Guy I bought the the Santa Cruz Base price starting at $28,000.00 with the Activity Package, total price $33,735.00. We drove up to Fort McCoy Wisconsin to see our son, roughly 590 mile from where we live in Kentucky. First off I do not have the turbo engine with 3 persons each weighing over 200 lbs. plus luggage in the bed of the truck. I had know problem with lag time or with the engine whining or struggling for power to keep up to speed. I put that baby in smart mode and cruse control and got her up to 35.6 mpg on the open road with an average speed of 65 mile per hour. We had a lot of rain sometimes coming down very hard both moving down the road and other times moving through very slow traffic especially around Chicago and I can tell there was no and I mean no water infiltration into the bed of the truck. My boys are each a little over 6 ft. tall and they had know problem with room or comfort in fact they thought it was great for a small truck and that it drove like and SUV instead of a truck. On the last day we were visiting our son it snowed about 5 inch's again know problem I took my windshield scraper/ brush and wipe the tonneau cover free from snow in less than 2 minute. Over all guy it a great little truck that has preform better than I thought it wood, could it be improved yes. The bed of the Santa Cruz would be better if it was 6 inch's to afoot long, and your right the back seating area could use about 3 inch's of more leg room for taller people but its not as near as bad as you made it sound. I would give the Santa Cruz a 4.9 out of 5 start for its first time coming out of the box as they use to say and now I'm telling my age. I liked your review as an owner of a Mojave sand Santa Cruz, my wife named it MOAB because I retired from the Army. I told no its a MOAP Mother Of All pickups.😁😎

I bought a 2022 Santa Cruz sel premium here in Austin tx fit and finish and overall quality far superior to my 2015 xv crosstrek, i paid 500 over sticker in October.

There are Santa Cruz reviews all over the place, for the luxury, high-priced, turbocharged versions. What I would like to see would be a critical review of a lower trim, with the naturally-aspirated 2.5 liter and 8-speed auto, with taller-sidewall tires and physical controls for the infotainment (I thought I'd read that was what CR was going to be buying?). No one seems to be testing the more-reasonably-priced versions.

Those Trailblazers are famous for BAD transmissions so it's shocking that they are rated well with CR... confusing!!!

I saw one of these on the road the other day for the first time. I like the way the tail lights look in person, and the car overall looks great.

This is a great channel. I think it helps tremendously that these are videos made by CU which has a long and respected history of testing cars carefully. The staff members know what their stuff and it shows in these discussions.

😮😊 @ 5:24 ... SO.. Endurance cyclist here: Let me just clarify: you were able to put your roadbike behind the front seats, with the back seat cushions tilted back? Was that difficult to accomplish....or pretty seamless? Is there a trailer hitch on the back that could accept a bike rack? . .

Great discussion as usual. I really like this Santa Cruz. The size of the bed doesn't bother me. But the gas mileage does, to a degree. I realize the final drive ratio that's geared for the towing capacity hurts it for everyday use so I would love to see a hybrid model.

Thank you so much!!!! Great video and education. Thanks for sharing.

You can fit a 26" mountain bike with a quick release wheel removed in the bed (with the wheel) and close the bed cover to its halfway point. So yes, you can fit an adult mountain bike in the bed with tailgate closed.

Hobbies like riding bicycles can’t dictate a vehicle, this car is perfect ! The pad is great !

Thank you for chapters

I'm over 5'10" and don't have any issue with leg or head space in the back of my Santa Cruz. These reviews had me thinking it's going to be cramped. I was pleasantly surprised when I went to the dealer and sat in the back. It's only an issue if the front driver is abnormally long and prefers to sit really far back. Sure, you're not going to cross your legs in the back like you could in my Chrysler 300m when I had that, but you've got more than several inches of clearance for your legs in the back.

I wanted one of these pretty badly a couple of months ago. The sales guy at the dealership slid his paper across the desk with the “walk out the door” cost, +$5,000 over MSRP. I walked out and bought 2 Subarus.

If you look at reliability online, you can go further back than their three year prediction. You can tell when the car was redesigned, and see the reliability all the way back to the generation launch. That tells you longer term how it has done. Of course using six sigma most car brands improve over time which changes the reliability.

It seems like you should have compared the Santa Cruz to the Maverick.

The brat, and similar versions of the Swiss army knife platform. Unique in the marketplace also, smaller than the Ridgeline. Just about right.

The guy asked about the Trailblazer’s perfect 100 reliability score vs RAV4’s 44 out of 100 and CR ended up talking about Buicks vs Chevys and first year vs last year models. No straight answer! Research is key, but CR’s scoring dropped the ball here.

I have watched every episode of Talking Cars & thoroughly enjoy it. That said a few episodes ago someone commented on Jake Fisher's "look" "now look" and Alex's "you know." That NEVER bothered me in fact I never noticed those repeated words. I hope the person or persons who were critical have noticed the improvement. I watched this episode 3 times. One for fun & the other times to listen to the language. Alex had only one "you know". (Jen had more) That's quick modification and Alex deserves credit for making that change rather quickly! I will follow up with Jake's "look" "now look" another time. Again I taught public speaking & never noticed the vocabulary - it really is just a informal presentation of car analysis & opinion.

I’m all for smaller trucks. Not everyone needs a full size truck, hence why I’m a fan of the Ridgeline. What I don’t like are the controls on the higher trims. Just use physical traditional buttons. I also not a fan of the dual clutch. Traffic and off roading aren’t as smooth as a regular automatic. Overall, I think it’s cool idea and glad to see small trucks make a come back.

July 2022 update: my wife and I bought a 22 Santa Cruz SEL, Non turbo. This truck, is pretty nice.she pulled into the Hyundai dealership and there it was, just sitting there in the lot. They just got it the day before. We paid MSRP with a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. I wanted a maverick, but couldn't find one. Glad I didn't.

I have seen Honda Civil will a bike rack on the back and I do not think the owner is thinking why doesn't this vehicle have a bed. Hyundai has a grand spam in something different and something new. NO IT IS NOT A TRUCK BUT IT HAS A BED. I HAVE IT AND I LOVE IT. No truck ride, no car ride, no suv ride, all one of a kind ride.

Very good 👍

Gabe is the smartest one at all Consumer Reports

How is Subaru not looking at this truck and saying "we can do this and do it better"?. Perfect opportunity to make a small Subaru truck with the turbo engine and AWD.

I love my SC❤…. I miss the old small trucks of the 90’s. My Brompton bike fits fine .

As an avid cyclist, beginner hiker and long time fisherman, my wife is finally forcing me to get rid of my ‘07 Corolla that I do what ever it takes to fit my lifestyle. Needless to say prep time and off road limitations has caused just that…limitations. This vehicle is #1 on my radar. The Honda Ridgeline is way to expensive and unfortunately I don’t like what the American manufacturers are doing with their quality. I’ve always been more of a baseline car buyer and even the base SE version gives me more than I can expect. Kudos to Hyundai and I can’t wait to acquire one. 🤙🏽

Love my Santa Cruz. I love cars . This one is especially exciting to me. You can call it anything you want, but it is prefect for me. I call it a car with very useful rear end. Gardening and tailgating make life fun. I have owned MANY cars over the years and My Santa Cruz is the very best and something different makes life fun. You will love it too :-) IF its not a truck, then I guess its not a truck. So chill :-)

I personally just borrow the Ausie term and call it a UTE. because that name fits perfectly. although my favorite UTE still has a supercharged V8 and a Targa top. lol

How about taking the front wheel off? I've been putting by mtb's and road bikes in my Mazda 3 for 8 years... (back seats down, of course). That's why we have quick release wheels...

I’ve heard from several sources that the tiny engine in the trailblazer is expected to last on average 85-125k and be junk. Is that taken into account?

How does it compare to the Ford Maverick in which class it’s competing ?

Great discussion but you don't really answer Alex's question about loooooong term reliability. Some cars show average reliability or below, but then you see many of them on the road twenty years later with owners raving about their reliability.

I have a gray Santa Cruz, similar to the one in the photo but with different wheels-I love it! However, my tonneau cover has become unsealed twice now only on the right side in the front, I don’t know why. McCarthy dealership fixed it, but a week after it got off track again…not sure why.

Good Santa Cruz review. My question is why no hybrid? Tucson is offered as a hybrid? Therefore, Maverick XLT hybrid is my pick.

So what filter is in place to prevent a company from skewing reliability results, by buying a bunch of accounts and reporting stellar car reliability for their brand and model?

Does the cover leak?

I’m trading a 2021 Ranger Tremor for a Santa Cruz Limited. This is a home run for Hyundai - too bad there is not an electric version ? Obviously most manufactures are already producing hybrid or ⚡️ that’s my only knock on this car.

I was likely late in submitting my question. hopefully jon is back next week to address mine. also i hope i wasn't off on the methodology and probably should have taken some more time proof reading the email.

I really enjoy how well-spoken and insightful Alex is, here's to never having to hear or see Gabe again and the 100 uh's in one sentence.

I'm so happy I don't have any kids and I don't have to worry about the back seat because no one would be back there!

It’s impressive for a magazine to afford buying many cars a year

Just how do manufacturers think ? The only two safety features I'd want, blindspot warning and rear cross traffic warning are an option. All those other 'safety' features (which you state are standard equipment) I just have no interest in.

Consider skipping the tonneau - eats up space and too limiting. Keep a large tarp and straps under the bedliner.

A shell on the bed might be weathertight.

Does anyone else remember when the VW Passat was CR's top pick? I will take an unreliable Toyota over a reliable Chevy built by Daewoo any day.

Do these catch fire?

I would like to see a review of the non-turbo SEL model including a long-ish term user review. The non-turbo has a better interior than the high end model (IMO as Im not a fan of LCD gauges myself) that everyone tests in these online reviews as well as a traditional 8 spd automatic and will still tow a respectable 3500lbs...almost as much as the top end Maverick.

I hope Jen's son is "Mom, you're so awesome for driving cool vehicles when you visit me. Could we pick-up Betty?" and not "Mom, stop embarrassing me by driving weird cars during visits and broadcasting it to the world."

The Santa Cruz has no recovery points. Could this be problematic in certain situations?

hyundai reliability on this vehicle I hope turns out to be good.

I appreciate the honest discussion of how the Santa Cruz might not be as utilitarian as it appears. I think it's easy to at first say, "oh, it's got a pick-up bed it's going to be perfect for all my outdoor adventures/jobs!" Either the equivalently sized SUV, or as out of fashion as they are, a sedan with a good sized (15 cu ft or greater) trunk is ACTUALLY better for hauling things. (I kind of wish the industry would have similar levels of honesty when it comes to hatchbacks that often end up having practically smaller cargo areas than equivalently sized sedans, but because of measuring techniques manufacturers are able to boast about big cargo capacity).

I love the show, but let’s admit that Chevy more reliable than Toyota is just not realistic

Does the head lights get fill with water

Thank god Jen and Jon are back.

What everyone is missing when comparing SC to Ridgeline and Maverick is that although same “category”… the others are ugly and Maverick being UGLY..,

She remembers what happened in the brat. But she forgot the rule what happens in the brat stays in the brat.

Overall its a good looking truck- however , what prevents me from buying any Hyundai or Kia is their reliability- they are known to have engine issues in the long run- hyundais does not always aged well. I learned that in hard way.

How did your Subaru boy friend perform? Dusty jina

TFL took a SC off road and had to stop after less than one minute because they could smell the dual clutch burning up. And when the included bed cover is open, there is only about 3 feet of bed space left. Hyundai bragging that it tows 5k with no factory brake controller is dangerous. Injury lawyers will probably call this a defect after they chase the ambulances that have to scrape people off the road.

If Toyota made one. I would get one. I only trust Toyota and Subaru for reliability.

ICE Cube

Is this segment (compact pickups) another automotive fad? It feels like it’s going to be a passing fancy…

Shill reviewers this thing is awful even on minor off road courses. Not worth the money at ALL. Not sure why anyone would consider this over a Ford Maverick.

⚠️ I work in the car industry and I want to warn anybody who's considering littering buying anything anything from Hyundai/Kia yeah against buying is anything turbocharged. If a car company can't build a regular app is regular aspirated 4 cylinder engine engine then I don't think it's a good idea it's a good idea to throw Turbo chargers and more electronic crap crap on it.

Keep Alex. In fact just let him host this by himself. The geriatric vibe is really not good. Time for new blood.

The Santa Cruz is one of the ugliest vehicles of all time