Earlier this week, the Hyundai Santa Cruz was finally launched. There was murmur of such a model after a concept started in 2015, but it is now a reality. Edmunds got the chance to get up close and personal with the new Sport Adventure Vehicle – it’s not a pickup truck – in a new continuous video. It shows many of the truck’s outstanding features and luxuries on the inside.
Since it’s a pickup, the video really starts to reach the new model as the rear end. There, the Hyundai has a remote tailgate, bed trunk and a height-adjustable tailgate that matches the height of the raised shelf in the bed. It can hold 226 kilograms, which increases the capacity of the four-foot bed. There is also an optional tonneau cover that can hold 99 kg, while the bed itself has a capacity of 272 kg. He can also tow 2,268 kg in the correct configuration, but there is no optional trailer brake controller.
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Inside, Santa Cruz owners will find a simple yet elegant interior. A 10.25-inch screen serves as the instrument cluster, while an 8.0-inch screen infotainment screen is standard. There is a 10.25-inch available with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has four USB charging ports – two at the front and two at the rear – while packing on safety features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a drowsiness alert.
The power of the Santa Cruz is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that delivers about 141 kilowatts and 244 Newton meters of torque. It fits with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The updated engine, a turbocharged 2.5-liter, delivers more than 275 hp (205 kW) and a torque of 310 lb-ft (420 Nm). The more powerful mill gets another gearbox – an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with shift switches. The Santa Cruz is currently in a class one because there are no compact pickups in the market. However, the Ford Maverick is going to change that.