Hyundai Santa Cruz received a comprehensive upgrade for the 2025 model year, with more capable driver assistance systems, a revamped cockpit, and a streamlined design. However, the engine compartment has no meaningful changes to appease customers who want a hybrid powertrain.
Hyundai's unibody compact pickup shares the N3 platform with its brother Tucson, both receiving a comprehensive upgrade in time for the New York Auto Show. Hyundai Santa Cruz is less of a work truck and more of an adventure vehicle or, as Hyundai calls it, Sport Adventure Vehicle. For the 2025 model year, Hyundai offered a modest design change on the outside, mimicking the refreshed Tucson's design. This gives it a more aggressive front fascia with more vertical lines and redesigned headlights. Hyundai also describes the new grille as "menacing."
The off-road-oriented Santa Cruz XRT is even more capable thanks to an increased approach angle and new all-terrain tires wrapping the unique wrench-inspired alloy wheels. The new XRT trim offers exclusive front and rear bumper design and a unique front grille. The rugged variant of the Hyundai Santa Cruz now comes with front tow hooks, another distinctive feature that better prepares it for tough conditions.
More radical changes are visible in the cabin, where the dashboard features a panoramic curved display that incorporates an optional 12.3-inch driver information cluster and an up to 12.3-inch infotainment system for an immersive digital experience. The center stack controls provide physical switchgear for the most frequently used audio and HVAC functions. These replace the previous touchscreen-heavy interface that some have criticized for not being intuitive enough. The dashboard changes allowed Hyundai to provide additional storage in Santa Cruz's cabin, including a new shelf above the glovebox.
Photo: Hyundai
The new infotainment system comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration on all trim levels. At the same time, the new unit now supports over-the-air software and firmware updates. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz also comes with Bluelink+ connected car tech, a Hyundai Pay in-car payment system, a fingerprint scanner, and a new towing drive mode for the 2.5L turbocharged powertrain on Limited and XRT only. In terms of safety technology, the refreshed Santa Cruz features Forward Attention Warning (FAW) as standard.
Sadly, there is no change under the hood of the refreshed Santa Cruz, even though owners wished Hyundai offered new hybrid powertrains borrowed from Tucson. As such, Santa Cruz soldiers on with the 2.5-liter units, with a naturally-aspirated engine developing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged option for 281 horsepower. The 191-hp powerplant is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that promises quick shifts thanks to its multi-disc and individually controlled hydraulic channel torque converter. The 281-hp engine relies on an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
After his childhood dream of becoming a "tractor operator" didn't pan out, Cristian turned to journalism, first in print and later moving to online media. His top interests are electric vehicles and new energy solutions. Full profile
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