The Hyundai Santa Cruz opens the door to a new age of the compact truck from a brand that you’ve never thought of in the truck market.

While the Santa Cruz is unique by being the first truck in America from this brand, it’s also the only truck to reach the IIHS top safety pick level. If you’re looking for a small truck that rides like an SUV, this Hyundai could be the truck you want to drive every day. There’s a lot to love about this small truck; let’s dive in and see what it offers.

What is the Santa Cruz?

If you see this new Hyundai truck and think it looks a lot like the new Tucson, you’d be right. This impressive small truck is wider and longer, which means it has actual truck qualities for you to enjoy. Additionally, the Santa Cruz brings you full-time AWD to give you a vehicle that can work well on the trails and on any road you find. Because it’s a small truck, you’ll fit everywhere, which makes this little truck one that can be great for everything you want to get done.

This isn’t a Hyundai Gimmick

Are you looking at the Hyundai Santa Cruz with an air of skepticism? If so, you’re not alone. How do we know this truck can perform? The tow rating of this small Hyundai is 5,000 pounds, which puts this truck in competition with the midsize models. You have the benefits of both SUV and pickup utility features, making it possible to drive smoothly when you don’t need to pull a load while having the strength you need when its time to get to work. There’s a lot to enjoy about the Santa Cruz; let’s dig a little deeper.

The Capability for the Light Truck World

You won’t have diesel-engine, heavy-duty truck capabilities in the Santa Cruz, but that’s not what you’re after. What you’ve got with this little Hyundai is a small truck that delivers the power you need while offering plenty of comfort. This is the truck for the weekend warrior, the sometimes adventurer, and that occasionally tower. You can easily tackle the light to medium trails, bring the grill for the tailgate party, and pull a small trailer with a riding mower on the back. There’s plenty of versatility in this Hyundai; you’ve simply got to know where the limitations are.

What You’ll Find in the Cabin

If you admire the refinement of the Hyundai cabin areas, you’ll be pleased to drive the Santa Cruz. This truck is modern, has a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and brings you the connectivity you want. The front area has as much room as the Tucson, while the rear area is a bit smaller. The rear seats fold up to make room for more stuff with an under-seat storage compartment. This cabin works excellent whether you’re doing truck stuff or enjoying your normal daily drive.

Four Doors and a Bed; What More do You Want?

The new Santa Cruz is a small truck with a four-door cabin and a small truck bed to give you the right size for what you want to get done. The unibody construction allows this truck to drive smoothly and feel like an SUV. The front brings you an attractive face, while the bed has many excellent features. Like the Honda Ridgeline, the bed has an underfloor storage area with a drain plug that is useful as a cooler during a tailgate party or BBQ.

What Features Does the Hyundai Santa Cruz Offer?

Standard Equipment

• Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Molded Composite Bed
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED taillights
• Cargo area light
• rear privacy glass
• Body-color side mirrors
• Lockable tailgate
• Lockable in-bed storage
• 60/40 flip-up rear seat cushions
• Heavy-duty cargo tie-downs
• Multi-functional integrated rear bumper side steps
• Utility track rail and cleat system
• 8-inch color touchscreen display
• 6-speaker audio system
• Cloth seats
• Driver-attention warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking

Upgraded/Optional Features

• AWD
• 20-inch wheels
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Bose audio system
• Digital gauge cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Power sunroof
• Roof side rails
• Dark chrome accent grille
• Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance
• Safe Exit Assist
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Surround View Monitor
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist
• 115-volt outlet in the bed
• Tonneau cover
• Leather heated and ventilated front seats
• Power driver’s seat
• Second-row USB ports

The Bed Area is Impressive

The Hyundai Santa Cruz may only have a small four-foot bed, but it’s a handy area. You’ll find the underfloor storage mentioned, a retractable locking tonneau cover, tie-downs and cleats, and places where you can create a 2-tier storage shelf. Everything is easily accessed using the three integrated rear bumper steps that give you a step up into the bed area.

A Pair of Power Options for this Hyundai

Every model of the Santa Cruz is offered with one of two engine setups. The base engine gives you a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain delivers 191 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. With this model, you can tow up to 3,500 pounds and enjoy 21 city/27 hwy mpg with FWD versions or 21 city/26 hwy mpg when you add AWD to the mix.

Move up to the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and you’ve got 281 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and it can pull up to 5,000 pounds. With this powertrain, you’ll have full-time AWD, which returns 19 city/27 hwy mph during your ride.

Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz Right for You?

The fact that the Santa Cruz is the only IIHS Top Safety Pick is only part of the story for this small and impressive truck. If you’re ready to enjoy a vehicle that delivers good power and remarkable capabilities and offers you a strong feeling on the road, the Santa Cruz could be the truck for you. Head over to your local Hyundai dealer and find out today.