2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Restricted in Ice White
The not so good: Middling gasoline financial system, restricted rear-seat passenger house, particularly restricted availability
CG Says:
Hyundai introduces an all-new compact pickup truck for 2022, with splashy styling and scaled-down dimensions that blur the traces between the compact SUV and compact-pickup-truck classes. In comparison with conventional pickup-truck rivals such because the Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is significantly smaller. It’s primarily based on a unibody-design platform shared with the redesigned-for-2022 Hyundai Tucson compact SUV, and it integrates the cab and cargo mattress into one seamless unit—not like the separate cab-and-bed configuration of most pickup vans.
The Santa Cruz is obtainable in only one physique fashion: a five-passenger, four-door crew cab with a 4-foot mattress. 4 trim ranges can be found: SE, SEL, SEL Premium, and Restricted. The SE and SEL are powered by a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired with an 8-speed computerized transmission, and provide a selection of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The SEL Premium and Restricted come commonplace with AWD and a 281-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission. Santa Cruz’s most towing ranking is 3500 kilos with the non-turbo engine, or 5000 kilos with the turbo all-wheel-drive model.
For better hauling flexibility, the Santa Cruz’s mattress options an array of D-rings, cleats, and pockets that enable customers to customise their cargo setup as wanted. A lockable under-bed storage trunk with a detachable drain plug is a useful commonplace characteristic. An obtainable lockable roll-top tonneau cowl conceals cargo and retracts into an enclosure beneath the rear window when not in use. The Santa Cruz’s cabin options up to date tech facilities reminiscent of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and wi-fi system charging. These and different infotainment options are accessed by way of a normal 8.0-inch or an obtainable 10.0-inch touchscreen. Additionally obtainable is Hyundai’s Blue Hyperlink service, which offers remote-access options reminiscent of beginning the engine or locking/unlocking the car by way of a smartphone app or Amazon Alexa. A wide selection of security tech options are additionally provided, together with lane holding help, driver consideration warning, blind-spot monitor, and ahead collision-avoidance help with pedestrian and bike owner detection.
The genre-bending Santa Cruz goals to mix the cargo-carrying versatility of a pickup truck with the sleeker styling, smaller dimensions, and higher general refinement of a compact SUV. Although we categorize it as a compact pickup, the Santa Cruz will doubtless be cross-shopped in opposition to conventional compact SUVs as properly. For now, its solely direct competitors is the equally new Ford Maverick, which has related dimensions and a unibody/crew-cab configuration.
Our take a look at AWD Restricted proved sensible and enjoyable to drive throughout our testing, although the smallish rear-seat space will restricted the Cruz’s attraction to households with rising teenagers or those that often drive with adults in again. Moreover the dual-clutch computerized transmission sometimes registers shifts with extra pronounced engagement than we’d choose.Other than that, Santa Cruz’s tidy measurement, energetic design, and useful options provide a refreshing “adventurous city dweller” different to extra established opponents.
