There hasn’t been a true compact truck for sale in the U.S. in a decade, but there will soon be two. And one will cost more than the other. The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz small truck will start at $23,990, plus a $1,185 destination fee.
Hyundai calls the Santa Cruz a Sport Adventure Vehicle. It seats five in a cabin resembling a compact sedan or SUV but adds a small open truck bed to the back. The Santa Cruz is built on a unibody frame like a car, likely giving it pleasing everyday commute road manners, but not the heavy off-road skills of most larger trucks (no one in the press has tested the Santa Cruz yet).
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8 Trim Levels to Choose From
Buyers have eight trim levels to choose from – three in front-wheel-drive (FWD) and five in all-wheel-drive (AWD). SE, SEL, and SEL Activity models get a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 190 horsepower. SEL Premium and Limited models get a more powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder making 275. Power goes through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Even the base models get automated safety features like lane-keeping assist and a rear-occupant alert to remind the driver of a child in the back seat. Wireless charging is standard in every Santa Cruz.
One True Competitor
Hyundai’s primary competition for the truck is the upcoming 2022 Ford Maverick. The two trucks have very similar capabilities, but the Maverick comes at a lower starting price, just $19,995 (plus a $1,495 destination fee). Its top-of-the-line Lariat trim starts at $25,490. But it pushes close to the $40,000 mark with options, added AWD, and a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine.
The Maverick most likely has the Santa Cruz beat on fuel economy. Even in its base model, it’s a hybrid. Ford predicts that the Maverick will earn an EPA rating of 37 mpg combined (the EPA hasn’t tested the truck yet), compared to the Santa Cruz’s 23.
The 2022 Santa Cruz has the protection of Hyundai’s industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
2022 Santa Cruz Pricing
- SE FWD $23,990
- SE AWD $25,490
- SEL FWD $27,910
- SEL AWD $28,690
- SEL Activity FWD $30,460
- SEL Activity AWD $31,960
- SEL Premium AWD $35,680
- Limited AWD $39,720
Related: Truck Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know
