Hyundai Santa Cruz (US) review

Santa Cruz pricing ranges between $28,500 and $42,500. This is relatively inexpensive as far as trucks go, though the Santa Cruz is more expensive than its closest rival, the Ford Maverick. The one-size-up Honda Ridgeline overlaps the top end of the Santa Cruz’s pricing structure, but it’s larger inside and has a larger bed.

The main downside about the Santa Cruz is that, if you want the turbo engine, you’re going to pay top dollar. The XRT, and Limited trims are the only ones that come with turbo power, and the cheapest Santa Cruz XRT starts at $40,000. That’s a big jump over the most expensive non-turbo model, the $33,200 Santa Cruz SEL Activity.

Which Santa Cruz trim is best?

We really can’t imagine owning one of these without the turbo, so we have to urge for the XRT or Limited trims. We’d suggest sticking with the chunky-looking XRT, which has branded seats inside, cool 18-inch wheels, those off-road ready bumpers, etc.

We love all the amenities you get on the fully loaded Santa Cruz Limited – it’s as nice as your finest compact SUV – but that $42,500 price is pretty prohibitive. We suppose it’s a better buy than a midlevel Ridgeline, though.

So… Hyundai Santa Cruz or Ford Maverick?

It really depends on what you want. If you just need a compact pickup, the Maverick is the way to go. It’s less expensive and more efficient – especially if you get the 40mpg hybrid version. It’s such a good truck.

But as a daily driver, we’d rather have the Santa Cruz. It’s more comfortable than the Maverick, more fun to drive than the Maverick, and looks way cooler than the Maverick. Honestly, we’d rather drive the Santa Cruz every day than larger pickups like the Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, and more. It’s much more suited to city living, with a significantly better – err, less trucky – ride.

It might not seem easy to downsize when you’re talking about pickups, but with usable payload, good towing, and a wonderful interior, living with the Santa Cruz might be easier than you think.