Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a four-door compact pickup truck manufactured and marketed by Hyundai. Released in 2021 for the 2022 model year, the Santa Cruz is the first four-door pickup truck sold by Hyundai in the North American market. The vehicle is based on the Tucson crossover SUV, and uses a unibody chassis design.

Hyundai Santa Cruz
Overview
Manufacturer	Hyundai
Model code	NX4a OB[1]
Production	June 2021 – present[2]
Model years	2022–present
Assembly	United States: Montgomery, Alabama (HMMA)
Body and chassis
Class	Compact pickup truck
Body style	4-door pickup
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (HTRAC)
Platform	Hyundai-Kia N3[3]
Chassis	Unibody
Related	Hyundai Tucson (NX4)
Powertrain
Engine	Gasoline: 2.5 L Smartstream G2.5 GDi I4 2.5 L Smartstream G2.5 T-GDi I4
Transmission	8-speed A8F27 automatic 8-speed D8LF1 dual-clutch automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,005 mm (118.3 in)
Length	4,970 mm (195.7 in)
Width	1,905 mm (75.0 in)
Height	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Curb weight	1,680–1,870 kg (3,704–4,123 lb)

Industry analysts expected the Santa Cruz to attract car or crossover SUV buyers instead of people who have owned a larger, traditional pickup truck.^[4]

Overview

The Santa Cruz was previewed by a concept pickup truck at the 2015 North American International Auto Show with the same name.^[5]

The production model debuted in April 2021 for the North American market. Marketed as a "Sport Adventure Vehicle",^[4] it is closely related to the fourth-generation Tucson, sharing the same project code (NX4, with additional 'a' to denote American production and 'OB' suffix, meaning 'open bed'),^[6] production site, and dashboard design.^[7] It also features a similar styling introduced on the fourth-generation Tucson, with its front end dominated by the grille with integrated daytime running lights.^[8]

The Santa Cruz uses a front-wheel-drive configuration as the base model, with an available upgrade to the HTRAC all-wheel-drive system. The HTRAC system allows for the rear wheels to receive up to 50 percent of the drive power via a lockable clutched center differential. It is equipped with strut suspension for the front wheels and a multi-link independent suspension in the rear. The rear suspension is equipped with self-leveling shock absorbers to keep the truck level even when there is weight on the bed or a trailer on the hitch.^[9]

• 
  Rear view
• 
  Interior

2025 facelift

The facelifted Santa Cruz was revealed on 27 March 2024. Changes include new headlights with redesigned LED daytime running lights, a new front fascia, a new grille, new exterior colors, new alloy wheel designs, a new curved panoramic screen with two 12.3-inch displays, the inclusion of physical controls for the HVAC and infotainment shortcuts, a new steering wheel, new air-con vents, updated features for safety and technology, and the XRT version received a few visual changes.^[10][11]

• 
  2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT
• 
  Rear view

Powertrain

The Santa Cruz is available with the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine that produces 191 hp (194 PS; 142 kW) and 181 lb⋅ft (245 N⋅m; 25.0 kg⋅m) of torque (U.S. only). A turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that produces 281 hp (285 PS; 210 kW) and 311 lb⋅ft (422 N⋅m; 43.0 kg⋅m) of torque is available as an option (standard in Canada). The base engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine gets an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters.^[12]

Safety

The 2022 Santa Cruz was awarded "Top Safety Pick" by IIHS.^[13]

IIHS scores

Small overlap front (driver)	Good
Small overlap front (passenger)	Good
Moderate overlap front (original test)	Good
Side (original test)	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints and seats	Good
Headlights (varies by trim/option)	Good	Poor
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle	Superior		Standard system
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle	Superior		Optional system
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian (Day)	Superior		Standard system
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian (Day)	Superior		Optional system
Seatbelt reminders	Acceptable
Child seat anchors (LATCH) ease of use	Acceptable

Sales

Year	United States	Canada
2021	10,042[14]	930[15]
2022	36,480[16]	3,682[17]
2023	36,675[18]	3,544[17]
2024	32,033[19]