#HYundai Santa Cruz
#SanatCruz
#CoupleCarReview
This is a Motormouth couple car review of the all-new Hyundai Santa Cruz activity vehicle. The Santa Cruz is based on the Tucson SUV platform and uses unibody construction rather than the traditional body on frame pickup underpinnings. This is Hyundai’s first ever sport adventure vehicle combining an SUV style with open-bed versatility. It has excellent towing capacity at 5,000 pounds and a 4.3-foot bed. It is 10-15 inches shorter than most midsize competitors but closer in size to the new Ford Maverick, which is only 4 inches longer. The Honda Ridgeline for example is over 14 inches longer than this Santa Cruz. But, to be fair to Hyundai, they are not calling this a pickup, even though it kind of looks like one. In Canada, it comes with just one engine option, the turbocharged 2.5L 4-cylinder with a wet 8-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters. It has 281 horsepower, 311 lb-ft of torque and standard AWD. In the US, the base trims come with a 2.5L 4-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, standard FWD. You can upgrade on the lower trims to the more powerful engine for $1,500 USD. We are testing the top Ultimate trim in Blue Stone, it comes with body-colour door handles and side mirrors, a dark chrome radiator grille, front bumper and tailgate handle. It comes standard with 18” wheels and optional 20” wheels. The sliding and lockable cover is lightweight but has strong aluminum construction that can hold up to 220 pounds and rolls neatly into a canister. There is also a lockable under bed waterproof storage compartment to keep your items dry and clean when on your adventures. There are 3 trims to choose from in Canada and 4 in the US. The two base trims in the US get the smaller 2.5L 4-cylinder engine and the top two trims, the 2.5T engine which is standard in Canada. The base 2.5T trim comes pretty well equipped with an 8” touchscreen, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, heated cloth front seats, a heated steering wheel and a manual driver’s seat for $38,499 CAD/$35,680 USD. There are a few differences between the US and Canada on this trim. The US gets a power driver’s seat, a sunroof, a wireless charging pad and a 10.25” digital instrument cluster, but no heated steering wheel; it’s standard on the top trim. In the US, this base 2.5T trim called SEL Premium comes very well equipped. In Canada, adding the trend package for $2,900 CAD will get you the sunroof, 10.25” digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, Bose sound system, ambient lighting (10 colours) and front collision avoidance assist with junction turning detection plus adaptive cruise control. The top trim, which we are testing is where you’ll find ventilated front seats, a 10.25” touchscreen and 64 colours of ambient lighting. That’s an extra $3,400 CAD compared to the base trim with the trend package and in the US just over $4,000. The best value is with the trend package for $41,399 CAD and in the US, the SEL Premium trim for $35,680 USD. I do like the bigger touchscreen but it doesn’t come with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto at this time. I know this feature is important to some of you, you can only get it with the 8” touchscreen. For fuel economy, the Santa Cruz gets 12.1L/100km, 19 MPG city and 8.6L/100km, 27 MPG highway.
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