

For more information about the Santa Cruz's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. We ran a turbocharged Santa Cruz on our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and it returned 30 mpg highway. The turbocharged version has estimates of 19 mpg city and 27 highway. Adding all-wheel drive drops city and highway figures by 1 mpg. All are capped at a 5000-pound towing capacity.Įquipped with the base engine and front-wheel drive, the 2023 Santa Cruz is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. With the premium turbocharged engine, the little truck's tow rating matches that of the only other unibody trucks in this class, the Honda Ridgeline and Ford Maverick. When optioned with base four-cylinder, the Santa Cruz is rated to tow 3,500 pounds. Hyundai Santa Cruz Might Be Just Enough Truck.Tested: 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Shuns Convention.2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Arrives with New XRT Trim.The top-of-the-line Limited model we drove showcased the truck's refined ride and agile handling. The Santa Cruz is shorter and lower than its segment rivals, which makes it easier to maneuver around town. All trims except the SE can be had with all-wheel drive. This engine gets an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Night, XRT, and Limited trims come with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four with 281 horses and 311 pound-feet, figures much better suited to urban driving. When we tested the same motor in the Hyundai Tucson SUV-on which the Santa Cruz is based-we found the acceleration sluggish at best. The SE and SEL fit a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are two powertrains available for the Santa Cruz, with the engine choice decided by the trim.

There's some rugged-looking equipment to heighten the aesthetic, and dark chrome trim to boot. The more potent engine also lifts the tow rating to 5000 pounds, and the XRT comes with all-wheel drive that's a costly option on the SEL. Admittedly, this trim presents a steep MSRP climb over the SE and SEL, but the more powerful turbocharged engine is a must for anyone who cares about acceleration. Rebranded as the XRT, we think it's still the one to get. We recommended the SEL Premium previously. Finally, the Night trim gets the same faux-leather upholstery as the new XRT. The SEL Activity Package adds a 10.3-inch infotainment screen the Night, XRT, and Limited trims get the screen included. All but the base SE trim are equipped with dual-zone climate control and an automatic defogger. All trims also receive haptic feedback through the steering wheel for lane keep assist and blind spot collision avoidance. For the rest of the lineup, LED projector headlights become standard throughout. Buyers will find items like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black faux-leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, and Hyundai's Digital Key combined with wider fender flares, side steps, and bed rails. The Santa Cruz XRT mixes cushy features from the former SEL Premium with husky gear from the current SEL and the optional Activity Package. Hyundai has replaced the SEL Premium trim with a new XRT variant, following the template set by the Palisade XRT, Santa Fe XRT, and Tucson XRT. As we wrote, "You can forget it's a truck until you need it to be one."Ģ Hyundai Santa Cruz STARTING AT: $27,985 What's New for 2024? When equipped properly, it rides and drives like the Hyundai Tucson SUV it's based on, yet this Hyundai quietly performs a range of everyday truck duties thanks to its cargo box and 5000-pound tow rating. Pickup truck fans can debate whether this is a "real" truck, yet the 2024 Santa Cruz still makes a nice package for those who understand what they're getting. Top trims also get the best tech and nicest interiors, with the tradeoff being fewer physical controls and more reliance on touchscreens. These are the Night, the new XRT that replaces the SEL Premium, and uppermost Limited trims, and they best reveal the Santa Cruz's balance of pleasant driving and get-things-done practicality.

Three better-equipped (and more expensive) trims come with a peppy 281-hp turbo-four and all-wheel drive. The entry-level SE and the SEL are served by an underpowered 191-hp four-cylinder that's available with either front- or all-wheel drive. Hyundai divided the Santa Cruz lineup in a way that creates two very different versions of the compact pickup.
