Santa Cruz is one of the most exciting concepts we could see in last few years. It took a long time before the pickup truck entered production. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is the sport activity vehicle and another new model by the Korean automotive company. They are expanding business. Besides the pickup, we can see premium Genesis SUVs, and the crossover class is coming out with new hierarchy.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz will lay on the unibody platform. That means, the main rival is going to be Honda Ridgeline. The base version is affordable and brings cool features and options. But, it lacks power. If you buy a more powerful engine, it is becoming more expensive than more capable trucks. Still, the Santa Cruz has a lot of things to prove. The initial edition is showing the first pros and cons, so designers and engineers are going to be pretty busy in next couple of years, fixing all the downsides.
Specifications and Towing Capacity
A 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four banger is the power source for the new pickup. It is producing 190 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and that is good for maximum towing capacity of just 3,500 pounds. Such a vehicle needs more to be competitive. Turbocharged version of this powertrain enhances outputs to 280 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. More important, the towing capacity jumps to 5,000 pounds, which is still not enough. Class leaders are adding at least 1,500 pounds. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is a power router for both engines, but the turbocharged unit features a dual-clutch system. An all-wheel drive is a recommended upgrade for both plants.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Equipment
Four trim levels are already announced for the new truck. The entry-level is the SE. This one, and the SEL will bring pretty nice equipment. An eight-inch touchscreen is the center of the infotainment system. Already the SEL offers heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s bucket, and blind-spot monitor. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium and Limited are packed with a more potent engine and a higher towing capacity. Further upgrades include LED headlights and automatic climate control. The top of the class Limited edition adds larger screen, ventilated seats, and premium sound system. Six paintjobs are in the mix. Those are Ice White, Phantom Black, Blue Stone, Sage Gray, Hampton Grey, and Desert Sand. The interior will have light and dark themes.
First impressions are very positive. Experts really like the cabin. Hyundai didn’t save on materials and we will get some advanced options. Only crew cab configuration is confirmed for now, and we believe it is going to stay so. Bed is one of the shorter in the segment. On the bright side, a smaller vehicle is going to be more agile.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pricing
You can save a lot by purchasing a truck with a naturally-aspirated engine. SE starts at $25,200, while the SEL adds about $3,000. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium and its upgrade to the V6 engine are going to cost you another $8,500 compared to the standard SEL. The Limited is already above $40,000.
Here is the official page where you can purchase the truck.