We haven’t had any trucks on the smaller end of the market in a long time and now we’re going to have one from Hyundai in the Santa Cruz.
This new model will arrivefor the 2022 model year and it will likely be the first entry back into a forgotten part of the automotive world. Small trucks used to be extremely popular but were phased out with the addition of midsize models.
How Small is Small for the Santa Cruz
The new Hyundai Santa Cruz will arrive and be nearly a foot shorter in length than every other truck in the market right now. This truck will also be shorter in height and width coming in at 75 inches wide and 66.7 inches tall. The only other truckwe expect to see that will be this small is the upcoming Ford Maverick, which hasn’t been released yet.
The Hyundai Appearance is Easy to See
The front of the Santa Cruz is nearly identical to the Tucson with the same headlights that blend into the grille design of the vehicle. The lower bumper of the Santa Cruz is unique giving you square foglamp surrounds to offer a different style. You’ll find fenders that aren’t as flared on the truck as the Tucson but the ones on the Santa Cruz have cladding to give them a more rugged appearance and room for 20-inch wheels.
When you get to the rear door area of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, you’ll see a look that’s much different from the Tucson. This is where you see a window line that’s higher and a raked C-pillar that moves to a short bed. The bed of this truck is only about 50 inches long, but that could be enough for your truck needs.
Find the Right Power in the Hyundai Santa Cruz
There will be a choice of two powertrains offered for the Santa Cruz that make it the right little truck for you to drive. The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder model that makes 190 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine uses a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission for the drive. If you want more power, there’s a turbocharged version of the engine to give you 275 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque.
This engine mates to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to give you the power delivery you desire.The non-turbo engine is good for 3,500 pounds of towing while the turbo gives you 5,000 pounds of capability for the power you need to pull a small trailer with you when you drive.
The new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz will arrive at dealerships before the end of the summer. This little truck is being produced in the Alabama plant of Hyundai to be a little truck that comes from a brand you love while being made in America. Get ready to love a small truck again when the Santa Cruz shows up at a dealership near you.
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