2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited: The New \’20s City Truck

The Tale of the Tape

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited is the highest trim level for this compact four-door ute, which also includes the SE, SEL and SEL Premium trim levels. MSRP starts at $39,870, $41,500 total sticker as-tested during the week it was with me.

At the Limited trim level, there isn\’t much left to add from the options list in the order book. The only options included on this example include Sage Gray paint ($400) – the only paint with a price tag among the six total colors available – and carpeted floor mats ($195). The most expensive option is a pair of side steps, which will set you back $695.

Under the hood, the Limited and SEL Premium both receive a 2.5L turbo-four linked to Hyundai\’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system as standard equipment. The total output of 281 hrsprs and 311 lb-ft of torque is distributed to the set of 20-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin Primacys through an eight-speed dual-clutch auto. The combo is a $1,500 option on the SE and SEL trims; a standard 2.5L inline-four with 191 horses and 181 lb-ft of torque drives the front wheels through a regular eight-speed automatic.

As with the Hyundai Tuscon – upon which the Santa Cruz is based – the dash features a pair of 10.25-inch screens: one in the center console for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the other a TFT instrument gauge cluster covering all the pertinent info the driver needs. A three-month trial of SiriusXM comes with the ute, as well as a full set of safety and driving aids like forward collision assistance, blind spot monitoring and downhill brake control.

Where the Santa Cruz departs from the Tuscon, though, is in the back. Instead of an open cargo area behind the rear bench, rear occupants get a rear window with a sliding glass section and defroster. There\’s also a storage bin under the 60/40 bench with a jack and other roadside tools in its own container.

All of the seats and the steering wheel are trimmed in leather, though only the front buckets are heated and ventilated; the steering wheel is heated, as well. Rear occupants receive their own pair of vents from the center console, plus USB and 12-volt charging ports.