One may not think of the Santa Cruz as being aging, but it is about to turn three years old. Thus, Hyundai has given it a mid-cycle refresh, updating the looks and making it a bit techier inside.
Presented at the 2024 New York Auto Show, the facelifted Hyundai Santa Cruz sports a tweaked grille with larger slats, fresh lighting elements, different front and rear bumpers, underbody protection, and 18-inch wheels with a wrench-inspired styling wrapped in all-terrain rubber.
Albeit optional, the curved display is on deck. It combines a 12.3-inch infotainment with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Physical buttons are still on deck, and that's good news for anyone who's not a fan of touching screens to control the HVAC system and other functions of the car. It also has a modified dashboard panel with new air vents, a new steering wheel, and a few other bits and bobs.
The Korean automaker has wrapped off the Santa Cruz's mid-cycle refresh with new colors that were added to the palette. These are called the Canyon Red and Rockwood Green, and Hyundai says the Medium Gray trim on the inside joins them.
Photo: Instagram | Kelsonik
Curious about what lies under the hood? That would be the same two engines. The 2.5L naturally aspirated unit produces 191 hp (194 ps/142 kW) and 181 pound-foot (245 Nm) of torque. The turbocharged mill has an identical displacement and is good for 281 horsepower (285 ps/210 kW) and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm). An eight-speed automatic transmission deploys the thrust to the wheels, and it is said to have been slightly modified.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is expected to start arriving at dealers across the nation this summer, and pricing will be announced in due course. By then, a few tuners will likely have certain aftermarket components on their shelves for it. Meanwhile, the pickup has just gotten its first unofficial tuning job, and while it may be modest, we certainly dig the enhanced looks as imagined by Kelsonik and shared on Instagram one day ago.
A before and after image comparison reveals what's new, and the most significant upgrade revolves around the wheels. These are much larger than before and were wrapped in slightly thinner tires to fit under the arches. Joining this mod are the smoked lighting units incorporated into the outer edges of the front bumper and blacked-out trim on the lower part.
Can't tell what's new at the rear? Well, that would be absolutely nothing, as everything carries over from the real thing, including the design of the tailgate, bumper, and taillamps. The mods may be modest, but they make Hyundai's unibody workhorse look sportier, and we're fans of its new digital look. The question is, are you?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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