Nothing quite like the Santa Cruz

Hyundai’s stylish small pickup delivers big

The small truck has seen a recent resurgence that has energized a marketplace that had moved on from this once-popular segment. One of the more impressive options hitting the pavement is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

I tested the new Santa Cruz Limited trim with an all-wheel drive. Like several of Hyundai’s recent vehicles, the Santa Cruz offers a polarizing design that will put people solidly in one camp or the other: love it or hate it.

Aesthetic/Style

I love Santa Cruz’s exterior styling and I truly appreciate Hyundai deviating from the primary gravy train path for traditional SUVs. One thing you can say about the Santa Cruz is there’s nothing out there that looks quite like it. And in today’s copycat marketplace — that’s hard to say about much. This is a bold, edgy exterior look that inspires change.

My Limited tester sat on top of a set of 20-inch rims that really give the Santa Cruz a distinctly ‘planted’ look. The profile is probably where the distinction is most potentially polarizing. It feels very streamlined as the cab drops off at the back and dives sharply on an angle into the bed level.

While the taillight and rear bumper design create a clean rear end, the notable design cue upfront is definitely the mesh grille that offers a unique woven-like texture. The inset LEDs that cascade down to the base of the bumper provide a very youthful look. The actual headlights sit slightly lower on the fascia.

All of these deviations from the typical design cues make Santa Cruz look original and exciting. While I had it, I more than a few comments comparing it to the late Chevy El Camino, which maintains a worthy place in many hearts if for nothing else than its distinct coupe-open bed body style.

Cabin

Inside Santa Cruz, you will find plenty of room in both rows. Because of the sharp roofline dive from the peak above the driver to the back of the second row (a 7-inch change), the profile looks cool, though the lowest-end is still more than 40 inches tall. The view for the driver is excellent with power adjustments making comfort a breeze.

My tester featured leather seating that was well-bolstered, though the bench seating in the back is slightly more upright, yet plenty comfortable. The second-row bench storage system allows for smaller items to fit beneath the seat cushions.

The Limited model I tested offers the convenience of remote start and an optional wireless charger in the console. The 10.3-inch touchscreen, and a 10.3-inch digital cluster, create a massive point of digital info that looks great and is easy to decipher. One complaint I have is the lack of knobs or buttons, everything is touchscreen and it was hard to change stations and up the volume without locating and trying to target a specific part of the screen. The Bose premium audio system features outstanding audio quality, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Bed

The Santa Cruz’s has a 4.3-foot bed that provides a good size for a lot of the utility use that could come up. The Limited’s standard locking, a retractable metal tonneau cover provides dry storage with additional security. An additional locking storage compartment in the bed adds to the secure utility space.

Even though this is a relatively low bed height, I really appreciated the steps on the corner of the bumper that made the bed easy to access. LED lights within the cargo box make finding things at night much easier.

Performance

While base models offer a standard four-cylinder engine, the Limited I tested featured the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder generating 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD) the Limited has crisp shifts and responsive handling.

One thing you have to give the Santa Cruz — it is a lot of fun to drive. Off the line it is quick and it has plenty of reserve power to easily get you around traffic at highway speeds. My Limited tester with the turbo powerplant and AWD delivered average fuel economy at 19 city/27 highway/22 combined.

The Santa Cruz is not designed to be a heavy hauler but it can provide reasonable capacity for hauling and towing. Payload max capacity is 1,600 pounds in the bed and the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive allow it to tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The MSRP for the base Santa Cruz is $25,175, though the Limited I tested climbed up to $41,100. The Santa Cruz is a real deal for a small pickup with an impressive list of safety and tech equipment, AWD, and one-of-a-kind looks even at the high-end price. Of course, Hyundai’s 10 year/100k warranty closes a lot of deals on its own.

• John Stein is a freelance journalist based in Chicago. He has more than 25 years’ experience driving, testing, and writing about the automotive industry, its latest innovations, and vehicles.