Pick-ups are a type of car in the USA that is as normal and common as our SUVs or compact cars. No wonder that Hyundai is now bringing such a specimen onto the market: the Santa Cruz. It is based on the Hyundai Tucson, but the Koreans have done a lot more than just replace the rear end.
The whole car looks like it was designed in one piece. Above all, the wildly distributed beads and edges of the SUV that we have just introduced are missing. At the front we find the Tucson’s grille with the hidden, integrated LED lights, but the rest of the front is much wilder.
Compared to the Tucson, the Santa Cruz is significantly larger: At 4.97 meters, it towers over the Tucson by almost half a meter, the wheelbase is a mighty three meters. The competition looks at the mini pick-up with a mild smile. By US standards, it is delicate and neither 1.25 meters of loading space nor 1.5 tons of tensile load cause little more than a frown. Practical: there is a storage compartment under the bed.
In the interior, the rear seat is particularly noticeable: the seats can be folded up like cinema armchairs, with a small storage compartment underneath.
There is a choice of two engines: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine with 190 hp and an automatic converter, as well as the same engine with a turbocharger, 275 hp and an eight-speed dual clutch transmission. All-wheel drive is standard, but like the Tucson you have to do without off-road reduction.
The Santa Cruz should take over the comfort and safety features from the Tucson. Android phones act as car keys.
So far, Hyundai has not provided any information as to whether the Hyundai Santa Cruz will be offered sooner or later in Europe.