If you’ve never owned a pickup truck, it’s hard to appreciate just how handy that open bed can be.
But if you don’t need serious towing, hauling, or off-roading capability – and “truck” isn’t part of your personal brand – the math of traditional truck ownership doesn’t always add up.
Enter: The all-new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz is essentially a compact SUV with a small but highly functional open bed that makes it infinitely more flexible and accommodating. The Santa Cruz will handle your big, bulky, wet, or dirty cargo like a pro, but also deliver the car-like ride, handling, and maneuverability of a modern SUV.
If the Santa Cruz sounds right for you, here’s your next question: Which Santa Cruz is right for you?
Let’s find out.
How Much Does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Cost?
The new Santa Cruz starts at $23,900 and will sneak just past $40,000 when fully loaded. Where you land on that spectrum will be determined by four key questions:
- Do you want all-wheel drive?
- Do you want a more powerful engine?
- Do you want all the added bed utility of the Activity package?
- How many comfort and convenience features do you want?
Your answers will lead you to one of four distinct Santa Cruz trim levels.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE | Starts at $23,900 or $450/month*
While some base models aren’t worth a second look, the Santa Cruz SE is a very well-equipped and compelling option.
Starting at the business end of the Santa Cruz, the 4-foot bed features a lockable under-floor storage compartment, smaller storage bins on either side of the bed, and handy side steps in the rear bumper. It’s a short bed for sure, but with the tailgate down, the Santa Cruz can accommodate a sizable dirt bike.
The storage story continues inside with a hidden, removable bin under the (cloth) rear seats. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are remote keyless entry, auto headlights, and an 8-inch touchscreen.
Highlights from a long list of standard safety tech include forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, high-beam assist, plus lane-keep and lane-follow assistance.
The standard 4-cylinder engine delivers 191 horsepower, 23 mpg (city/highway combined), a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, and a max payload capacity of 1,906 pounds. We’ve yet to drive a Santa Cruz with this engine, but experience and numbers tell us power will fall within the realm of adequate.
Upgrading from front- to all-wheel drive will add $1,500 to the sticker price, or about $25/month using our assumptions below. See the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE models for sale
*Our monthly payment calculations are based on a 60-month loan at a 3% interest rate, no down payment, and Santa Cruz destination charges of $1,185. Real-world payments vary greatly, but we include these figures to give you a general sense of the monthly cost difference between trims.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL | Starts at $27,190 or $510/month
For an additional $3,200 over the base SE trim, the Santa Cruz SEL includes an attractive set of features ranging from blind-spot assist to heated front seats. But from our perspective, the single most compelling reason to step up to the SEL is for keyless entry and push-button start. Once you get used to that functionality – a feature that pays dividends every time you drive the car – it’s hard to go back.
You also have to move up to the SEL trim if you want to add the bed-enhancing Activity Package, the highlight of which is the locking, retracting integrated bed cover. Unless you plan on using the bed only as an occasional convenience, the ability to lock and leave cargo could be well worth the $3,300 upgrade, which works out to about $60/month using our assumptions.
In addition to utility tracks, an in-bed 115V AC plug, and rear sliding glass, the Activity Package includes niceties such as a larger center touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a sunroof.
Add $1,500 for all-wheel drive.
See the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL models for sale
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium | Starts at $35,680 or $660/month
The difference between the SEL and SEL Premium can be summed up in two words: turbo power. The upgrade also nets you the ability to use your phone as your key, 20-inch wheels, and dual automatic temperature control, but the turbocharged engine with 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque is the key draw. In addition to more lively acceleration, the turbo engine also increases towing capacity from 3,500 pounds to a maximum of 5,000 pounds.
The more potent engine is paired exclusively with all-wheel drive.
See the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium models for sale
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited | Starts at $39,720 or $730/month
The Santa Cruz Limited ventures into luxury territory with features like leather seats, premium audio, and smart cruise control, in addition to the more powerful turbo engine, all-wheel drive, and all the other goodies included in the SEL Premium.
See the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited models for sale
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