It's easy to write about — and decide whether to buy — a vehicle that's in a class by itself, that doesn't have a half-dozen or even any direct competitors.
That model being a brand-new one from Hyundai: the 2022 Santa Cruz.
What It Is
The Santa Cruz is neither car nor crossover nor SUV. It has design elements of all of them — plus one more, that being the truck-like 4.5-foot-long bed on the back.
It's just the thing for people who don't need (or want) something that looks like a truck — or that is as big and unwieldy as a truck can be — but really like the idea of having a bed for carrying stuff that won't fit in a crossover.
Prices start at $24,140 for the base SE trim with front-wheel-drive. Adding the available AWD system bumps the price up to $25,460. After that comes SEL, SEL Premium and top-of-the-line Limited trims, the latter two coming standard with all-wheel drive and a more powerful (turbocharged) version of the 2.5-liter engine that's standard in the SE and SEL trims.
A top-of-the-line Limited packs the kitchen sink with features, including leather seats, a larger 10.25-inch LCD touchscreen, digital dashboard, adaptive cruise control and a Bose premium audio system. This one stickers for $39,870.
What's New
The Santa Cruz is an all-new model.
What's Good
The truck for the person who doesn't want one.
The car for the person who sometimes needs a truck.
The crossover for the person who doesn't want to own just another crossover.
What's Not So Good
Uses almost as much gas as a truck (22-23 mpg, on average).
Optional turbo engine is only available in much more expensive SEL Premium and Limited trims.
Ditto the upgraded stereo system.
Under the Hood
SE and SEL trims come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 191 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel drive or (optionally) all-wheel drive.
One of the upsides of this Hyundai's 2.5-liter engine is that it's a fairly large engine as four cylinders go, and for that reason doesn't need a turbo to make almost 200 horsepower.
On the downside, this engine is thirsty for what it is, averaging just 23 mpg (21 city, 26 highway). But the Santa Cruz isn't so much about saving gas as it is about saving size.
SEL Premium and Limited trims also come standard with a 2.5-liter engine — but this time, it is turbocharged. Because of that, it produces 281 horsepower and 311 foot-pounds of torque (not too far off the torque produced by small V8s).
This version of the 2.5 engine is also paired with an eight-speed automatic, and, this time, AWD is standard equipment.
Interestingly, this much more powerful engine doesn't use much more gas than the standard 2.5-liter engine, even with standard AWD. It averages 22 mpg (19 city, 27 highway), so there's no fuel efficiency cost associated with opting for the stronger engine.
On The Road
The Santa Cruz doesn't require rock-climbing gear to get in.
It's about the same height as most crossovers, which means you just get in. Once in, you feel as you would behind the wheel of a crossover, without having to drive another crossover. And when it comes time to stop driving and park, it's as easy to do as if you were driving a same-sized crossover.
With the standard engine, there's enough pickup to get to 60 in about seven seconds. With its optional turbocharged engine, the Santa Cruz is very quick, getting to 60 in six seconds flat.
Either way, there's plenty of power for merging and passing without straining.
At The Curb
Two thirds of the Santa Cruz is crossover.
It's the 4.5-foot bed that comprises the other third that makes this anything but another crossover. The bed is in some ways more useful than a truck's bed — even though it is shorter than one — in part because it is more usefully wider, which is because it doesn't have the usual pair of huge wheel humps protruding into the bed that you find in most truck beds that restrict what you can slide into them.
There is also room under the bed ... for another bed. This one is an insulated tub with a drain that is just the ticket for hauling several bags of ice and your favorite beverage or putting fish and such on ice. It's also a good place to hide things you'd prefer others not see.
But perhaps the most appealing thing about this Hyundai's bed is that you can get to whatever's in it without needing a step ladder, as almost all current trucks come standard with because their beds (and bed walls) are so high that even a man well over six feet tall cannot touch the floor of the bed without standing on a milk crate.
The Rest
Hyundai equips the base SE and next-up SEL trims abundantly. Highlights include a very good six-speaker stereo and 8-inch touchscreen (SE) as well as heated seats and outside mirrors, plus the lockable/hidden storage bin under the bed out back (SEL).
On the downside, many desirable features — the even-better Bose premium audio system, navigation and rear seat USB charge ports — are restricted to the much more expensive SEL Premium and Limited trims.
The Bottom Line
It's nice that small trucks are making a comeback — even if they aren't, really.
Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
View the Hyundai Santa Cruz this week.
View Comments