The 2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz, a pickup truck made for the city.

For 2022 Hyundai has released an all-new pickup truck called the Santa-Cruz. Hyundai is claiming the Santa-Cruz is groundbreaking in the world of the pickup truck industry, but I beg to differ.

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

Countless times in the past we have seen the whole “pickup/car” vehicle represented. Plus, it is still a huge market in Australia. Here in Canada, we have seen cars like the Subaru Baja, and Chevrolet Elcamino represent that market. Otherwise, the small pickup truck market in North America is still one of the highest markets at the moment. So how does the Hyundai Santa-Cruz compare?

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

Well for starters, the Santa-Cruz is smaller all around when compared to others in the same class. For example, the Santa-Cruz measures 195.7-inches in length where the Ridgeline comes in at 210-inches, and for width, the Santa-Cruz comes in at a scrunchy 75-inches. The downside to all of this? The bed length comes in short at only 50.25-inches (averaged between top and bottom), where the Ridgeline, Tacoma, and Frontier come in at 59-inches+.

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

Despite the lack of size, the Hyundai Santa-Cruz does offer something the Ridgeline and Tacoma don’t, two engine options. Under the hood, the Santa-Cruz will boast a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine making 190hp and 190 lb.-ft of torque as standard. Optionally, the Santa-Cruz will be available with a turbo version of the 2.5-litre with an output of 275hp and 310 lb.-ft of torque.

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

Behind the standard engine option, the Santa-Cruz will be mated to an 8-speed automatic, and the turbo motor will also have an 8-speed automatic but, it will be DCT (dual-clutch transmission) will paddle shifters on the steering. Both options will also be available with HTRAC AWD as an option.

Moving along to the interior, the Santa-Cruz comes with all the commodities available as standard in most cars and trucks today. As for the infotainment, it will have a 8-inch system as standard with a 10-inch screen option available. Along with that, you will also have a in-car wireless charger, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and storage under the rear seats.

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

As for the exterior, you can see when comparing Hyundai’s lineup, they have gone out of their way and redesigned a lot of their passenger vehicles. Of these changes, they have designed the Santa-Cruz to be a truck that the “city” person can also use to go out and enjoy the outdoors. The concept is to offer a sporty looking truck for when you are in the city and a very off-road capable truck when, well, off-road.

To aid in the off-road, Hyundai has given the Santa-Cruz, “armor-like wheel arches”, a skid plate element in the front facia, and optional 20-inch wheels.

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz

Overall, I think Hyundai is trying to claim that they have reinvented the wheel with the Santa-Cruz, when in reality they have basically made a smaller, small size pickup truck. Like I mentioned, we have seen this done a few times already in the past and this one is nothing new. That being said, the fact that you have an engine option that will out preform both the Ridgeline and the Tacoma does give me hope. 

2022 Hyundai Santa-Cruz Specs

Engine & Power:

• 2.5l Inline 4cyl - 190hp and 190 lb.-ft 
• 2.5l Turbo Inline 4cyl - 275hp and 310 lb.-ft 

Drivetrain:

• 8-speed Automatic
• 8-speed DCT Automatic (only available on Turbo engine)
• HTRAC AWD (optional)

Size (inches):

• Length - 195.7
• Width - 75
• Height - 66.7
• Wheelbase - 118.3
• Bed Length - Upper 48.4, Lower 52.1

Towing Capacity:

• 2.5l Non-Turbo - 3,500lbs
• 2.5l Turbo w/AWD - 5,000lbs