2022 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ REVIEW

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is Hyundai’s first-ever Sport Adventure Vehicle and looks like nothing else on the road. The best parts of an SUV and a pickup truck come together perfectly to match premium comfort and modern tech with open-bed utility and versatility. It offers respectable payload and towing capacities, and its four-cylinder engine lineup is pretty thrifty on gas. The Santa Cruz also carries the segment’s longest powertrain warranty and one of the lowest starting prices. If not in the market for a midsize or full-size truck now there’s a third alternative.

Highs

• Versatile cargo bed with sidewall bed storage compartments
• Lockable under-bed storage compartment
• Calm ride and composed handling
• High quality and high-tech interior

Pricing

• SE: Starting at $25,215
• SEL: Starting at $28,415
• SEL Premium: Starting at $36,905
• Limited: Starting at $40,945

Performance

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is capable and fun to drive on twisty roads and maneuverability around town is carlike. It comes with two different powertrain choices. Standard is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Upgrade to the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and you’ll experience 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Cruz is quick, going from 0-60 mph in just 6.3 seconds in the Limited’s turbocharged engine. In terms of fuel economy the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder has an EPA combined estimate of 23 mpg.

Different terrain in all kinds of weather conditions calls for performance you can count on. Santa Cruz is up for the challenge with available HTRAC All Wheel Drive capability with both powertrain choices. Standard engine can tow up to 3500 pounds while the turbocharged engine can tow up to 5000 pounds.

Interior & Tech

Inside, the Santa Cruz has one of the nicest cabins among mid-size pickups. Hyundai has made a habit of building vehicles with attractive materials and desirable modern features that resemble that of more costly vehicles. There is seating for five passengers and space in both the front and back is competitive with other similarly sized trucks. There are several soft-touch surfaces, as well as some harder plastics, and it all feels solid and well put-together.

Hyundai offers the Santa Cruz with two different infotainment setups. The standard layout pairs an 8-inch touchscreen in the center stack with physical buttons and knobs for the main audio and climate controls. The touchscreen responds quickly to inputs, its graphics are crisp, and the menus are straightforward. In the upper trim you’ll find a 10.25-inch touchscreen which features attractive, high resolution graphics, and all the infotainment controls are laid out logically and respond quickly to inputs. Both systems sync well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Standard infotainment features include: an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, and two USB ports

Available infotainment features include: a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, navigation, satellite radio, an eight-speaker stereo, wireless device charging, and two additional USB ports

Exterior

Pack all that you can into each day with the well-designed and durable four foot long open bed. Hyundai designed a lot of functionality into the Santa Cruz’s relatively small bed. It features side and sealed underfloor bins for extra storage, power outlets, lockable cubbies, tie-down cleats, LED lighting, and a waterproof and drainable compartment underneath the bed floor with enough space for ice and drinks. The tonneau cover is made of metal, and it rolls up neatly beneath the rear window when not in use. The Santa Cruz adapts to your sporting and storage demands with flexibility since load outs can change with every adventure. Press the button on your key fob and the remote release tailgate opens to give you a hand. You can even adjust its height to support long equipment with no tools needed.

Safety and Driver-Assistance

In the Santa Cruz you’ll find an array of driver-assistance technology, including a standard driver-attention warning, standard lane keeping assist, and optional adaptive cruise control.

Key Safety Features Include:

• Standard forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane keeping assist and driver attention warning
• Standard electronic stability control with traction control system and brake assist
• Available blind-spot collision-avoidance assist and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist

Warranty

Hyundai has long offered one of the best warranty plans in the industry, with especially noteworthy powertrain coverage.

• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Corrosion warranty covers 7 years or unlimited corrosion miles
• Roadside assistance warranty covers 5 years or unlimited roadside assistance miles

Conclusion

The Santa Cruz is a stylish, sophisticated, and highly versatile alternative to typical mid-size pickup trucks. It has the modern convenience and space of an SUV, and the open bed of a pickup truck. The Santa Cruz offers interior refinement, ride comfort, and handling agility not to mention a low starting price. If you aren’t a huge truck person but have always wanted the utility of a truck bed for basic tasks the Hyundai Santa Cruz could be the vehicle for you. The Santa Cruz fulfills its goal of being a charming utility vehicle with an identity all its own. It’s well worth a look.

Check out the new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz here or call us to set up your test drive.