Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept

[Sub!eDr!ver]

quote=subyski;46550932]I would like to see a truck based on the larger Telluride.

[/quote]

One of several artists renditions of a Kia Truck:
http://newbesttrucks.com/2022-kia-pickup-truck/

[

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[AVANTI R5]

Hyundai Santa Cruz N Is The Pickup Truck Of Our Dreams

Just don't call it a pickup truck.
Pickup trucks continue to improve and become more refined with each passing year, but they also keep getting larger and more difficult to park. Even the so-called "mid-size" segment with options like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma are larger than most urban drivers can use. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz looks to shake up the market with a genuinely tiny vehicle equipped with a bed. We stopped short of calling the Santa Cruz a pickup because Hyundai would prefer people call it a "Sport Adventure Vehicle."

Hyundai will offer the Santa Cruz with two engine options, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 190 horsepower and a turbocharged variant developing a more substantial 275 hp. The latter should prove adequate for most buyers with 310 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 5,000-pound towing capacity using the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. But what if Hyundai took it a step further with a sporty N variant?


CarBuzz reached out to Hyundai senior manager of product and advanced powertrain, Derek Joyce, who declined to comment on a potential Santa Cruz N model. But Hyundai previously promised that its N and N Line portfolio would expand to 18 models by 2022. It's doubtful that any of these 18 planned models include the Santa Cruz, but we think the idea has some merit.

We imagined what a Santa Cruz N could look like, using the Veloster N's color scheme. The Santa Cruz lends nicely to the N treatment with its unique headlight and grille design and generally aggressive fascia. We then added some sportier wheels, red brake calipers, black mirror caps, a vented hood, and an N badge for good measure. We think the tiny SAV looks fantastic finished in Hyundai N's signature Performance Blue with sporty red accents on the lower portions.

So, what will power the Santa Cruz N? The Veloster N and Kona N each use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is smaller and less torquey than the 2.5T unit in the Santa Cruz. It wouldn't make sense for this engine to appear here, so Hyundai would likely need to tune the 2.5T to produce a higher output. In models like the Sonata N-Line and Kia K5 GT, it produces 290 hp, while the Genesis version produces 300 hp. So expect something similar for the Santa Cruz N.

Inside, the Santa Cruz has a techy cabin, but Hyundai could dress it up a bit with some N bits, such as blue stitching, more aggressive seats, a different shifter, and a head-up display. Even if Hyundai doesn't go so far as to build a Santa Cruz N, perhaps it will introduce a sporty appearance package like the Tucson N Line. There is no pricing available on the Santa Cruz but we expect it to range between $25,000 to $35,000. If the N model could slot in around $40,000, it would be a tremendous value.

[AVANTI R5]

Hyundai's decision to greenlight a strange, small pickup seemed like an unorthodox one several months ago when the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz was unveiled. After the positive reviews started piling up (including our own), however, it became clear that the Korean automaker had made the right decision. And now it's evident that the general public agrees, as Santa Cruz pickups are quickly finding homes shortly after landing on dealer lots.

Hyundai's decision to greenlight a strange, small pickup seemed like an unorthodox one several months ago when the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz was unveiled. After the positive reviews started piling up (including our own), however, it became clear that the Korean automaker had made the right decision. And now it's evident that the general public agrees, as Santa Cruz pickups are quickly finding homes shortly after landing on dealer lots.

Automotive analyst iSeeCars keeps track of how long cars sit on dealer lots before they get sold. For months, the Chevy Corvette has been at the top of the heap or very close to it. Now though, it's been dethroned—at least temporarily—by the Santa Cruz. The compact pickups spend an average of only eight days on the showroom floor before somebody decides to snatch them up.

The iSeeCars list is interesting because it not only tends to highlight conventional hot sellers like compact SUVs, but enthusiast vehicles as well. The top 20 ranking includes, for instance, the Subaru WRX, the aforementioned C8 Corvette, and the Ford Bronco. All of these vehicles get sold well ahead of the average time a car spends on a lot, which is 26 days. If you're curious, the Bronco spends 10.6 days on lots. So yes, the Santa Cruz is technically hotter than the Bronco. There is, of course, a very broad context to that statement, though.

The Santa Cruz has been subject to dealer markups just like many others. We actually received an email from a reader showing a $10,000 markup on an SEL Premium trim, which is pretty unbelievable considering the starting price of such a Santa Cruz is $36,905. If they weren't aware before, dealerships are definitely in the loop now about the high demand for enthusiast vehicles like the Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz was formally unveiled several months ago as a vehicle in the same vein as the Ford Maverick. It's a compact, unibody pickup truck with a relatively low price tag designed for people with "active lifestyles." As such, it has several features that enable that attitude. It can tow 5,000 pounds, its short bed is more versatile than you might think, and thanks to a crew cab it can still be used as a daily driver. Lastly, an integrated lockable tonneau cover also makes the bed usable as a trunk.

It's still an unorthodox car despite having this level of versatility though, and the fact that it's selling so quickly will definitely be good news for a few Hyundai product planners. The Santa Cruz is based on the Tucson—not its own bespoke platform—sure, but it was definitely still a risk to bring it to market. In any case, it's a solid little pickup with a bucketload of interesting features.

[chanomatik]

I saw a light blue Santa Cruz on the road the other day. It looks really good, I think. Glad to see they're selling well.

[SCRAPPYDO]

good for them. THe unibody truck is so damned good to drive and accomplishes 95% of what truck people actually use a truck for.

[Sub!eDr!ver]

I'm glad it's a success. If Kia doesn't make one soon I might have to switch to Hyundai.

[Brahmzy]

Saw one of these things on my commute home tonight.

[chanomatik]

YouTube (Short URL)

YouTube (Short URL)

[JustyWRC]

Only thing I don't like about that is headlight placement. I LOATHE the bumper headlight trend. Now, with them not on, that thing looks totally amazing to me. Good job Hyundai. Interior looks good as well.

[Calamity Jesus]

Headlights being mounted at an appropriate height for traffic isn't to the saleman's aesthetic preferences.

[chanomatik]

I was gonna say that I actually appreciate the headlights being lower. So sick of high-mounted headlights blinding me whenever I'm in someone else's fishbowl vehicle. On my Impreza my rear windows are 5% tint and the front windows are 35%, so headlights aren't too big of a deal. Plus I have auto-dimming side mirrors.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by Calamity Jesus

Headlights being mounted at an appropriate height for traffic isn't to the saleman's aesthetic preferences.

Did I say anything about the height to warrant a baseless attack?


I said I don't like them in the bumper where it looks like it's supposed to be a fog light. Juke was the worst. Chevy is horrible and now Hyundai ruins the day time beauty of this with that crap at night.

[AVANTI R5]

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pros and Cons Review: Truly an SUV With a Bed

Pros

Fun to drive in turbo form

Looks great

Neat tonneau cove


Cons

Can't speak to the base engine's performance or refinement.

Less capable than the Ford Maverick

More expensive and less efficient than the Maverick


2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pros and Cons Review: Truly an SUV With a Bed
The Santa Cruz is a premium lifestyle vehicle for those who haul bikes and potted plants in the bed.

otorTrend's Truck of the Year competition isn't a comparison test—like all Of The Years, entrants are considered against our criteria—but when it came to the new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, judges found it difficult to avoid comparisons with the new 2022 Ford Maverick, the other new compact pickup truck that dropped this year.
"The Santa Cruz drives pretty well, but it doesn't have the Maverick's charm," Mexico editor Miguel Cortina said.

Ignoring the pesky Ford, it's worth considering what the new Santa Cruz is. Hyundai's first pickup in this market (the company has sold a light-duty pickup in South Korea, called the Porter, since the late 1970s), the Santa Cruz is a new compact pickup based on the Tucson crossover. The standard—and expected volume—drivetrain is a 191-hp 2.5-liter I-4 paired with an eight-speed automatic and the buyer's choice of front- or all-wheel drive. A 281-hp turbocharged version of the four-cylinder is available on upper-tier models. It's paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel drive, though front-wheel drive will be available later in 2022.

Base prices start at $25,215, but turbo models begin at $36,905. Our loaded turbocharged Santa Cruz test truck, which included an aftermarket trailer hitch and trailer brake controller because neither is available from the factory on turbocharged models, stickered for about $42,000.

We requested a naturally aspirated Santa Cruz to go along with our turbocharged tester, but Hyundai wouldn't provide one for our competition. It also confirmed it will not order any such vehicle for its press or marketing fleets. "That's not a vote of confidence," features editor Scott Evans said.

Like the Maverick, the Santa Cruz is designed for those who want a pickup's utility but maybe don't need all the capability. That's just as well, because as a pickup the Santa Cruz is fairly middling. Turbocharged all-wheel-drive models are capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds and hauling up to 1,600 pounds, though a Hyundai spokesperson told us the truck can only carry 600 pounds in its 4-foot composite bed. The bed features a nifty roll-up tonneau cover and an underfloor trunk, but judges found the latter too small to handle anything larger than jumper cables, and the tonneau cover impeded access to a cargo area that already has high bedrails.

We didn't have any major issues towing a 3,500-pound trailer with our Santa Cruz other than some minor trailer sway, but its off-road performance gave us pause. On the semi-steep, sandy hill climb on the off-road test course, we experienced the Santa Cruz's dual-clutch stalling more than once as it slipped its clutches and attempted to put its power down.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz 072022 Hyundai Santa Cruz 07
filterSEE ALL 49 PHOTOS

However, when not working hard, the Santa Cruz was pretty fun to drive. "Carlike" is a descriptor written often in judges' notes. The Hyundai is refined, comfortable, and torquey, and it rides well on all but high-frequency impacts. Judges appreciated its exterior styling, but most were annoyed by the capacitive controls in the interior, which might work well on a crossover but less so on a "lifestyle" vehicle that might get a bit dirty. The stylish cabin is cramped and without much storage, and the back seat is tight, too.

Ultimately, the Santa Cruz is a premium lifestyle vehicle for those who haul little more than bikes or potted plants in the bed. But is there is a better option on the market for doing real truck stuff?


POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz AWD 2.5T (Limited)

Specifications

DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD

ENGINE TYPE Turbo port- and direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4, alum
block/head

DISPLACEMENT 2,497cc/152.4 cu in

[AVANTI R5]

On the semi-steep, sandy hill climb on the off-road test course, we experienced the Santa Cruz's dual-clutch stalling more than once as it slipped its clutches and attempted to put its power down.

Does that happen in deep snow too?