2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium trim offers a healthy balance between comfort and convenience. Furthermore, it also gives you a turbocharged engine capable of quicker acceleration and better feel. Even the AWD drivetrain is standard on this trim. We would also recommend picking up the cargo bed mat, mudguards with fender flares and the Tow & Go Package to customize your Santa Cruz for both style and work.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE features (Starting MSRP: $25,700)

• Halogen MFR headlights
• LED DRLs
• Automatic headlights 
• High beam assist
• Rear view monitor
• 4.2-inch gauge cluster
• Front dual-USB ports 
• Hyundai SmartSense

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL (Addition or upgrades to the SE trim features) (Starting MSRP: $28,190)

• Heated side mirrors
• Side mirrors with LED turn indicators
• Power windows with front auto-down/up
• Illuminated sun visors
• Proximity key with push button start
• Remote start
• 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night (New trim, Additions or upgrades to the SE and SEL trim) (Starting MSRP: $36,060)

• LED bed lights
• Night exclusive front and rear fascia
• Body color door handles
• Roof side rails
• Integrated tonneau cover
• 115 V power outlet
• Rear sliding glass window
• Power tilt and slide sunroof
• Wireless device charging
• 10.25-inch gauge cluster

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium (Addition or upgrades to the SEL trim features) (Starting MSRP: $37,600)

• Projector Bi-LED headlamps
• LED tail lights
• Dual C-channel adjustable trail rack
• Rear sliding glass window
• Power tilt and slide sunroof
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror
• Dual automatic temperature controls
• Multi air mode 
• Wireless device charging

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited (Addition or upgrades to the SEL Premium trim features) (Starting MSRP: $40,570)

• Premium dark chrome front and rear bumper trim
• Premium LED DRLs
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Second row dual-USB ports
• Surround view monitor
• Hyundai digital key
• Second row dual USB ports
• Rear A/C vents
• Ambient interior lighting

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Activity package includes: (+ $3,270)

• Cargo bed tonneau cover
• Sunroof
• Roof rails
• Sliding rear window
• Household-style power outlet in the bed
• Utility LED bed lighting
• Digital instrument cluster
• Wireless smartphone charging

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz engine comes in two configurations: A 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the same engine with a turbocharger. Both of these engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission respectively. While the naturally aspirated version is capable of pushing 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, the turbocharged variant is capable of putting out 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai offers FWD as standard, while an AWD drivetrain is available for $1,500 more across the SE and SEL trims. 

The unibody chassis gives it a more lively driving experience than its more conventional peers. Based on the Tuscon, it drives like a compact SUV. It stays composed even during tight turns and city driving doesn't feel cumbersome like its rivals. The tighter turning radius and easy handling definitely give it a boost and have the potential to revolutionize the pickup truck segment with their inclusion. This gives Santa Cruz a brilliant stopping distance of 118 feet when stopping from 60 mph to 0 mph. 

The Jeep Gladiator is the most powerful, but its higher curb weight hampers performance and handling to some extent. The unibody Ridgeline does a 0-60 sprint in about 7.2 seconds, which is similar to Gladiator's 0-60 time of 7.3 seconds. The 2023 Maverick Hybrid 0-60 time of 7.8 seconds is decent, whereas the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz 0-60 time of 9.1 seconds is pretty underwhelming, but things take a different turn with the turbocharged engine with a 0-60 time of just 6.0 seconds.

The interiors of the Santa Cruz are a well-crafted mix of modern accents and practicality. It has an ergonomic dashboard with sleek interior accents going across it. The steering wheel, gear shaft, and door handles have an attractive hint of chrome and the digital instrument cluster in the higher trims is a plus. The front seats are decent, while the Hyundai Santa Cruz back seat offer better comfort than expected. However, we believe that the Hyundai Santa Cruz interior pictures might not do justice to the actual design.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE/SEL/SEL Premium upholstery and color options: 

• Black Cloth 
• Gray Cloth

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night upholstery and color options: 

• Black Cloth

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited upholstery and color options: 

• Black Leather
• Dark Gray Leather w/orange accents 

In its lower trims, Hyundai features an 8-inch color touchscreen display, while its higher trims feature a larger 10.3-inch system. The animations are fluid and pleasant, the refresh rate is precise, and the user interface is simple and straightforward to use. The Santa Cruz can double as the ideal travel companion thanks to its 8-speaker Bose premium audio system, which, in higher trims, enhances every occasion. From the SEL trim level and up, several of the standard features are also available, including wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Hyundai's Bluelink services, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The exterior of the Santa Cruz takes the most inspiration from the Tucson as it carries the same muscular but modern exterior accents across its body. The inclusion of the Night package also improves the exterior appearance, while granting a menacing all-black look. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is built on the Hyundai Tucson platform.

The regular 2023 Santa Cruz looks ready and willing for an urban tour with its futuristic front grille flanked by two sleek headlights beautifully integrated into it, the muscular accents on its side, and its sleek and professional-looking cargo bed with its cover on. The wheel size is 20-inch for the Night and Limited trims, while other trims get 18-inch wheels.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz color options are: 

• Sage Gray 
• Phantom Black
• Blue Stone
• Atlas White
• Hampton Gray
• California Sand

Know more about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz bed size and exterior dimensions here>> 

The SmartSense safety suite, which is nicely organized, contains a plethora of safety and driver assistance systems that come standard on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The NHTSA awarded the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz a five-star safety rating. Since Santa Cruz is built on the Tucson platform, which has excelled in NHTSA safety tests, the same was anticipated of Santa Cruz. The uni-body chassis is also advantageous because it increases the frame's rigidity and durability. The 2023 Santa Cruz received a 'Good' rating from the IIHS for the majority of test metrics. For the previous model year, the Santa Cruz was recognized as a Top Safety Pick.

Some of the key 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz safety features are:- 

• Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and View Monitor
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop&Go
• Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist
• Lane Following Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz VS 2023 Ford Maverick 

The Hyundai Santa Cruz has quicker acceleration, higher top speed, a more capable engine, greater towing capacity, higher fuel tank capacity, and a more spacious interior. However, it trades a lighter build, better fuel efficiency and driving range, a more spacious cargo compartment, a longer cargo bed, and a longer wheelbase to the Ford Maverick. Overall, both pickup trucks have a lot of perks associated with them but Hyundai’s feature-rich interior and sleek exterior put it in a slightly more advantageous situation for us.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2023 Honda Ridgeline 

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline offers a more powerful V6 engine and AWD drivetrain as standard. As per consumer reports, the Honda Ridgeline is preferable compared to the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is more fuel efficient than the Honda Ridgeline. However, the Honda Ridgeline offers better grunt than the standard Santa Cruz. The Honda Ridgeline also offers better cargo capacity than the Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz offers a better design and cabin, while the Ridgeline is high on the practicality front. 

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2023 Jeep Gladiator 

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator is a different breed in terms of its versatility, ruggedness, and all-terrain nature. The Hyundai Santa Cruz cannot match its AWD drivetrain, performance, or practicality. However, Santa Cruz is more fuel efficient and offers better fuel economy as well. The Jeep Gladiator comes in multiple configurations with different powertrains and features. The Santa Cruz comes with one engine in N.A. and turbocharged format. The Jeep Gladiator would be a better option for its capability and a long list of available features and accessories. 

We would definitely recommend the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. It is a beautiful-looking pickup truck with a sleek and modern approach to its design and attention to detail where it matters most. It has decent power for its class and has an upgraded engine option, which helps it approach a wider customer base.

The Santa Cruz is a pleasure to own and a pleasure to drive with its easy and composed handling and plush and comfortable ride. If you are willing to pay more, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz with the new XRT trim and improved ADAS features can be a good deal.