Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • login
  • HOME
  • News
    • News by Brand
    • Auto Shows
    • Canadians Abroad
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Dealer Best Practices
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • Stellantis
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Fiat Chrysler
      • Jeep
      • Fiat
      • Lancia
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Subaru
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
    • Volvo
    • VinFast
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
  • Video
  • Podcasts
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • 2021 Auto News Canada All Stars
    • 2022 Canadians To Watch
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions
    • Leading Women Roundtables
    • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
  • Jobs & Classifieds
  • +MORE
    • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
    • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
    • WEBINARS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • PUBLISHING PARTNERS
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Cars & Concepts
April 15, 2021 12:00 PM

Hyundai Santa Cruz blends pickup, crossover utility

Laurence Iliff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    SANTACRUZ-MAIN_i.jpg

    LOS  ANGELES — Hyundai's Santa Cruz utility vehicle blends the driving comfort of a compact crossover with the utility of a short-bed pickup, creating a unique model in terms of size and pricing when it goes on sale this summer.

    Hyundai, which released 2022 Santa Cruz photos and specifications on Thursday, is calling it a "sport adventure vehicle" and not a pickup. The automaker is targeting buyers looking for a flexible alternative to crossover cargo space. The Santa Cruz has four doors and a 4-foot bed.

    "Santa Cruz features a secure, open bed area which includes a lockable tonneau cover, hidden bed storage and versatile bed extension accessories," the company said. "At the same time, these customers still value the secure utility of a compact SUV, with its comfort, passenger space, fuel efficiency and parking ease."

    The Santa Cruz will be built in Alabama alongside the Tucson crossover. The two vehicles share a platform, a base engine and interior equipment. They also share a design language, although the Santa Cruz is just over a foot longer to accommodate the bed.

    RIVALS

    Hyundai hasn't announced pricing for the Santa Cruz, but it will be offered in a base trim with front-wheel drive and pricing that shouldn't be too far from the Tucson. The base 2022 Tucson starts at $29,654 with shipping. Hyundai has said that shared components between the Santa Cruz and Tucson helped keep product development and manufacturing costs down.

    The only other crossover-based pickup on the market, the Honda Ridgeline, competes with midsize pickups such as the Toyota Tacoma. Ford is working on a crossover-based compact pickup, but it's likely to be more truck-focused than the Santa Cruz.

    The Santa Cruz will come equipped with only the 2.5-litre turbo motor, estimated at 281 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque.

    Hyundai Canada said in a statement that it was “keeping it simple and straightforward” when it came to the engine. The company said that based on a study of the Canadian market, it believes the 2.5-litre direct-injected turbocharged engine “will provide the power, efficiency, and increased towing capability this customer seeks.”

    The base engine for the Santa Cruz in the United States is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder with 191 hp and 181 pound-feet of torque.

    All-wheel drive will also be standard in Canada.

    Towing capacity for the Canadian engine is 5,000 pounds. Wheel sizes are 18 inches as standard and 20 inches as an option, the automaker said.

    Hyundai Canada said Thursday that it will release complete specification and details about trim levels closer to start of sales.

    INTERIOR

    Inside, the Santa Cruz comes with a standard eight-inch infotainment screen and available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also available are a wireless charging pad and an eight-speaker Bose stereo. A 10-inch digital screen in the instrument panel is also optional.

    The Santa Cruz offers both standard and optional safety features similar to Hyundai's crossover lineup, along with three years of complimentary Blue Link telematics to operate some vehicle functions with a smartphone.

    Forward-collision assistance with pedestrian and cyclist detection is standard, as is lane-keeping assist and driver-attention warning. Safety options range from blind-spot monitor with collision avoidance to highway-drive assist with lane centering, Hyundai said.

    Pricing and trim levels will be announced closer to the on-sale date for the Santa Cruz, Hyundai Canada said.

    Greg Layson of Automotive News Canada contributed to this report.

    PHOTO GALLERY: 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
    Share
    04-santa-cruz-rear-driver-quarter.jpg
    Share
    01-santa-cruz-front-passeger-quarter.jpg
    Share
    02-santa-cruz-side-passeger.jpg
    Share
    03-santa-cruz-front-full-lights.jpg
    Share
    03-santa-cruz-rear-full.jpg
    Share
    05-santa-cruz-front-passenger-moving.jpg
    Share
    06-santa-cruz-front-offroad.jpg
    Share
    07-santa-cruz-rear-offroad.jpg
    Share
    08-santa-cruz-highway-front-quarter-driver.jpg
    Share
    09-santa-cruz-highway-side-passenger.jpg
    Share
    11-santa-cruz-front-full-night-lights.jpg
    Share
    10-santa-cruz-front-driver-quarter-close.jpg
    Share
    13-santa-cruz-rear-tailights.jpg
    Share
    12-santa-cruz-rear-quarter-close.jpg
    Share
    14-santa-cruz-rear-step.jpg
    Share
    15-santa-cruz-wheel-close.jpg
    Share
    16-santa-cruz-easter-egg.jpg
    Share
    17-santa-cruz-truck-bed.jpg
    Share
    18-santa-cruz-truck-bed.jpg
    Share
    19-santa-cruz-dash.jpg
    Share
    19-santa-cruz-seats.jpg
    Share
    20-santa-cruz-rear-seats.jpg
    Share
    21-santa-cruz-rear-seat-storage.jpg
    04-santa-cruz-rear-driver-quarter.jpg
    01-santa-cruz-front-passeger-quarter.jpg
    02-santa-cruz-side-passeger.jpg
    03-santa-cruz-front-full-lights.jpg
    03-santa-cruz-rear-full.jpg
    05-santa-cruz-front-passenger-moving.jpg
    06-santa-cruz-front-offroad.jpg
    07-santa-cruz-rear-offroad.jpg
    08-santa-cruz-highway-front-quarter-driver.jpg
    09-santa-cruz-highway-side-passenger.jpg
    11-santa-cruz-front-full-night-lights.jpg
    10-santa-cruz-front-driver-quarter-close.jpg
    13-santa-cruz-rear-tailights.jpg
    12-santa-cruz-rear-quarter-close.jpg
    14-santa-cruz-rear-step.jpg
    15-santa-cruz-wheel-close.jpg
    16-santa-cruz-easter-egg.jpg
    17-santa-cruz-truck-bed.jpg
    18-santa-cruz-truck-bed.jpg
    19-santa-cruz-dash.jpg
    19-santa-cruz-seats.jpg
    20-santa-cruz-rear-seats.jpg
    21-santa-cruz-rear-seat-storage.jpg
    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Dodge's Charger Daytona SRT Concept will make plenty of noise despite being an EV
    Recommended for You
    Charger Daytona SRT Concept-MAIN_i.jpg
    Dodge's Charger Daytona SRT Concept will make plenty of noise despite being an EV
    HHornet-front-side.jpg
    2023 Dodge Hornet brings power, speed to compact crossover segment
    Bison-MAIN_i.jpg
    Chevy launches special off-road edition, improved diesel engine on 2023 Silverado
    Expert Insights: How Dealers Can Navigate Changing Consumer Behavior
    Sponsored Content: Expert Insights: How Dealers Can Navigate Changing Consumer Behavior
    Digital Edition
    Aug 2022 Issue Cover
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Now

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes 12 monthly issues – delivered in print to your doorstep, and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Ave
    Detroit MI 48207

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    ISSN 2475-5001 (print)
    ISSN 2475-501X (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Canada
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • News
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Ferrari
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • Stellantis
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Fiat Chrysler
          • Jeep
          • Fiat
          • Lancia
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Subaru
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
        • Volvo
        • VinFast
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Canadians Abroad
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Dealer Best Practices
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • 2021 Auto News Canada All Stars
      • 2022 Canadians To Watch
      • Best Dealerships To Work For
      • Canada Congress
      • Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions
      • Leading Women Roundtables
      • Embracing Diversity Roundtable
    • Jobs & Classifieds
    • +MORE
      • IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
      • COMPANIES ON THE MOVE
      • WEBINARS
      • ADVERTISE WITH US
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION
      • PUBLISHING PARTNERS