The Santa Cruz pickup is a couple of months away. We basically know everything about this model, so the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is already a subject of various speculations. It is a mid-size pickup truck with unibody construction. Interestingly, because of its tiny size, many people claim that this is not a pickup. Hyundai, on the other hand, claims that this is a great substitute for a bigger Honda Ridgeline, which is also a unibody vehicle. Santa Cruz, like the Ridgeline, will have a crew cab model with a shorter bed.
Unlike Honda, Hyundai has a more unique style, including an upgraded front fascia and bodywork. In our opinion, the interior is not so great. The lack of buttons makes it more basic, and the cabin area isn’t as large as it might be. Nonetheless, Santa Cruz provides a high degree of comfort, which is great to see. Basically, Santa Cruz will rival the new Ford Maverick, also a subcompact pickup.
2023 Santa Cruz Offers Modern Appearance
The new 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz will wear a fresh design that will debut on the 2022MY. We think the Santa Cruz pickup looks both modern and attractive, despite compact dimensions. Hyundai, as you may be aware, debuted its all-new design language with the Tucson SUV. Santa Cruz, predictably, will wear the same style, and both versions will employ the same construction.
Santa Cruz is a unibody truck with a sportier appearance and a streamlined exterior design. The front fascia is stunning, and the rear portion features a large “Santa Cruz” moniker over the tailgate. According to some sources, it is a “Sport Adventure Vehicle” rather than a pickup truck. Still, it is a model that will rival the new Ford Maverick pickup.
Interior Changes
The cabin of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz appears to be surprisingly modern and spacious. Clearly, the manufacturer chose to use more upright materials across the board for all of its models, including crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. The comfort is excellent, however, we believe the interior is very basic. For starters, the Santa Cruz features a contemporary design with a completely digital gauge cluster. Because the conventional shifter is located in the center console, a rotary knob is not available.
The Santa Cruz is only available in a crew-cab four-door configuration, although the rear-seat legroom is limited. This pickup truck is equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen. A bigger 10-inch device is available as an option. Hyundai will offer a lot of standard amenities and a new infotainment system.
Two Powertrain Options
The upcoming 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with two engine choices. The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This gasoline variant produces up to 190 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. On top of that, the same 2.5-liter engine is also available with a turbocharger, developing 275 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of twisting power.
Both models will employ the same 8-speed automatic transmission, with the turbocharged model including a dual-clutch system. No matter which engine you pick, an all-wheel-drive system is available as an option. The Santa Cruz pickup is quite maneuverable, and the ride quality is excellent. As for the towing capacity, Santa Cruz will be able to tow around 5,000 pounds. Lastly, fuel economy is rated at 23 mpg for the base engine and 22 mpg combined for the optional powertrain.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Release Date, Price
The forthcoming 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz will have a starting price of about $25,000. The price won’t change as the 2023MY is basically a carryover. The sales will begin in the first half of 2022. Interestingly, Santa Cruz N could go on sale as well. It is a sportier variant with a more athletic stance and a more premium cabin.
