2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Review

Since it was introduced, the Santa Cruz has driven away with coveted prizes. It was a finalist for Motor Trend Truck of the Year. It won the 2022 Best Pickup Truck by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Newsweek named it the 2023 Best Small Pickup.

The Cars website named it the 2024 Best Urban Pickup. Their judges pointed out the way the truck blends practicality, adventure and desirable features. Payload ratings, tow ratings, and other specs were considered.

This critical success was important since the Hyundai compact truck was practically a class of one. It soon showed that it could compete with other midsize trucks despite any size difference. Key to this was its incredibly room cabin and remarkably versatile bed.

For the 2025 model year, engineers and designers were told to upgrade the Hyundai truck without sacrificing all the things that make it such a fun ride. There’s no doubt that they succeeded.

The new exterior has more curb appeal. The new interior is more inviting and distinctive. There are tons of tech tools and connectivity toys. This new Santa Cruz is probably the best one yet.

Technophiles will definitely appreciate the nearly 25 inches of screens in the panoramic display now available on the 2025 Santa Cruz. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now wireless on every trim.

A fingerprint scanner is a new amenity. It’s in addition to the available Proximity Key, Hyundai Digital Key, and Remote Starter.

No other truck in this class has avoidance assistance with its standard blind spot monitor or its rear cross traffic avoidance system. A forward collision warning is a 2025 standard that joins the existing avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, and forward travel autobrake.

Drivers can rely on other standards such as high beam assist, lane following assist, and lane keeping assist.

XRT models gain the surround view monitor. It’s the next best thing to self-parking. You can see every important view as you maneuver this urban truck into and out of tight spots.

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The new cabin style upgrades the steering wheel, changes the air vents, and adds an interesting rectangular aspect to the dash elements. 2025 Santa Cruz trucks have an acoustic-laminated windscreen to keep the noise down.

When fully-equipped with the best air conditioning equipment, Phoenix AZ drivers and their passengers will be quite comfortable on the hottest days. The dual automatic temperature controls benefit from a unique multi-air mode that diffuses the cool. It has capacitive controls rather than relying on the touchscreen. Rear A/C vents are mounted on the floor console. Santa Cruz Limited models add ventilated front seats.

There are plenty of assets to help you beat rainy or cold weather. This includes the available heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and rain-sensing wipers.

Passengers will feel quite relaxed with plenty of wiggle room. If you want storage space, the rear seats have tip-up cushions and a split-fold capability.

The initial powertrain is an excellent machine. It churns out 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission helps ensure it is quite efficient. A self-leveling rear suspension helps ensure that handling and ride quality are the bes they can be.

HTRAC AWD has flexible torque output. It can assist the driver on straight-aways, high-speed cornering or medium-speed turns.

With the turbo upgrade, the Santa Cruz driver commands 311 lb-ft of torque. To harness the power, the transmission is upgraded to a wet dual-clutch set-up.

Tow ratings cap off at 3,500 pounds for the regular powertrain and 5,000 pounds for the turbo. On all trucks, it is pre-wired for trailering. Keeping unsprung weight as low as possible, all Santa Cruz trucks wear lightweight alloy wheels.

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Although it is small, the bed is incredibly smart. It offers lockable under-bed storage. You can stow away your muddy boots and rinse it clean with the handy drain. Or, you can store vital objects in it, knowing it will be secure and dry.

A multi-functional tailgate provides assistance with opening and closing. Built-in rear bumper steps and available side steps help with loading and unloading.

There are special sidewall compartments in the sheet-molded composite bed. It is made to withstand wear and tear better than its metal counterparts. To help you hold down your load, the cargo D-rings are heavy duty. The available utility track rail and cleat system is a dual c-channel adjustable way to tie down your cargo. A roof-mounted cargo light and available bed lights help with nighttime travel.

Many owners opt for the excellent tonneau cover. It has T-slot utility tracks, and it can nearly disappear into the cabin wall when you don’t need it. If in use, there’s 27 cubic feet of safe, dry storage.