Hyundai had major success with the Santa Cruz after it sold the fastest out of any other in the market in 2021. The Santa Cruz was Hyundai’s first-ever unibody compact pickup truck; it had an attractive design, excellent towing abilities, and all the cargo space one might need. With the new Santa Cruz set to be released in the late summer/early fall of 2022, we are excited, especially after seeing the Hyundai Santa Cruz Night Edition.
There aren’t any significant changes to the Hyundai Santa Cruz for the 2023 model year; however, it does come standard with a rear cross-traffic alert and a blind-spot monitor. The 2023 Santa Cruz will be available in five trim levels, including various new features. So without further ado, let's get into everything we know about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz so far.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz’s Engine Options, Trim Upgrades, And Prices
The 2023 Santa Cruz will be available with two different powertrain options. The standard setup is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that puts out 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque; the other option is an upgraded engine that is a turbocharged 2.5-liter four and makes 281 horses and 311 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission; however, the turbo engine has a dual-clutch version. Also, customers will be offered a choice between a front-wheel drive system or a traction-enhancing all-wheel drive system for their Santa Cruz.
In terms of towing abilities, the Santa Cruz may not be the ultimate best name in the game, but it can pull as much as expected of a unibody vehicle. The turbocharged engine has the impressive maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the standard four-cylinder engine can only tow up to 3500 pounds.
The Santa Cruz has been dubbed one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles of 2022, and we can only expect the same from the 2023 model. According to the EPA’s website, the 2023 front-wheel-drive Santa Cruz is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive lowers the said figures by one mpg. The turbocharged version has an estimated gas mileage of 19 city / 27 highway mpg.
The 2023 Santa Cruz is available in five trim levels, with the prices starting from $26,745 for the SE and going as high as $41,615 for the Limited edition. The SEL sits at $29,085, the attractive Night Edition at $37,105, and perhaps the best option, the SEL Premium, which comes with all the fancier upgrades and costs $38,645.
The New Santa Cruz Is Comfortable, Safe, And High-Tech
The Santa Cruz offers one of its segment's roomiest and most comfortable four-door cabins. You can stretch your legs in the passenger seat and still have room for your luggage; if you are the driver, Hyundai provides you with maximum comfort and useful equipment for the long haul. The Santa Cruz’s cargo bed is comparably short, about four feet long, but it's pretty versatile, with a lockable tonneau cover and a proper in-bed trunk.
According to the IIHS, the 2023 Santa Cruz is a top safety pick when fitted with LED projector headlights on higher trim levels. The website dubs its standard automatic emergency braking system as superior. The optional adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitors are worth the price, and the surround-view camera system can help compensate for the big roof pillars. A blind-spot camera that projects a live view onto the instrument cluster can also come in handy.
The Santa Cruz has a digital gauge cluster and a traditional shifter on the center console instead of a rotary knob. Some cool new high-tech features are available, including a 10.3-inch touchscreen, upgraded voice-recognition software, wireless device charging, and GPS-based curve control.
Owning A 2023 Santa Cruz
The 2023 Santa Cruz has the modern convenience and space of an SUV and the open bed of a pickup truck. It is an excellent choice for those looking for adventure alongside comfort and class. To top everything off, Hyundai offers one of the best warranty plans in the automobile industry, with powertrain coverage worth mentioning. The limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles, the powertrain warranty covers ten years or 100,000 miles, and a complimentary maintenance plan is good for three years or 36,000 miles.
The Santa Cruz’s only competitor is possibly the 2023 Ford Maverick. Fans are having a battle over which is the best, comparing costs, capabilities, and price range. We can hardly wait until the arrival of the 2023 Santa Cruz, when we can take this baby out on the road and see what it's truly made of.