2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Review
If there was any question as to whether a market exists for small, more car-like pickup trucks last year’s sales figures answered with a resounding “yes.” The Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and this Hyundai Santa Cruz found a combined 155,000 customers in 2022…not too shabby. Now, I drove the new Santa Cruz last year when it first hit the streets and loved its combination of quirkiness and versatility but lamented Hyundai’s design approach of contrasting the truck’s exterior toughness with a too soft, Tucson-like cabin. This part just doesn’t make sense to me. As a matter of fact, Hyundai would be remiss if it didn’t conjure up a more robust Santa Cruz XRT or some version of Kia’s X-Pro series.
The Santa Cruz is now available in five trims beginning with a front-wheel drive SE with a starting price of $27,035. This here is top-of-the-line Limited with standard all-wheel drive, a turbocharged engine and optional floor mats totaling $42,115. So that’s a pretty wide spread. For those who expect to so some trailering stick with the SEL Premium or Limited grades with all-wheel drive – they provide up to 5,000 pounds capacity with the assistance of trailer brakes.
(Bed stand-up)
There’s been some snow this week so I’ve had the chance to further investigate Hyundai’s Active, on-demand all-wheel drive system called HTRAC which can send up to 50% of the power to the rear. There is a drive mode to optimize traction in the snow and Hyundai approves of occasional off-road use such as on established unpaved roads and trails. An all-wheel drive lock mode is also available at speeds below 37 mph. Of course, driving in snow is much more about the rubber than the drive system and these Michelin all-season light truck tires are engineered for quiet highway driving - not so much winter driving but still, the snow mode keeps the Santa Cruz’s 4 wheels in play while adapting the traction control and shift pattern for light snow duty – it feels capable enough but get some winter tires for a much more robust experience. There’s a respectable 8.6” of ground clearance here but I’d keep it out of the deep stuff.
(What’s new for 2023)
Gas mileage with this 281 horsepower, 311 pound-feet of torque 2.5-liter turbo is 22mpg in combined driving. It’s mated to an 8-speed dual clutch automatic. The Santa Cruz is nimble, peppy, quiet and comfortable an anti-truck if you will. I just hope Hyundai gives us a version with a little more bite.
The Santa Cruz is now available in five trims beginning with a front-wheel drive SE with a starting price of $27,035. This here is top-of-the-line Limited with standard all-wheel drive, a turbocharged engine and optional floor mats totaling $42,115. So that’s a pretty wide spread. For those who expect to so some trailering stick with the SEL Premium or Limited grades with all-wheel drive – they provide up to 5,000 pounds capacity with the assistance of trailer brakes.
(Bed stand-up)
There’s been some snow this week so I’ve had the chance to further investigate Hyundai’s Active, on-demand all-wheel drive system called HTRAC which can send up to 50% of the power to the rear. There is a drive mode to optimize traction in the snow and Hyundai approves of occasional off-road use such as on established unpaved roads and trails. An all-wheel drive lock mode is also available at speeds below 37 mph. Of course, driving in snow is much more about the rubber than the drive system and these Michelin all-season light truck tires are engineered for quiet highway driving - not so much winter driving but still, the snow mode keeps the Santa Cruz’s 4 wheels in play while adapting the traction control and shift pattern for light snow duty – it feels capable enough but get some winter tires for a much more robust experience. There’s a respectable 8.6” of ground clearance here but I’d keep it out of the deep stuff.
(What’s new for 2023)
Gas mileage with this 281 horsepower, 311 pound-feet of torque 2.5-liter turbo is 22mpg in combined driving. It’s mated to an 8-speed dual clutch automatic. The Santa Cruz is nimble, peppy, quiet and comfortable an anti-truck if you will. I just hope Hyundai gives us a version with a little more bite.