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    2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz review: More than enough truck

    Hyundai provides the Santa Cruz with front-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated engine, however my loaded Limited mannequin has all-wheel drive and a punchy 2.5-liter turbo I4. Since the Santa Cruz has lots in frequent with the Tucson, it is no shock the entrance finish has the identical ultracool lighting therapy, and the 4.5-foot mattress round again is fairly cute. The Santa Cruz is a kind of vehicles that makes me give a glance again and smile after I stroll away from it in a car parking zone.We can have the “real truck” debate till the cows come house, however the Hyundai Santa Cruz has quite a lot of functionality. I’d argue it is greater than sufficient for 95% of truck patrons on the market. My all-wheel-drive tester can tow as much as 5,000 kilos with a braked trailer, although front-drive examples decrease that score to 3,000 kilos. Trailer sway management is customary, although it is value noting that, in case your trailer is not braked, Hyundai recommends a max towing capability of 1,650 kilos.The Santa Cruz’s mattress measures 52.1 inches lengthy and 53.9 inches large, with 42.7 inches of house between the wheel wells. No, you will not be flat-packing any plywood again there, however with a number of tie-down factors and sliding rail anchors, you possibly can safe a complete lot of substances. There’s underfloor storage that is lockable, waterproof and drainable, and the mattress’s tonneau cowl simply slides backwards and forwards, including one other layer of safety.The mattress is smaller than what you may discover on bigger, midsize vehicles just like the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, however the Hyundai’s rear is less complicated to entry. The mattress ground is just 30.6 inches off the bottom, making it a lot simpler to load heavy objects. Furthermore, the mattress’s sides are fairly shallow, so I can attain in with out a problem. A base Santa Cruz SE can haul 1,753 kilos of payload however my Limited AWD tester can deal with 1,609. That latter spec is greater than what the Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma can deal with. Who you callin’ a pretend truck?Hyundai calls the Santa Cruz a Sport Adventure Vehicle, although there are positively limits to the go-anywhere enjoyable you possibly can have. The truck’s 8.6 inches of floor clearance is akin to different compact crossovers, and off-road geometry is nothing to jot down house about, with a 17.5-degree strategy angle, 23.2-degree departure angle and 18.6-degree breakover angle. The Santa Cruz’s fundamental all-season tires do not assist issues, both, particularly the 245/50-series Michelin Primacy rubbers wrapped across the Limited’s customary 20-inch wheels.
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    These 20-inch wheels are modern, however not the most effective if you wish to get soiled — particularly with all-season tires. Emme Hall/RoadshowIf I used to be shopping for a Santa Cruz for journey time, a elevate equipment and larger tires can be first on my checklist. Still, this little man is not too dangerous out within the filth. The impartial entrance and rear suspensions can deal with dusty whoops at 15 to 20 mph, and a middle locking differential can present a 50/50 entrance/rear torque cut up. The Santa Cruz even has hill-descent management, although in testing I discover it to be just a little too speedy — you may positively want to make use of the brakes.Obviously, my need for filth antics makes me a little bit of an outlier, and most of the people will hold their Santa Cruzes on pavement. They positively will not be upset, particularly with the non-compulsory 2.5T engine, which produces 282 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. With an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission managing energy, the Santa Cruz has loads of scoot.Base fashions include a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4 with 191 hp and 181 lb.-ft. With the Santa Cruz’s 3,700-pound curb weight, non-turbo fashions will possible really feel a bit pokey.Driving round city, the transmission executes easy shifts, but it surely’s much less refined in stop-and-go freeway visitors. The Santa Cruz’s journey high quality is nice, absorbing tough pavement with ease. The steering is properly weighted and correct, if a bit numb.
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    The little truck mattress has lockable, waterproof storage. Emme Hall/RoadshowThe neatest thing about driving the Santa Cruz is that it is small and straightforward to maneuver. Even midsize vehicles can really feel beastly from behind the wheel, however all that goes out the window with the Santa Cruz. It’s nimble sufficient to shoot via visitors and it is simple to park, all whereas sustaining many of the utility of its bigger brethren.The 2022 Santa Cruz has an EPA gasoline financial system score of 19 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 22 mpg mixed. After every week of testing I’m observing 21.6 mpg. Not too shabby, contemplating I are likely to drive sooner than most.If it is superior driver-assistance techniques you are after, you may wish to decide an SEL mannequin or greater. Here you get customary forward-collision braking, lane-keeping help, lane-following help, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear-seat occupancy alert. My Limited tester goes a notch above with Highway Drive Assist that mixes adaptive cruise management with lane centering. The Limited trim additionally will get the cool blind-spot view monitor that places a side-view video show proper within the gauge cluster when the flip sign is engaged. Everything works as marketed, and heavy commuters will love Highway Drive Assist because it actually takes a number of the stress out of stop-and-go visitors.
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    The inside is rather like the Tucson, and that is nice by me. Antuan Goodwin/RoadshowThe Santa Cruz comes customary with an 8-inch touchscreen working the Hyundai BlueLink infotainment system, however my prime Limited tester goes huge with a 10.3-inch show. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are each right here, however curiously, the smaller 8-inch display helps wi-fi smartphone compatibility. I haven’t got many complaints in regards to the infotainment system as a complete, save for the shortage of a bodily quantity knob. I’m additionally not digging the panel of touch-sensitive buttons underneath the display. They could also be fast to react, however the icons are small and your finger has to hit the precise heart to get a response. Smudges galore, too.If you have seen the inside of the Tucson then you definitely’ve just about seen the inside of the Santa Cruz as effectively. My tester has some orange distinction stitching and a splash of shade on the sprint, however do not count on something revolutionary right here. Heated entrance seats are customary on the SEL trim and up, and my Limited mannequin provides seat air flow, too. The seats are cozy sufficient for long-haul journeys, however legroom within the again is compromised at solely 36.5 inches. Only put your children or small adults again there. Or your enemies. Of course, the Santa Cruz is not the one sport on the town. The Ford Maverick is just a little bigger and its mattress is just a few inches longer. It additionally begins at a super-affordable $21,490 together with a $1,495 vacation spot cost and comes customary with a hybrid powertrain. It additionally appears just a little extra trucky. The Santa Cruz, in the meantime, begins at $25,365 together with $1,225 for vacation spot, and my totally loaded Limited tester is available in at a whopping $41,540.
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    This is a good little truck. Emme Hall/RoadshowIf you do not want all-wheel drive, persist with a Santa Cruz SEL to save lots of a bunch of cash. Sure, you may miss out on issues just like the leather-wrapped steering wheel, giant digital gauge cluster and a few driver-assistance options, however you may save $13,000. And hey, should you do want or need all-wheel drive, it is solely a $1,500 add-on.The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a bizarre little runabout that I completely love. It’s quirky and practical, with the potential to go far and large given the suitable aftermarket help. I’d definitely purchase it over the less-interesting Maverick and the bigger Honda Ridgeline. Some people may have the bigger footprint of a midsize truck, however most definitely do not. For them, the Santa Cruz is loads of truck.

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