2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | First Drive

For the latest Hyundai Santa Cruz pricing and information:

With the all-new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, Hyundai is going out of their way to not call it a truck. Hyundai’s branding the Santa Cruz a Sport-Adventure Vehicle. Because it rides on the same platform as the Tucson I say, this is unabashedly an SUV with pick-up utility.

When you’re in the cab, you really notice the tech. The huge screens, both digital gauge cluster and infotainment touchscreen are super visible. I love things that are easy to see.

Speaking of visibility, seeing out of the Santa Cruz is a little tough. That c-pillar is pretty thick when I look over my shoulder. Good thing there are good safety features offered. One other bummer note about the interior, no volume nob.

When it comes to the ride, this is where if you aren’t a super huge truck person but have always yearned for the utility of a truck bed, you’re going to be very pleased. You know what else is pleasing? Subscribing to the KBB YouTube channel.

The Ride quality is exactly what you’d expect. There is no truck-esque jingle-jangle underneath you. On the road, you don’t even remember there’s a truck bed back there.

Around turns, again, this is familiar territory. The Santa Cruz behaves very well. The steering feels precise if a bit overly electronically assisted, and there is a modicum of body roll, but it feels stable and smooth around even some sharp stuff. All around the 2022 Santa Cruz is a fun driver.

The Santa Cruz get the choice of two engines. The standard engine is a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that uses an 8-speed automatic transmission.

This Santa Cruz I’m driving has the higher output turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This doesn’t feel underpowered at all. It’s got some good giddy-up. A bit of turbo lag, yes. But that torque will help you tow up to 5,000 pounds worth of toy back there.

The 2.5-turbo is only available with AWD, so that will help you with traction either on dirt roads or in some shady weather. That engine also gets an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that’s a smooth operator.

Pricing on the Santa Cruz starts at $23,990. That’s for a front-wheel-drive Santa Cruz SE powered by the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine. SEL and SEL Activity versions of the FWD Santa Cruz start at $27,190 and $30,460, respectively.

This is going to be great on dirt roads and hard-packed sand to get you to the trailhead or the beach. You’re not going to be able to do any rock crawling, sorry.

Another win for the Santa Cruz is its size. This thing is little. Yes, it’s only got a 4 and a half-foot bed back there, but that’s also the beauty of it. It’s got good utility but is still maneuverable and agile. You’re not going to be searching for parking for days if you live in a city.

Let’s go back to that 4.5-foot bed, it gets tons of underfloor storage with drain plugs, (Max Payload: 1,906 lbs) a retractable, locking tonneau cover, tie downs, an adjustable tailgate, a cleat system, corner steps to get in and out, and spots molded into the bed so you can create a shelf in here for even more storage.

It might not be as long as the bed on a Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier or even the newcomer compact Ford Maverick, but it’s a hard worker.

Standard safety features the Smart Sense suite that include forward collision assistance and lane keep and following assist.

And good news, that lane following assist that Hyundai and Kia put out is a great system. I’d even say one of the best in the industry, certainly at this price point. Other advanced systems like adaptive cruise control are optional.

Lots of interest in the Santa Cruz, and this thing in chock full of tech and other practical features, so you can bet we’re going to talk a ton about this one.

00:00 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
0:24 What is a Hyundai Santa Cruz?
0:48 Interior
1:24 Driving Impressions
2:53 Engine Choices
4:13 Pricing
6:00 Bed functionality
6:23 Competitors
7:08 Fuel Economy

[rdrift]

some other youtuber said this is a perfect granma garden truck.. smh hell no im a guy and love this .. perfect for my needs.. i rarely if occasional need a small truck bed for my trip s to lowes and haul heavy large dirty stuff. f* the haters.

[TheMichaelRN]

Should've been base hybrid and standard AWD to justify the premium over its closest competitor.

[bikebudha]

fyi, lower trims get smaller screen - with volume knob. And analogue gauges... (my preference...)

[saullopez]

I want to see a head 2 head with this and the Maverick

[JusticeFreedomDestin]

This has my attention. Hyundai’s been making a lot of underrated vehicles and I hope this succeeds

[JimmyTheMachine]

What all these new tiny truck things need is a fold down midgate like the Chevrolet Avalanche had. It blows my mind that everyone keeps missing this opportunity. Imagine how utilitarian this could be if it had a magic way to double the bed size!

[mark-qidi]

Subaru probably regrets not having continued with the Baja. There is clearly a market for these cars and a Baja of the current Outback could have been cool.

[FinancialShinanigan]

Perfect for city folks to drive to farmers' markets.

[OPnine]

This is more than enough "sport utility truck" for the average family needing a truck. Hyundai has a very compelling case with this vehicle.

[lowlanz]

To be honest, lack of volume knob should not bother the driver. They offer volume control on the steering wheel. Maybe for the passenger it does, but volume knobs are usually far from the passenger side anyway. After all, cars like Tesla only offer a screen and they don't complain on the reviews.

[Phrancis]

Nice to see the old Subaru Brat/Baja idea back in action.

[hemenkareamg]

Since It's basically a Tucson I wish they make hybrid model of it too

[katsnow]

Great review, thank you! Yep, nobody does a review on the base models of anything!! You know, the one most people are going to buy! Too bad the MPG isn't very good, some states gas prices are skyrocketing! On the other hand, Ford has the Hybrid they won't let anyone all! What is wrong with the truck that, after several months, your allowed to *walk around* but not drive??

[thesoretoe]

Man! Hyundai is not holding back this year! All their newly redesigned vehicles look super modern, yet practical! I love it!

[jonbegood]

I have durability reservations about the attractive piano plastic finish for the touch screen and controls. Does this plastic have any special finish or will it attract dust and scratch easily. Thanks.

[horuslupercal]

Sadfully, I think the downfall of the Santa Cruz is price, to get a nice loaded one you well into the price of a nicely equipped Tacoma, frontier, Colorado etc, or even a lower trim full size truck, if you want a cost effective small "truck" the maverick just checks to many of the right boxes

[SWARM_OF_GNOMES]

Makes me think of the Aussie UTE but as a 4 door

[pasta-eomt]

What's with the odd plastic nubs on the top of the wheel arches?

[ravisookdeo]

No mention or show of space in the rear seats

[PresidentJackBauer]

Is it like the Tuscon where the lower trims have a volume knob? Something that was pointed out in the Tucson review