A Week With: 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD

Until recently, with full-size pickup trucks dominating sales and some midsized models such as the Toyota Tacoma holding on to a modest piece of the segment, once popular small trucks had all but vanished from the market.

But with the prices of the full-size pickup trucks climbing well beyond $50,000 or per unit, manufacturers have started to revive the small end of the truck segment by reaching out to younger buyers with less expensive vehicles. Leading the way are lighter-weight and more affordable trucks such as the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which blend four doors, fuel-efficient powertrains and a short, pickup truck bed into a utilitarian package.

Overview

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited comes to the showroom with a comfortable interior, a full array of driver assistance features as well as the connectivity required for entertainment and navigation on a large, center-stack screen. Since it was, like the aforementioned Ford Maverick, aimed at younger buyers, this level of technology is a must-have for the segment.

The vehicle is equipped to carry passengers and gear for any number of outdoor activities, while the modest pickup bed is large enough to accommodate do-it-yourself projects or simple runs to the grocery store.

Buyers today prize versatility and the usefulness of the Santa Cruz, in many respects, goes beyond that of popular crossover and utility vehicles popular now.

Exterior

The profile of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, with some embellishments, is very similar to a large, traditional pickup truck from Chevrolet, Ram or Ford. But the basic dimensions, including height, width and length, are significantly smaller. The Santa Cruz does not occupy the entire driveway like a Chevrolet Silverado or a Ford F-150. 

But the Santa Cruz does have an aggressive grille, which is of a different character than the front fascia and grille combinations used on Hyundai’s passenger cars and utility vehicles. The LED light fixtures are integrated into the front and rear of the vehicle. The Santa Cruz I drove also came with a sliding cover over the truck bed, 20-inch wheels and roof rails on the top of the cab to finish off the vehicle’s overall appearance.

Interior

Hyundai has prospered in the last decade by offering customers a bit more for their money, and the approach shows in the interior of the 2023 Santa Cruz. The cabin, with seating for five, is well-furnished with a mix of materials of better-than-average quality, including leather-trimmed seats in the version I tested.

The overall look of the interior is simple and straightforward. Hyundai’s designers have done a nice job of integrating the technology around the driver. Using a large center stack touchscreen, the driver can easily access anything from their Bluetooth-connected smart phone through the native infotainment system or available Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. In addition, the visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent while the controls for infotainment system’s volume as well as the cruise control are easily found on the steering wheel.

Powertrain

The Santa Cruz Limited AWD is equipped with a 2.5-liter, turbocharged engine, and an 8-speed automatic transmission as well as HTRAC all-wheel drive. It also has controls for different driving modes and an electronic parking brake. 

The fuel-economy numbers for the Santa Cruz are not great, but they’re adequate for a small truck with an internal combustion engine. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD a combined fuel economy rating of 22 miles per gallon, including 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Safety and Technology

The safety equipment includes multiple airbags. It also offers forward collision avoidance as well as blind-spot collision avoidance assistance and blind-spot monitoring. Additionally it features lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alerts, driver attention and safe exit warnings.

The Santa Cruz also has a heated steering wheel, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch entertainment and navigation screen. It is also equipped with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as well a satellite radio connection and dual USB ports. The version I drove also had Bose Premium Sound System and surround view camera.

Driving Impressions

I was impressed with overall ride and handling of the 2023 Santa Cruz. The vehicle delivered a smooth and comfortable ride and was easy to maneuver. The engine had ample power for day-today driving and the vehicle performed well while driving on a variety of road surfaces. I found the suspension had a nice solid feel to it. Suspensions have never been one of Hyundai’s strengths, but it is clear they are getting better. 

The driving dynamics of 2023 Santa Cruz are much improved from the 2022 model I drove several months ago, which had an inordinate amount of vibration during a stretch on the freeway. Anything else or just that vibration on the freeway. The problem seems to have been corrected in the 2023 model.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD Specifications

Wrap Up

To date, the Santa Cruz has enjoyed some modest success. But the vehicle’s versatility seems to have limits. It’s not the right vehicle for you if you require a truck to make a living. In addition, compact utility vehicles offer more interior room if you are hauling children and groceries at the same time, and some can even travel off road. The Santa Cruz, however, should appeal to the segment of young buyers, looking for a smaller, less expensive truck capable of handling diverse tasks and going a variety places even though well-equipped models are getting pricey.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD ­— Frequently Asked Questions