One-Week Test Drive: 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Love It or Hate It?

Pickup trucks...they're big, thirsty, and expensive, right? Not so says the Hyundai Santa Cruz, a compact pickup aimed at the Ford Maverick and based on Hyundai's Tucson compact crossover.

The 2024 Santa Cruz comes in either FWD or AWD, offers a turbocharged engine, and offers the practicality of a truck with the comfort and ease of a car. This starts at a cool $28,000 and the fully loaded Limited trim you see here is $43,000 out the door. So does all that make this Santa Cruz worth it? Let’s go spend a week with one and find out.

Pricing:
The base FWD SE starts at $28,000 even (including destination); AWD is another $1500. The cheapest model with the turbocharged engine is the Night Edition and it starts at about $39,500. Our loaded AWD Limited tester rang in at $43,000, including destination. Those prices for the turbo models is a bit high, considering that the Maverick comes standard with a turbo engine and starts at about $26,000, including destination.

Engine:
Base SE and SEL models get a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 181 lb ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight speed automatic transmission and standard FWD or optional AWD.

Then the Night, XRT and this Limited trim get a turbo engine — same size — 2.5-liters — that makes 281 hp and 311 lb ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed dual clutch transmission and standard AWD.

Interior:
We tested a loaded Limited model, which came with a larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Lower-end models will get a standard 8-inch screen. What's frustrating is that while our loaded model didn't offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, those features are standard on the base models with the smaller screen. And there’s not even a USB C charge port.

New for 2024:
Hyundai dropped the SEL Premium trim and replaced it with the XRT. This off-road-lite version includes some features from the older SEL Premium plus some from the optional Activity Package. This includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black fake-leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, wider fender flares, side steps, and bed rails.

Elsewhere in the Santa Cruz lineup, LED headlights are now standard, there's haptic feedback via the steering wheel for lane keep assist and blind spot collision avoidance, and most models now have dual-zone climate control.

Dimensions:
The Santa Cruz is four inches shorter than the Maverick, plus it's two inches shorter. The Santa Cruz is 2.4 inches wider than the Maverick. And comparing fully-loaded AWD trims, the Santa Cruz is about 400 pounds heavier.

How does all this stack up against the Ford Maverick? Check out out full review to find out.

Ready to shop for a new or used Santa Cruz or any other type of vehicle, no matter what's on your list? Be sure to check out:

Presenter: David Undercoffler
Editor: Phil Shuyler

#hyundai #hyundaisantacruz #pickuptrucks #trucks #smalltrucks #compactpickups #compacttrucks #santacruz #FordMaverick

[Nathdood]

I'm a sports car guy. But realistically, I needed something with a bed, and something that would do well on a dirt road or in the rain/snow.
Then I found this beauty. I'm a proud owner of a '24 Santa Cruz Night in Phantom Black. I am absolutely the type of person this truck is aimed at, and I absolutely love it.
It's sporty, its comfortable, its classy, and in all black it is very muscular and aggressive looking. I mainly city/highway drive, so this is all the truck I need. It's like a sporty crossover with a bed and tailgate which I use all the time.
All she needs is good AT tires and I'm set to hit the light trails and camping

[marcymack]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I own one. 2022 SE and upgraded 2024 SEL w/Activity Package. Best Car I ever owned. I'm 63 years old.

[nikonmark]

Why does everyone review the high end model when most people buy the lower end models?

[jody]

Just bought the wife a new 24 night edition.. at first I didn't like it. We went and test drove one and I changed my mind real quick!
Comfortable, road noise is minimum, quick for what it is, mpg is great, handling is AWESOME I tested that out very thoroughly!!😎
The more I look at it, I like it even more!

[arunmaroli]

With incentives, prices of Santa Cruz SEL can be had below $30k. This is a better value than Maverick XLT which has less equipment and no discounts even if you can find one at dealership.

[scotthopkins]

I always wanted an El Camino, and this reminds me of that. I looked at the Mavrick and My last 5 cars were Ford and all I can say is it feels, sounds and looks Cheap but really isn't in price. Even when you level up in price to with higher trims the dash and interior are really the same as the base XL. All you get is slightly better looking seats a better sound system and better wheels. The Santa Cruz Interior is really nice and you don't feel like you are in a cheap Mini Truck.

[williamwasilewski]

Just bought a 2024 Limited and pleasure to drive.

[vulpinemac]

Purchased the XRT version just this past Monday. Meets my needs far better than any larger truck. In fact, I traded a Chevy Colorado for this because of it.

[darrellnewbury]

We traded our 2017 Santa Fe Sport for a 2024 Santa Cruz SEL all wheel drive for my wife. We love it. She has her SC and I have my F-150 XLT Sport 5.0. We are both happy

[MichaelSaskoley]

I love my Santa Cruz 2.5 turbo great ride and lots of power! It is quite and comfortable but the rear seat room is small.

[Truzak]

I've got the first model year (2022) of the SC Limited. Conventional wisdom says don't ever buy the first model year, but after almost 2 years and 20K miles, I'm still loving this truck.

The truck is an absolute blast to drive. It corners and handles like a sports car, as you said. And the turbo just goes - even when towing - supposedly 0-60 in 6 seconds.

If you're going to tow, I think the turbo is an absolute must. It pulls my 22.5' pontoon boat out of the water up a steep ramp like nothing. While towing an ATV, I had to accelerate doing 70 mph to avoid a semi, and was up to 85mph in a few seconds.

I love the look of the console, being all black and flat. And I've adjusted to having no knobs by using the controls on the steering wheel for controlling the radio. Having touch controls for the HVAC is no big deal once you've memorized where they're located. And having a screen dedicated to the HVAC is a real plus. I can tell at a glance what the temp is, what the fan is, and how the vents are set. I do keep a microfiber cloth in the console to wipe the fingerprints and dust from the console. The flat surface cleans up fast and easy.

The SC also has a crazy amount of driver assistance tech, something that's not available on the Mav even at the top trim level. (I know, I researched both before deciding on the SC.) The one thing I've found most useful is the display for the speed limit, especially when I'm driving in unfamiliar areas. I don't think I could live without it anymore.

There are three things that the SC lacks:
1) No driver seat memory. Having to readjust the seat and find that perfect sweet spot again after my wife has driven it is a pain.
2) Not having an electric power rear window is also a pain. I literally have to plan ahead if I think I'm going to want to use it while driving.
3) No armrest in the back seat with integrated cupholders. As the cupholders in the door are virtually useless, I had to improvise a cupholder on the floor behind the center console, the location of which is actually convenient for the front seat occupants if they have more than one drink.

I've never owned a vehicle that has garnered more looks and more compliments from complete strangers than this one, even after two years of it being on the market. And I've never owned a vehicle that's this much fun to drive.

[TheCeticZombie]

Great review. Do you remember if you had enough headroom in the front? I’m the exact same size.

[strongislandautoenthusiast]

The Hyundia Santa Cruz reminds me of the Subaru Baja, from the body style to the available AWD and the turbocharged 4 cylinder. I keep seeing big interest in a second-generation Subaru Baja, but I don't believe we'll see a new Subaru Baja. The Santa Cruz XRT model looks dope and to me, it's almost like a Subaru Baja Wilderness edition.

[jerryscogins]

I am planning on buying one i need something for some hauling and love yhe rase of getting in snd out of it i have back issues and several things i like about it

[rendiewmit]

I would've liked to seen you get out of the back seat and immediately go to the front passenger seat and show how much room you had.
I really like the Santa Cruz but the back looks small.

[servantsoldier]

Looking forward to the 2025 Limited in Black

[GoldRaven-oeby]

Its really cool but i don't like the dual clutch all that does is noticeably raise the price with no real benefits, if this was a super car id say sure but in a truck it just isn't necessary. Also the giant wheels just dont fit on a vehicle of this type but otherwise its pretty cool

[waynewilliams]

It’s my favorite sedan with a truck bed Tucson is not as practical. I’d rather have a truck bed than a 3rd row for hauling, camping and popping a tent off the ground

[ScubaSteveCanada]

Hyundai list it as a SUV. It's literally built on the same platform as the Tucson. Maverick is built like a typical truck but the two compete for similar customers.

[edg]

These are awesome as long as u don't get the Dual Clutch Transmission they say !