Technically similar to the fourth-generation Tucson, the Santa Cruz entered series production at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in June 2021 for the 2022 model year. Not long now, the 2025 model year facelift will be out with a revised front end and minor updates to the interior.
Our spy photographers have recently caught a pair of prototypes testing with manufacturer plates in the United States. They also managed to capture a pic of the facelift alongside the 2024 model, which shows different lights, bumpers, and grilles.
Out back, differences are far more inconsequential. From the sides, the only changes appear to be new alloy wheel designs. To sum it up nicely, the South Korean automaker is toning down the crossover-inspired styling of the Santa Cruz in favor of more truck-like styling. It's no Maverick, though…
The most affordable new truck in the United States of America is clearly related to the Ranger and F-Series, which makes it a bit more appealing to prospective customers who are sick of crossovers yet not ready to upgrade to a body-on-frame truck. On the other hand, the Santa Cruz is a more American product than Ford's smallest truck.
The Maverick is manufactured in Mexico together with the Bronco Sport, which shouldn't be confused with the body-on-frame Bronco that Ford assembles in Michigan. In addition to pricing and looks, another big advantage over the Santa Cruz is the available hybrid powertrain that was previously standard for the 2022 and 2023 model years.
Photo: Hyundai
Similar to the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, which premiered in November 2023, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is expected with a reconfigured interior. Similar to the Ioniq 5 electric hatchback on stilts that Hyundai advertises as being a crossover, the Tucson brings together a couple of 12.3-inch displays in the form of a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system. The big news, however, is that Hyundai revamped the HVAC system's controls with good ol' physical buttons and rotary knobs instead of touch-sensitive buttons.
The compact-sized crossover also had its gear selector moved from the center console to the steering column. From a mechanical standpoint, engine and transmission choices carry over. This should also be the case with the Santa Cruz, which comes with two 2.5-liter engines and two 8-speed transmissions. A free-breathing 2.5 and a torque-converter automatic are standard, whereas the single-turbo 2.5 comes with a dual-clutch box.
Dubbed "Sport Adventure Vehicle" on the South Korean automaker's website rather than a Tucson with a bed, the Santa Cruz is currently retailing at $26,650 for the most spartan of specifications available. Its most powerful version packs 281 ponies, payload tops 1,411 pounds (640 kilograms), and maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) for the 2.5-liter turbo engine.
Given that Hyundai's only pickup truck for the US market sold rather poorly in 2023, the 2025 model year refresh couldn't come soon enough. As opposed to 94,058 deliveries for the Maverick, of which 52,361 were hybrids, the Santa Cruz moved 36,675 examples last year in the United States.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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