The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz will be available in four trim levels, and you can reserve one today — if you’re willing to commit before knowing what you’ll pay for it.
The Santa Cruz is Hyundai’s first pickup … sort of. It holds its own niche in the market as the only truly small pickup for sale in the U.S. today. Built on the Hyundai Tucson SUV’s bones, it should ride more like a car than a conventional truck. We say should, because no one outside of Hyundai has driven the Santa Cruz yet. We’ll bring a detailed review soon.
Price remains a mystery. The Tucson starts at $24,950, (plus a destination charge of $1,195). The Santa Cruz is likely to carry a similar sticker. Customers can reserve one today with a $100 deposit.
Four Trim Levels
The base model Santa Cruz is the SE. It comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 190 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The combination gives it a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist are standard. The SE features an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto included.
A step up to the SEL trim will add push-button start, an 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, standard heated seats, and heated side mirrors. A blind-spot warning system is added to the safety suite. A larger, 10.25-inch touchscreen is optional on the SEL.
The SEL Premium gets a more powerful engine. A turbocharged 4cylinder, this one is good for 275 horsepower and boosts towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. The SEL’s transmission still has eight gears, but it is the dual-clutch variety and includes paddle shifters. It offers dual-zone climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
At the top of the lineup is the Santa Cruz Limited. With the Limited, that 10.25-inch screen becomes standard and controls a Bose premium sound system. Both front seats are ventilated and heated, and the steering wheel is heated as well. A Blind Spot View Monitor system shows a camera view of the truck’s blind spot in the instrument cluster when the turn signal is active.
Nothing Else Like It — Yet
The Santa Cruz is an intriguing entry, meeting a need no current new pickup does. For urban dwellers with parking challenges and a regular need for a truck bed, it will probably make a lot of sense. But its bed is tiny – just four feet – and its off-road capability will be limited compared to more traditional tucks.
Ford plans its own small truck, the Maverick, next year. The Maverick will likely be a much more conventional pickup, with more conventional pickup traits in a smaller package.
