2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Pros: Fun and refined to drive; high-class interior; great tech; clever bed features Cons: Cramped back seat; high price with turbo engine; slow and inefficient base engine Pickup trucks are the best-selling vehicles in the United States and over the years, they've been growing in size and capabilities. That's great for those who will push their rig close to the limit for towing and hauling, but let's face it, not everybody needs to pull tree stumps or tow a space shuttle. Even midsize trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado may exceed many shoppers' needs. That's where the revival of the compact pickup comes in. Hyundai debuted the Santa Cruz in 2022, making it the smallest truck on the market and an intriguing choice for light-duty users. In some ways it's similar to the larger midsize Honda Ridgeline in that it's mechanically related to a crossover SUV and benefits from a smoother-riding unibody construction. Two years later, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is fundamentally unchanged, but the compact pickup truck class has grown to include the Ford Maverick. The Maverick also rides on a unibody platform, but looks more like a traditional truck. In terms of price, it's comparable to the Santa Cruz on the low end but lacks the more luxurious top trims from Hyundai. The Maverick gains a slight advantage with its marginally larger bed but the Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds (1,000 lbs more than the Maverick). The Maverick crushes the Santa Cruz with its 37-mpg hybrid powertrain but the Hyundai counters with more features, a nicer interior and a very generous warranty. If anything, the Santa Cruz is perhaps more like a sporty compact SUV with a truck bed, whereas the Maverick is a miniature truck. Either way, you can’t go wrong as it really comes down to personal preference. Each is an admirable way to downsize from the larger classes of trucks. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2024? For 2024, the Santa Cruz gains a new XRT trim level (pictured above) that builds off the existing Night trim level with bed rail tie-down points, wider fender flares, matte black mirrors and door handles (versus gloss black), pedestrian/cyclist detection for the forward collision prevention system, and adaptive cruise control. Those two latter features were previously added starting with the now-discontinued SEL Premium trim level. Elsewhere, LED headlights and steering wheel haptic safety alerts are now standard on all models; dual-zone automatic climate control is included with the SEL trim; a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen has been added to the SEL Activity package and the Night trim level now comes with synthetic leather upholstery. What are the Santa Cruz's interior and in-car technology like? The Santa Cruz interior has a more premium look and feel than the typical small truck thanks to everything forward of the …
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