The new Hyundai Santa Cruz has been generating a lot of questions. Is it a pickup truck, an SUV, or a sport adventure vehicle? Well, it’s a little of everything.

The Santa Cruz is based on the same platform as the Tucson, but it’s wider and has an open bed, so there is an argument for both a pickup and SUV. Take a look at what makes the Hyundai Santa Cruz the perfect small truck.

It’s at Home on Urban Streets and Outdoorsy Areas

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the best of both worlds. It offers the flexibility and versatility of an open bed with the security of a roomy closed cabin. The two vehicle styles combine perfectly for the busy lifestyles of adventure-seeking buyers who still want the benefit of an SUV-like cabin but still want to load up a truck bed with household items, outdoor gear, or even tools for work.

Utility Without the Heavy-Duty Size

Drivers who want the utility of a truck bed but don’t want a super-duty pickup truck will love the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The bed might look a little small, but it has some great functionality and a smart design. Slots molded into the bedside allow you can create two-tier storage, and it has storage under the floor too. The retractable locking tonneau cover provides secure storage, so you can put your gear in the bed and lock it up, and the three integrated bumper steps make it easy to get you and your get in and out.

When you need more storage options, add the roof rails and attach your outdoor gear to the roof and keep your smaller items in the bed and inside the truck.

Plenty of Power and A Nice Ride

The base powertrain for the Hyundai Santa Cruz is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that puts out 191 horsepower. If you want more power, you can opt for the 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder that delivers 281 horsepower. You can get this engine as long as you get all-wheel drive, and it bumps up the power and torque enough so the Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Don’t Forget the Technology

An 8-inch touch screen sits in the center of the dashboard in the base trim, but you can get a larger 10.25-inch touch screen and a 10.25-inch digital driver information display. If the standard six-speaker stereo doesn’t have the sound you want, a Bose sound system is available. There’s even a 115-volt outlet in the bed, so you can plug in your tools, speaker, or laptop when you take a break from your travels.

Safety Features All Around

There’s plenty of safety systems in the Hyundai Santa Cruz. It has adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warning. A blind-spot monitor comes with the mid-level trims and up, and you can also get a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

The new Hyundai Santa Cruz is the perfect small truck. It’s easy to drive, has a versatile bed, and has all the infotainment and safety features you need for any ride.