The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT AWD Compact Pickup Truck

What is a Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz is a compact crossover pickup truck built in the Montgomery Alabama assembly plant and sold in North America by Hyundai The Santa Cruz is built on a unibody platform the same as the Hyundai Tucson SUV which gives it a smoother more car-like ride than a traditional body on frame truck Hyundai markets the Santa Cruz as a SAV a Sport Adventure Motorcycle targeting buyers who want the convenience of a compact relaxed carriage with the added utility of a small truck bed for weekend adventures cycling sports and hauling stuff from Home Depot The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a small pickup truck with key features The updates for model year include a new front fascia and a new front grille and a redesigned interior centered around a panoramic curved display with two digital screens for the driver display and the infotainment system Buyers can choose between engine options a standard HP L cylinder gas engine or a more powerful HP turbocharged L cylinder on higher trims which comes with standard all wheel drive AWD and a pound towing limit Here are key features on the new Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Truck New interior tech A curved panoramic display with two inch screens is the centerpiece of the redesigned cabin which also includes a new center stack with more physical switches buttons and dials Hooray Exterior styling updates The model features a new front fascia grille and road wheel designs The XRT trim gets a rugged looking front and rear bumper design Powertrain The base engine is a L HP cylinder gas engine with an speed automatic transmission in front wheel drive FWD or optional AWD Turbocharged Or pick the HP L turbocharged cylinder gas engine with an speed dual clutch automatic transmission and then AWD is included Towing and hauling With the turbocharged engine the Santa Cruz can tow up to pounds and it includes a lockable under floor storage bin in the composite cargo bed Driving characteristics The Santa Cruz prioritizes car-like handling agility and a at ease ride making it a good choice for city driving for those who need a few truck bed capability without the bulk of a larger traditional sized pickup truck The Hyundai Santa Cruz has a starting price of only for the base SE trim This price includes the standard L gas engine and FWD with options for AWD or the more powerful turbocharged gas engine and other features available in higher trims The Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck now comes in models with different starting prices and they are The base SE trim starts at Next up is the SEL edition and it starts at and the new SEL Activity model starts at The XRT model which is at present s review truck starts at and the top of the line Limited Edition starts at To present this new updated truck this week Hyundai sent me a Santa Cruz compact pickup to test drive and review The base window sticker price for this XRT AWD edition is The options on the test truck are the special paint for and the carpeted floor mats for The manufacturer s suggested retail price MSRP including the delivery charge is After adding in the state and local sales tax plus the DMV and dealer fees the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to At just bucks under Grand you get a nicely optioned turbocharged pickup truck that gets MPG city MPG highway and MPG in combined driving It can tow up to pounds of a camper boat or utility trailer and do it in style grace and comfort all day long So who is the buyer for a Hyundai Santa Cruz Compact Pickup Truck The buyer for a Santa Cruz is typically someone who wants the utility of a small pickup truck for lifestyle requirements such as hauling bikes or weekend project materials but also prefers the comfort car-like ride and modern system of an SUV This buyer is often an urban or suburban resident who prioritizes safety style and versatility over heavy duty truck capability Here is the profile of a typical Hyundai Santa Cruz buyer Lifestyle focused They want a carriage to shipping gear for hobbies like camping or mountain biking but not necessarily for work SUV and truck hybrid They appreciate the functionality of a truck bed without the price size and the heavy driving experience of a full size truck Tech Savvy They are interested in modern features like a larger center stack digital screen wireless Apple CarPlay Android Auto and advanced safety features which are now included on the XRT and Limited Edition models Urbanites They may be city dwellers who want a bus that is easy to park use and maneuver with the flexibility of a covered and lockable truck bed for occasional use Aesthetically minded They are drawn to the Santa Cruz s unique sleek and modern styling which differs greatly from traditional boxier pickup truck designs XRT specific The XRT trim is for those who want the standard all wheel drive and turbocharged engine in a more rugged off road and cool looking package Why they choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup over the other brands of small trucks Versatility It serves as both a content daily driver and a capable bus for light duty hauling and weekend adventures Refined experience The driving dynamics are more like an SUV than a traditional body on frame truck and this compact PU truck is more fun to drive look at and live with Convenience features The smaller size and features such as a lockable bed cover and the under the floor storage area offer several practical benefits Capability While not a heavy duty hauler the XRT has a lb towing ceiling and with the AWD system provides confidence stability and traction in all driving conditions So call click or visit your local Hyundai dealer for a test drive and a Bottom Line price review on the new and updated Santa Cruz XRT AWD Compact Pickup Truck And remember that the base price for a new Santa Cruz starts at only Hyundai Santa Cruz Now bolder better and more capable then ever for all your adventures The key to life is to learn something new every day and by reading my Bottom Line review I hope you did just that learned about something new and exciting So be smart stay safe and just breathe Remember You Are What You Drive and maybe just for those reasons alone you should Drive one Buy one This day Drive safely have a great day and enjoy the ride as the future looks nice and bright Tony the Car Guy This Bottom Line new bus review is a Nut Bolt and Dollars Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area If you have a question or comment for Tony send it to tonyleo pacbell net and visit AutoWire Net at www autowire net