__Vehicle Type:__ Compact pickup truck

__Price Range:__ $27,985 - $42,405

__Powertrain:__ The Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with two different powertrain options for the 2024 model year.

The SE and SEL trim levels feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder putting out 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

If you opt for the Night, XRT, or Limited trim levels, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that generates 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. 

This engine runs through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. 

Every trim level comes standard with front-wheel-drive but they can all be upgraded to all-wheel-drive.

---

### Video Review:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ix77wf5C9Ug?si=UJnsTjJQ1FEQXMvE&amp;controls=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

___

__What’s New for 2024?__ 

For the 2024 model year, the automaker has replaced the Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium trim level with a new XRT model. This follows other vehicles by the brand like the [Hyundai Santa Fe](https://www.autolist.com/hyundai-santa+fe), [Palisade](https://www.autolist.com/hyundai-palisade), and [Tucson](https://www.autolist.com/hyundai-tucson), all of which have an XRT trim. This trim combines luxury and off-road options with things like faux-leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, side steps, bed rails, and fender flares. 

There are also some new standard features for the 2024 model year including haptic feedback in the steering and LED projector headlights. Everything but the base trim also received dual-zone climate control and a defogger as standard equipment. The Night trim level also received standard faux-leather seating.

---

__What’s Good?__

- A driving feel and handling that is more akin to a compact crossover than a truck 
- More premium interior than you would expect for such a low price 
- The bed and 5,000-pound towing capacity make it a worthy pickup truck for all kinds of applications

__What’s Bad?__

- The base engine isn't nearly as snappy as the optional turbo 
- The bed is only four feet long, which cuts down on its usefulness
- Some interior controls can be hard to see/use

__Would we buy one?__ Yes! The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a great compromise for people who want a vehicle that combines the functionality of a pickup with the driveability of a compact crossover.

---

### More Photos:

[See more 2024 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Photos](https://www.autolist.com/hyundai-santa+cruz-2024/2024-hyundai-santa+cruz-photos).

---

### Overview:

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Right Back Side (Overview)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/7E18LTyxeh3BOM0nVGD36u/e4fc339700ae2b526a0813717bc0828c/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Right_Back_Side__Overview_.jpg)

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a compact pickup truck with characteristics that are more reminiscent of an SUV. In fact, Hyundai based the Santa Cruz on the brand’s popular Hyundai Tucson and this comes through in everything from the way it drives to its slightly underpowered base engine. With five trim levels to choose from, including the SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, there are all kinds of options for how premium or basic you want your Santa Cruz to be. 

There are two available powertrains for the 2024 Santa Cruz. The lower SE and SEL trims come with a 191 horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine running through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Anyone familiar with the Tucson will be familiar with this engine as the two vehicles share the same base powertrain. If you opt for the higher Night, XRT, or Limited trims, you get a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that puts out 281 horsepower through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Every trim level comes standard with FWD and they can all get an upgrade to AWD. 

Since the Santa Cruz has a shorter wheelbase than other small trucks in its category such as the [Honda Ridgeline](https://www.autolist.com/honda-ridgeline), or its closest rival, the [Ford Maverick](https://www.autolist.com/ford-maverick), it is much easier to drive and maneuver in tight spaces. If you don’t need the larger bed of something like a [Chevrolet Colorado](https://www.autolist.com/chevrolet-colorado) or [Toyota Tacoma](https://www.autolist.com/toyota-tacoma), the Santa Cruz could be a great option that will give you the best of both worlds when it comes to capability and driveability. 

The interior of the 2024 Santa Cruz is emblematic of Hyundai’s eye for design and what makes a vehicle’s cabin look premium without the price tag. Compared to other trucks in the compact category, the interior of the Santa Cruz is plush and comfortable with plenty of legroom in the front seats. 

The only available cab is a four-door crew version but due to the short bed, which comes in at just four feet, there is lots of space in the rear seats as well as plenty of storage areas. The bed also comes with a lockable tonneau cover and an in-bed trunk for extra stowage when the bed isn’t full. 

The base versions of the 2024 Santa Cruz come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system but the SEL can be upgraded to the 10.3-inch display that comes standard with the higher trim levels. This infotainment system comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as three free years of Hyundai’s Blue Link wireless services. Blue Link allows you to remotely lock the doors and start the vehicle with an app or with your Amazon Alexa. 

A wide range of standard safety and driver-assistance features come with every trim level including blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. Adaptive cruise control is optional. You also get Hyundai’s famous ten-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty as well as a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty and three years of maintenance coverage. 

---

### Overall Score: 4/5 stars

#### Driving Experience: 5/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Driving (Driving)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/3mWYDSOTqg005h8QBeod6L/2153761023767e06ab5dcd47ee8d9449/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Driving__Driving_.jpg)

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is based heavily on the very driveable Hyundai Tucson SUV, which makes it much easier to maneuver than other trucks in its category. 

The smaller bed makes the Santa Cruz more car-like than other pickups. 

The rear end features an independent multi-link suspension system, which gives the Santa Cruz more traction and a tight, responsive feel. 

Different drive modes like Sport and Smart allow you to adjust the way the Santa Cruz feels and how it uses fuel for a customized driving experience. 

---

#### Safety Features: 5/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Dashboard and Seats (Safety)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/4tjsL7EOuZaqNVD6NYPqTF/e7f426dc1004a1e30234c5d99de323a7/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Dashboard_and_Seats__Safety_.jpg)

The 2024 Santa Cruz comes with a wide range of standard safety features including automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not given the Santa Cruz an overall safety rating yet but it received five stars in a frontal crash test and four stars in a risk of rollover test. 

A standard driver-attention warning system gives you a warning when you are driving while distracted so you can always keep your eyes on the road. 

---

{ad type="m-box-1"}

#### Value: 5/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Front (Value)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/50bUCRiX4hx6wNQ0vIcT1/7fd9ef63beb6f847d58b283948956f12/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Front__Value_.jpg)

With a starting MSRP of $27,985, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is a low-cost vehicle that can be upgraded according to your budget. 

Hyundai is known for creating high-end-looking interiors for a low price and the Santa Cruz is no exception. 

With a ten-year powertrain warranty and three years' worth of included maintenance coverage, you can get repairs and maintenance done without spending a dime of your own money. 

If you don’t need the higher-powered turbocharged engine, you can end up saving a lot of money on the Santa Cruz without sacrificing much in the way of quality or style. 

---

#### Tech Features: 4/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Infotainment (Tech)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/1nnmDRF5oKwlqNbRRQrQ4n/bb9a55852e747e3356e9d47b4dc0f0c3/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Infotainment__Tech_.jpg)

The standard tech on the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is comprehensive and premium, even at the base trim level. 

Standard features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and three free years of Hyundai’s Blue Link wireless control service. 

While you can upgrade the SEL trim level to include a 10.3-inch display, it comes standard with the top three trims. 

The display graphics are crisp and easy to read but the digital controls blend in with the black of the surrounding dashboard as well as the background of the interface, which makes them difficult to navigate. 

---

#### Practicality: 3/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Truck Bed (Practicality)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/3ntxwT9fcaFv6Yoshs5EtY/4cc3cf2077f8a8571f454e5c97f49974/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Truck_Bed__Practicality_.jpg)

The 3,500-pound towing and 1,5000-pound payload capacity for the base 2024 Santa Cruz are both enough to make it a practical vehicle for all kinds of uses. 

A relatively low mpg rating on the highway and in the city makes it a less practical vehicle than some other similar trucks and even its sister SUV, the Hyundai Tucson. 

If you are looking for a new car that will be a good choice for commuting or heavy driving, you might be better off looking into a compact hybrid pickup like the Ford Maverick. 

The short bed makes the Santa Cruz less practical than some other pickups when it comes to usefulness on a worksite or for hauling equipment. 

---

#### Styling & Design: 4/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Right Front Side (Styling)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/2GQeW77bGChabpkHBqOwb0/4c3a8ffa36e33a7d13498558ccc3a1a8/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Right_Front_Side__Styling_.jpg)

The interior of the Santa Cruz is extremely well put together with soft-touch surfaces and a clean, usable design. 

Styling is always going to be subjective and the exterior of the 2024 Santa Cruz isn’t going to be for everyone since it is so unique and so unlike other trucks on the market. 

Depending on your personal style, you may want to look into Hyundai’s SUVs for many of the same features in a more conventional vehicle package. 

If you want a more rugged style with more luxury features, the XRT trim is going to be the most stylish trim level with the most to offer in the way of looks. 

---

{ad type="m-box-2"}
{ad type="dt-wide-breaker"}

#### Fuel Efficiency: 3/5 stars

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Speed Meter (Efficiency)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/6nLBNJNTEbn9weuGAfCWGW/48f9f6bf94b7ad66e9fee60e7d2f59db/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Speed_Meter__Efficiency_.jpg)

While the Hyundai Santa Cruz is a small truck, its fuel economy specs don’t seem to reflect its size. 

Even with the base engine and the front-wheel-drive configuration, the Santa Cruz has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. 

Should you decide to go with an AWD configuration with the base engine, you will lose 1 mpg of efficiency. 

The higher-powered turbocharged version of the Santa Cruz has an economy rating of 19 mpg city and 27 highway, which is far below what you could get with a hybridized truck with more power. 

---

#### What’s it Going to Cost Me?

![2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Profile (Cost)](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/2DZ9qwuBz30bADxbQXnrpw/e3d69ee195d4a74b29872d01fb63db07/2024_Hyundai_Santa_Cruz_Profile__Cost_.jpg)

The base version of the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the __SE trim__. This trim level can either be had with AWD or FWD and the 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The interior comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It starts at $27,985 with the $1,335 destination charge included. 

The next step up in trim levels is the __SEL version__. This comes with the same engine as the SE as well as the option to have either all- or front-wheel-drive. It also comes with some extra convenience features like dual automatic temperature control and a Proximity Key connection with a push button start. It starts at $30,735 including the destination charge. 

The limited edition __Night trim__ level is the next highest tier and it has a black-oriented look both inside and out with dark 20-inch wheels, a dark front grille and exterior accents, and black H-Tex seating. It also comes with the more powerful turbocharged engine. Its starting price, including the destination charge, is $39,545. 

The __XRT__ is the second-highest trim level and while it is quite a bit more expensive than the base Santa Cruz, it also has a lot to offer. With an HTRAC all-wheel-drive system, Smart Cruise Control, wide fenders, and side steps, it combines high-tech comfort with a rugged exterior style. It starts at $41,185 with the destination charge included. This is the recommended trim level and it is streets ahead of the others for its balanced features and unique style. 

The highest trim level is the __Limited trim__. This includes a wide range of driver-assistance features and tech like a Surround View Monitor, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a heated steering wheel. It starts at $42,405.

---

### More Photos:

[See more 2024 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Photos](https://www.autolist.com/hyundai-santa+cruz-2024/2024-hyundai-santa+cruz-photos).

Hyundai's Santa Cruz is a compact pickup truck that has the look and feel of a small crossover, but with the extra practicality of a small bed. But how does it stack up against the Ford Maverick? Check out our review and video to find out. 

Driven + Video: 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Review

Relacionado

2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz In-Depth Photos

Best Pickup Trucks for 2024

2024 Ram 1500 Review