Who's we? No one knows you

@@DoubleJabSlipRightHand Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to look you up next time I need a comment proofread before I post it.

@@DoubleJabSlipRightHand 😂 lol

If he said “I test drove..”. You still don’t know him.

These types of vehicles I'd push to people who normally drive a regular crossover but haul stuff they really don't want to put in the cargo area of their crossover or SUV...nice you can put messy stuff in the bed of a Santa Cruz or the Ford Maverick, unload it and drive through a car wash or use a garden hose to wash out the bed, can't really do that with an SUV or crossover, at least not without destroying the carpet LOL.

This thing is perfect for me. I don't need a full truck that could tow a house. I just need something I can rely on to not fall off the road when it snows.

@@wildbill23c Yeah I have a crosstrek and I'd kill for a bed for hauling gasoline.

@@mikeoxlong3676 Ooh good point, yeah hauling fuel in my Bronco 2 sucks LOL...no matter what you do you end up with the fuel smell in your vehicle and good luck getting rid of the smell, and diesel is the worst LOL.

@@wildbill23c I'm tempted to buy a trailer hitch basket and then just tie down the gas can with bungie cords.

It shows that it isn't all about power. 😂

so does volvo truck

And a transmission that the Koreans put on their super cheap cars, C .. V .. T

@@kizo172 This has a DCT wet clutch, not CVT

@@James-il3tq I was talking abt CVT in WRX not DCT in this

14:26 😅

I believe the base engine is on a traditional automatic trany

@@lolotus4borderless yes I know, but he presented the powerful engine with a double clutch, I would've liked to see the powerful engine offered with a traditional trany as well. But most of all I would love & buy an awd PHEV version if they have one in the making.

@@bogdandanailescu wait for the off-road version

@@Turshin I will :)

When you compare what loaded 1500/2500/3500 pickups cost these days. It’s half the price if not less.

I had the same reaction: holy #%#!!!!

I moved here from CA/NV/OR ... Still running a FWD 2016 Mazda 3 hatchback without issue

We'd just be happy to have the lower trims even available.

@@drivingsports We've been looking for a base SE AWD model, seems virtually zero inventory in the whole country, lol! The ones you can get have big dealer markups on them. :(

Yeah, this vehicle really shines where (for me especially) it'll be spending 99% of it's time - that is - on the road. It's on road manners, and acceleration make it an easy jump from a car. I'd get the ability to haul things when needed, all weather and light off road capability, without sacrificing it all to leaf springs and live axles.

idk what you're talking about lmao you forget the previous gen ford ranger exists?

@@SubuwuCollie this vehicle is not a direct competitor to the ranger. The ranger competes with the Tacoma and other mid sized trucks. The commenter is comparing this vehicle to the old Subaru Baja, which would be a more appropriate comparison. Basically a car masquerading as a truck. This vehicle competes with Ford’s maverick. The maverick is smaller than the ranger.

@@nicholaslee5310 True, but Frozen Peas did say PREVIOUS GEN Ford Ranger, not the current one. The previous model was considerably smaller than the Ranger of today, with some versions even smaller than the new Maverick. I think Frozen Peas was just making the comment that the market in the U.S. for a compact truck has never disappeared, because the previous gen Ranger, (along with compact trucks from other manufacturers), sold well, and is still popular.

I miss my old GMC S15, yes we had small and fun pickup long time ago ....

Many people and businesses want little trucks like these, and many of these little trucks do far more truck duty work than many full size 1/2 ton and super duty truck owners ever will. A lot of delivery companies, couriers, parts companies, etc. used Rangers, Nissan Frontiers, Dodge Dakotas, Chevy S-10's and the old Tacomas before they became bloated mid-sized trucks. There's a huge market for the compact truck world, its just too bad these automakers keep slapping 4 doors on everything, but it is what it is. Ford should come back with a Courier pickup, just plain jane 2 door with a 6 or 7 foot bed, and offer it in 4WD or some form of AWD and they'd have a winner for many businesses...most businesses that used the old Rangers used them for deliveries of parts, pest and weed control, and stuff like that where they just had a driver, and a bed full of equipment, no need for 4 doors type of chores.

The SEL Premium trim gets you the turbo engine and AWD, with rotary (barrel shaped) controls for audio and tuning, plus tabs for HVAC. No leather though.

I really wish they did include the base trims in the press fleet, but we couldn't get one.

That’s weird why would they do that

Are you happy with it

That’s a little hard to believe, might be some calculation error.

I think Smart mode makes it use less gas. While in Sport mode it's going to take up more gas.

Thanks for sharing!

I have watched 20+ hours on this vehicle too. Went for a test drive and now have a preorder in for the 2023 model which I'm hoping to get in the next 3 months. It's going to be a loooong wait lol. Really happy to have read your comment though. Every point you made perfectly solidifies my purchase choice

Any problems with the dct transmission? I got lucky and found a 23 night awd for msrp.should be here in 3 weeks

@@1976axerhand No issues with the transmission by my standards. It is incredibly responsive even factoring in the nearly unnoticeable delay due to electronic controls. Some of the reviews on KZfaq had made mention of a “shudder” in the transmission. I have noticed what I believe they were talking about, but only twice in the 6,000 +\- miles I’ve driven so far… and only in very specific conditions. From a stop at a traffic light, pressure on the brake pedal, vehicle in front of me… the light changes to green, I let off the brake and gently apply pressure to the gas pedal, the car in front of me is not as quick to respond, so I remove pressure from the gas pedal… there was an ever so slight, just barely noticeable stutter felt in the drivetrain. I’m guessing it had something to do with the computer trying to determine my actual intentions. But again, I’ve only noticed it twice (in the exact same conditions) and it so minuscule that it would likely go unnoticed to someone who wasn’t actively trying to find something “wrong” (as I have been since I got the car). Hope that helps

@@jeffreyeallardjr thanks.

I'd like to check one out, but can't find any Santa Cruz vehicles located anywhere close to where I live in NW Florida, although the Ford dealer has a few Mavericks available. Both of those vehicles are appealing in their own ways, but I want to drive and compare them to each other, so guess I'll continue to wait until local dealers get both of them in stock.

Goated is the new hip word be used across KZfaq comments 🤣🤣🤣💩

You can flip the screen to see the truck upside down and it will show you in blue exactly where the power is going to what wheels. If you knew the car better you would know that .

its up . did not do well haha

@@TreyJustice Yeah, it was a let down, I wasn't expecting it to do worse than the Santa Cruz going over those logs.

@@jmanned But, it didn't do worse. Did you watch the video? lol

@@sappyjohnson I don’t know how you can say the Maverick did better going over the logs?

@@jmanned They were the same. But who really even cares? People aren't buying these small trucks for driving over logs. 99.9% of people won't put them through this test.

Yeah, she was a great dog.

Yes off the line the Santa Cruz sends power to the rear. There’s a gauge on the dash to show you where powers going. On the highway it’s almost all fwd unless you get on it. I’ve been impressed with my Santa Cruz’s power, it’ll never replace my F250 but it’s a great truck for days when I don’t need the F250.

😳 This brain dead reviewer literally said that it doesn't seem like a good idea to tow something that weighs more than the tow vehicle! 🤦🏾‍♂️ A statement never said by any truck owner ever! 🤷🏾‍♂️

@@freddywayneThat’s literally the law, and physics will teach you real quick why you don’t want to exceed the tow vehicle weight. The only dum one here, is you.

@Go Clunker 👈🏾 another 🐦 brain

@@freddywayne yeah…not taking trailer towing advice from a child that does ps5 unboxing videos 😂🤣

He has a video with the lariat maverick

A Rampage wow. Those were rare.

My dad’s friend had a red Rampage with a 5 speed stick. He really liked the Rampage, never lower than 25 mpg

20" wheels are absurd, especially on this vehicle.

Thanks for watching! Unless we buy one, we have to rely on Hyundai putting one into our local press fleet, and as of yet, they haven't shown any interest in doing that.

@@drivingsports Ok. Thank you for the reply! That also may explain why I haven't seen them on other auto channels that I subscribe to. Anyway, your content is awesome and thank you for keeping us informed!

Given that the Ridgeline starts in the high 30s, I think it's going to be hurt the most by the appearance of these lower-cost options. But I do love the idea of a small truck that doesn't drive like a truck.

@@drivingsports It was nice to see a 70s import pickup to be reminded of how small body on frame trucks once were.Time will tell if there really was a demand for these unibodies. One thing is certainly very 'truck authentic' about this Santa Cruz - only 22 Highway mpg.

I use my xt outback like a truck. It can tow more then the 1k i could put in the bed. I just use my truck for firewood work in the woods now. The OB does my paved road work. It tows my boat just fine. Ride and mpg are way better then my truck...But i park the OB when it ice season. It can run chaines... My local roads are dirt and ice up. But its only 5 miles to the state road thats salted plowed.. i can justify a full set of studded tires for the OB for ice seaon.

"if you really need a truck wouldn't you just buy a truck" is exactly the same argument people used to level against crossovers. Look where we are now.

@@ProAlchemist My thoughts exactly. So many people wanted the utility and all season, all road capability of trucks, but didn't want the compromises of body on frame trucks. And so, the suv market exploded.