Hyundai’s two-in-one Santa Cruz is half SUV, half pickup, providing the utility of a small truck with the relaxed ride of a car. Its snazzy design has greater artistic appeal than the average compact pickup.
The primary 2024 change for the Santa Cruz is a new XRT trim replacing the previous SEL Premium and adding an array of attractive external accents. The updated trim lineup is SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Limited, with base prices ranging from $26,650 to $41,070 (plus a destination charge of $1,335).
SE and SEL trims have a 191-horsepower four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for an extra $1,500.
Night, XRT, and Limited come with a 281-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive.
I drove an XRT, whose $41,185 total price includes a pile of standard features. Buyers who want everything possible can opt for the top-tier Limited model, whose extras include rain-sensing windshield wipers, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, two USB ports for the back seats, Bose premium audio, a surround-view camera system and more.
The XRT’s turbo four-cylinder propels the Santa Cruz energetically and enables a 5,000-pound towing capacity that would otherwise be 3,500 pounds. Fuel economy ratings are 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.
Santa Cruz’s maneuverability in the confines of tight parking spots is fantastic, and the truck’s handling is right at home on highways and tightly twisted roads.
Inside the XRT cab, all is well. Its better-than-leather H-Tex synthetic upholstery is handsome and comfortable, sturdy and built to last. It’s standard on the Night and XRT trims, and is available only in black. Seats offer just the right amount of support, not too firm, not too squashy.
A multimedia system with navigation and a 10.25-inch touchscreen is standard on the XRT and has today’s expected features of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, SiriusXM, voice recognition, wireless phone charger and so on. Hyundai embedded a bit too much touchscreen operation, not optimal while driving. A button here or a knob there would be helpful.
The Santa Cruz XRT bed isn’t just a box; it has lots of nice features such as an adjustable cleat rail system, integrated tonneau cover, under-bed and sidewall storage compartments, bed rails, LED lighting, tie-downs, and rear bumper corner steps. The 4-foot-3 inch length is modest but the bed’s usefulness is huge.
2024 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ XRT
Base price, including destination charge: $41,185
Price as driven: $41,185
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
