2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz (full reveal April 15th)
#1
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz (full reveal April 15th)
The full debut of the Hyundai pickup is just around the corner, but today we’re getting a revealing preview of what’s coming. It’s called the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, just as we’ve been expecting.
Four shadowy but decent photos are being shown today alongside a few undefined details. We can see that it’s quite obviously a small truck with a short bed and what looks like a roomy cabin. Just like the Honda Ridgeline, the Santa Cruz will be built on a unibody platform, but based on its size, it looks like more of a compact Ford Maverick competitor than a mid-size truck.
And before we type “truck” again, know that Hyundai is not calling it one. Instead, Hyundai is naming it a “Sport Adventure Vehicle,” which speaks to this vehicle’s purpose more than what it is. Make no mistake, this vehicle with a bed is most definitely still a pickup. Seeing the length of the bed, shape of the cab and car-inspired grille puts it in a gray area between tool and adventure-mobile, though.
You don’t have to look too far away in the Hyundai lineup to see where the grille comes from. It’s a derivative of the new Tucson’s and Elantra’s face, only made taller and bolder. The same exotic front running light scheme is used here again, and we can see the actual headlights mounted much lower in the front bumper. The body lines are muscular to the max with an especially strong Y-shaped crease pattern extending from the hood and front fenders into the door and down the side. Its windshield is crossover-like with its rake, unlike most trucks with more vertically-oriented windshields. The cab meets the bed from a diagonal angle. Out back, the tailgate has “Santa Cruz” stamped in it and features the Hyundai text on the handle. Strong, T-shaped horizontal taillights complete the lighting picture. One neat feature we can already make out are the bed steps incorporated into the rear bumper to reach items inside the bed.
Hyundai says the Santa Cruz will have a “flexible bed for gear, cutting-edge connectivity and a highly maneuverable all-wheel-drive platform.” It’s going to be suitable for “adventure-focused environments,” so we’ll be expecting a little more than your average crossover’s all-wheel-drive system. Additionally, Hyundai promises “powerful and efficient engines,” guaranteeing that there will be more than one engine option.
Beyond that, we’ll have to wait for the truck’s reveal on April 15 this year. Hyundai says the Santa Cruz will go into production this summer at its Montgomery, Ala. plant.
Four shadowy but decent photos are being shown today alongside a few undefined details. We can see that it’s quite obviously a small truck with a short bed and what looks like a roomy cabin. Just like the Honda Ridgeline, the Santa Cruz will be built on a unibody platform, but based on its size, it looks like more of a compact Ford Maverick competitor than a mid-size truck.
And before we type “truck” again, know that Hyundai is not calling it one. Instead, Hyundai is naming it a “Sport Adventure Vehicle,” which speaks to this vehicle’s purpose more than what it is. Make no mistake, this vehicle with a bed is most definitely still a pickup. Seeing the length of the bed, shape of the cab and car-inspired grille puts it in a gray area between tool and adventure-mobile, though.
You don’t have to look too far away in the Hyundai lineup to see where the grille comes from. It’s a derivative of the new Tucson’s and Elantra’s face, only made taller and bolder. The same exotic front running light scheme is used here again, and we can see the actual headlights mounted much lower in the front bumper. The body lines are muscular to the max with an especially strong Y-shaped crease pattern extending from the hood and front fenders into the door and down the side. Its windshield is crossover-like with its rake, unlike most trucks with more vertically-oriented windshields. The cab meets the bed from a diagonal angle. Out back, the tailgate has “Santa Cruz” stamped in it and features the Hyundai text on the handle. Strong, T-shaped horizontal taillights complete the lighting picture. One neat feature we can already make out are the bed steps incorporated into the rear bumper to reach items inside the bed.
Hyundai says the Santa Cruz will have a “flexible bed for gear, cutting-edge connectivity and a highly maneuverable all-wheel-drive platform.” It’s going to be suitable for “adventure-focused environments,” so we’ll be expecting a little more than your average crossover’s all-wheel-drive system. Additionally, Hyundai promises “powerful and efficient engines,” guaranteeing that there will be more than one engine option.
Beyond that, we’ll have to wait for the truck’s reveal on April 15 this year. Hyundai says the Santa Cruz will go into production this summer at its Montgomery, Ala. plant.
#3
Lexus Champion
Looks really small. I really dislike it.
#6
Lexus Champion
it’s meant to fill the huge niche left behind by the Lincoln Blackwood. Millions upon billions of people are clamoring for a truck bed big enough to hold two bags of mulch.
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#8
Lexus Champion
#10
Lexus Fanatic
I agree with the (initial) visual comparison to the Subaru Baja, but we'll have wait and see what the actual size is.
Hyundai's naming is starting to get confusing. We've had the Santa Fe, Veracruz, and now the Santa Cruz. I guess their next new vehicle will be the Santa Vera LOL.
Hyundai's naming is starting to get confusing. We've had the Santa Fe, Veracruz, and now the Santa Cruz. I guess their next new vehicle will be the Santa Vera LOL.
#12
Hyundai Corp loves to use 'Places' to name their cars. Kinda neat
Tucson - Arizona
Santa Fe - New Mexico
Sedona - Arizona
Veracruz - Mexico
Santa Cruz - California / Mexico
Palisade - Colorado
Telluride - Colorado
Sorento - Sorrento Italy (different but makes me think that)
Rio - Rio de Janeiro Brazil (different but makes me think that)
Tucson - Arizona
Santa Fe - New Mexico
Sedona - Arizona
Veracruz - Mexico
Santa Cruz - California / Mexico
Palisade - Colorado
Telluride - Colorado
Sorento - Sorrento Italy (different but makes me think that)
Rio - Rio de Janeiro Brazil (different but makes me think that)
#13
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
#15
Lexus Champion
We had these as company cars (and a few Citations) when they first came out. Interesting and kind of exciting at the time, because they were new. In reality though they weren't very good cars that had a lot of problems. Kind of normal for the times though.