Latest in Santa Cruz

About Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz is Hyundai's first pickup truck for the American market, though Hyundai preferred to call it a sport adventure vehicle. Built on the same unibody platform as the Tucson, it combines the comfort and handling of a crossover with a small open bed, aimed at buyers who need to haul a mountain bike, a few bags of mulch or a camping kit, not a load of gravel. It is built in Alabama and was designed with young, active buyers in mind.

The Santa Cruz arrived for the 2022 model year, shortly after the Ford Maverick, which turned out to be its main rival and a big hit thanks in large part to its low starting price and frugal hybrid option. The Santa Cruz offered more style and a more upscale interior, along with an available turbocharged engine with strong towing capacity, but it struggled to match the Maverick's sales. A refresh added a new interior with larger screens and an XRT trim with rugged styling and all-terrain tires.

The Santa Cruz has been confirmed to end production after the 2027 model year, with reports indicating that Hyundai is working on a body-on-frame midsize pickup for later in the decade to compete with the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger. Until then, the Santa Cruz remains on sale in the United States and Canada, where it is popular with buyers who want a car-like ride with the occasional need for a bed.

Coverage includes reviews, trade-in and towing analysis, recall notices and news about Hyundai's future pickup plans. For buyers considering a Santa Cruz in its final years, you will find buying advice, trim comparisons and owner stories, along with comparisons with the Ford Maverick and other small trucks and coverage of how Hyundai plans to fill the gap with a more traditional truck. Its short life may yet make it a curious future classic, a pickup that was more of a lifestyle accessory than a work tool.