Until just lately, with full-size pickup vans dominating gross sales and a few midsized fashions such because the Toyota Tacoma holding on to a modest piece of the section, as soon as well-liked small vans had all however vanished from the market.
But with the costs of the full-size pickup vans climbing nicely past $50,000 or per unit, producers have began to revive the small finish of the truck section by reaching out to youthful consumers with inexpensive automobiles. Leading the way in which are lighter-weight and extra reasonably priced vans such because the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which mix 4 doorways, fuel-efficient powertrains and a brief, pickup truck mattress right into a utilitarian package deal.
Overview
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited involves the showroom with a cushty inside, a full array of driver help options in addition to the connectivity required for leisure and navigation on a big, center-stack display. Since it was, just like the aforementioned Ford Maverick, aimed toward youthful consumers, this degree of expertise is a must have for the section.
The car is provided to hold passengers and kit for any variety of out of doors actions, whereas the modest pickup mattress is giant sufficient to accommodate do-it-yourself tasks or easy runs to the grocery retailer.
Buyers at this time prize versatility and the usefulness of the Santa Cruz, in lots of respects, goes past that of well-liked crossover and utility automobiles well-liked now.
Exterior
The profile of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, with some gildings, is similar to a big, conventional pickup truck from Chevrolet, Ram or Ford. But the fundamental dimensions, together with peak, width and size, are considerably smaller. The Santa Cruz doesn’t occupy all the driveway like a Chevrolet Silverado or a Ford F-150.
But the Santa Cruz does have an aggressive grille, which is of a distinct character than the entrance fascia and grille mixtures used on Hyundai’s passenger vehicles and utility automobiles. The LED lighting fixtures are built-in into the entrance and rear of the car. The Santa Cruz I drove additionally got here with a sliding cowl over the truck mattress, 20-inch wheels and roof rails on the highest of the cab to complete off the car’s general look.
Interior
Hyundai has prospered within the final decade by providing clients a bit extra for his or her cash, and the strategy exhibits within the inside of the 2023 Santa Cruz. The cabin, with seating for 5, is well-furnished with a mixture of supplies of better-than-average high quality, together with leather-trimmed seats within the model I examined.
The general look of the inside is straightforward and simple. Hyundai’s designers have achieved a pleasant job of integrating the expertise across the driver. Using a big middle stack touchscreen, the motive force can simply entry something from their Bluetooth-connected good cellphone by means of the native infotainment system or accessible Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. In addition, the visibility from the motive force’s seat is superb whereas the controls for infotainment system’s quantity in addition to the cruise management are simply discovered on the steering wheel.
Powertrain
The Santa Cruz Limited AWD is provided with a 2.5-liter, turbocharged engine, and an 8-speed automated transmission in addition to HTRAC all-wheel drive. It additionally has controls for various driving modes and an digital parking brake.
The fuel-economy numbers for the Santa Cruz are usually not nice, however they’re enough for a small truck with an inside combustion engine. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD a mixed gas economic system score of twenty-two miles per gallon, together with 19 mpg within the metropolis and 27 mpg on the freeway.
Safety and Technology
The security gear consists of a number of airbags. It additionally presents ahead collision avoidance in addition to blind-spot collision avoidance help and blind-spot monitoring. Additionally it options lane-keeping help, rear cross-traffic alerts, driver consideration and secure exit warnings.
The Santa Cruz additionally has a heated steering wheel, a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a ten.25-inch leisure and navigation display. It can be geared up with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as nicely a satellite tv for pc radio connection and twin USB ports. The model I drove additionally had Bose Premium Sound System and encompass view digicam.
Driving Impressions
I used to be impressed with general experience and dealing with of the 2023 Santa Cruz. The car delivered a easy and cozy experience and was straightforward to maneuver. The engine had ample energy for day-today driving and the car carried out nicely whereas driving on quite a lot of street surfaces. I discovered the suspension had a pleasant strong really feel to it. Suspensions have by no means been one in all Hyundai’s strengths, however it’s clear they’re getting higher.
The driving dynamics of 2023 Santa Cruz are a lot improved from the 2022 mannequin I drove a number of months in the past, which had an inordinate quantity of vibration throughout a stretch on the freeway. Anything else or simply that vibration on the freeway. The drawback appears to have been corrected within the 2023 mannequin.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD Specifications
Dimension | L: 195.9 inches/W: 73.4 inches/H: 57.1 inches/Wheelbase: 113 inches |
Weight | 3,879 kilos |
Powertrain | 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 8-speed automated transmission and AWD |
Fuel Economy | 19 mpg metropolis/27 mpg freeway/22 mpg mixed |
Performance Specs | 192 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque |
Price | Base costs: $25,450; As examined: $41,890, together with $1,295 vacation spot cost. |
On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
To date, the Santa Cruz has loved some modest success. But the car’s versatility appears to have limits. It’s not the fitting car for you should you require a truck to make a dwelling. In addition, compact utility automobiles provide extra inside room if you’re hauling kids and groceries on the identical time, and a few may even journey off street. The Santa Cruz, nevertheless, ought to attraction to the section of younger consumers, searching for a smaller, inexpensive truck able to dealing with numerous duties and going a range locations regardless that well-equipped fashions are getting expensive.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the variations between the 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz?
There aren’t any vital adjustments to the Hyundai Santa Cruz for the 2023 mannequin 12 months; nevertheless, it does come normal with a rear cross-traffic alert and a blind-spot monitor. The 2023 Santa Cruz shall be accessible in 5 trim ranges, together with the brand new Night mannequin.
Can you get the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz with all-wheel drive?
The Santa Cruz Limited AWD is provided with a 2.5-liter, turbocharged engine, and an 8-speed automated transmission in addition to HTRAC all-wheel drive. It additionally has controls for various driving modes and an digital parking brake.
What is the Santa Cruz Night?
The blacked-out Santa Cruz Night mannequin is predicated on the AWD SEL Activity trim with the extra highly effective turbocharged engine and a number of other aesthetic upgrades. It will get a darkish chrome grille, unique 20-inch darkish alloy wheels, unique darkish entrance and rear fasciae, and unique gloss black mirror caps and door handles. It’s additionally acquired twin steel facet steps in black.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com