engine pairs with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) sporting steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The Canadian market gets this bigger, 2.5L turbo engine as standard (single engine equipped).

HTRAC AWD system across the board

Both powertrains have all-wheel drive and a multi-mode system to fine-tune driving behaviour. For more spirited drives, a Sport offers a more nimble feel by sending extra torque to the rear wheels. Canada gets a few extra, exclusive modes, including Mud, Sand, and Snow. Go Canada!

Santa Cruz Towing Capacity

Most mid-size trucks, like the Toyota Tacoma, offer a towing capacity between 6,000 and 7,700 lbs. Hyundai’s pickup will do a respectable 5,000 lbs. with the more powerful 2.5L turbo powerplant, compared to the non-turbo 2.5L, which offers a 3,500 lbs. towing capacity. Here’s a quick summary of the Santa Cruz’s performance specs:

How will Santa Cruz handle it?

Well, we’ll know once we get behind the wheel. However, the Korean automaker is promising “enhanced driving dynamics and responsive performance for a wide variety of urban and off-road, multi-surface driving conditions.”

Sporting a shorter wheelbase, short overhangs, and wide track, the Santa Cruz is designed to be a more planted pickup that offers more agility on everyday roads while managing to provide off-road capabilities courtesy of 18-inch wheels with larger sidewalls. For proper off-roading, 20-inch alloy wheels are optional, wrapped in wide, all-season, all-terrain tires.

2022 Santa Cruz Interior

Pickups, in general, these days, have really stepped up their game in terms of comfort, convenience, and tech. Rivalling premium 4-door sedans, really, and this newcomer is no different.

Hyundai did a good job blending ruggedness with style in the cabin, particularly by offering 10.25 inches of visibility coupled with an optional 10.25-inch digital cluster display. A Bose sound system comes standard, and extra storage is provided under the rear seats—you don’t get that with a crossover.

The overall interior design is what the brand calls “an enveloping dual-cockpit design,” which sounds like a warm hug from your Auntie. Again, we’ll need to experience the truck ourselves to find out.

Bluelink Connected Car System and safety features

Bluelink Connected is Hyundai’s smartphone app service that allows remote functions like starting the vehicle, locking doors, locating it, and more. It’s free for three years with the Santa Cruz and can be accessed via the MyHyundai.com web portal or mybluelink.ca in Canada.

In terms of safety features, expect the usual list of goods. Some notable standards include lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning system, and forward collision avoidance, to name a few. Optional are Blind View Monitor (BVM), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), and Surround View Monitor (SVM).

The Santa Cruz’s distinct looks

Looking at these photos with those 20-inch wheels, the Santa Cruz indeed looks like a bold Weekend Warrior machine with sleek looks siding on the premium side. The truck’s low-slung looks give it that sporty yet stylish feel, paired to those angular A- and C-pillars. Not sure we’d feel the same with the standard 18-inch wheels, however.

At the back, the horizontal T-shaped lights provide a wider presence and look pretty sharp. The rear door finds a very large, coloured-matched ‘Santa Cruz’ engraved at the bottom. And that front grille is all Hyundai, taken almost directly from the small 2022 Tucson crossover, suiting the new pickup just fine.

Open bed with lockable tonneau cover

But the big deal here is that open cargo bed. While SUVs offer abundant cargo space, frankly, they’re not always ideal for hauling stuff like bikes, odd-shaped gear, and all that dirty crap from Home Depot. The convenience of simply throwing it in the back is sort of a game changer and what should appeal to buyers here.

This truck (sorry, Sport Adventure Vehicle) finds a secure, open bed area which includes a lockable tonneau cover, hidden bed storage and versatile bed extension accessories.

Interior and exterior 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz photos