Currently reading: Hyundai Santa Cruz unveiled as crossover-style pick-up
North American market gets a compact new Hyundai truck with Tucson-aping looks and usability

Hyundai has revealed the Santa Cruz as a Ford Ranger-rivalling, activity-focused pick up for the US market. 

Claimed to "break new ground" by combining elements of the SUV, truck and crossover segments in its conception, the Tuscon will enter production in Alabama in June ahead of an on-sale date in summer. 

The Santa Cruz has been developed to serve urban drivers whose lifestyle would better suit an open load bay, rather than a conventional SUV boot. The bed itself is around 1270mm long, and features a lockable tonneau cover for improved security, as well as hidden storage areas underneath. 

Hyundai claims the new model is comparable in terms of manoeuvrability and efficiency to a standard mid-sized SUV. Power is provided by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing either 190bhp and 180lb ft in naturally aspirated guise, or 275bhp and 310lb ft with a turbocharger.

Both power plants send their reserves to all four wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is linked to paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for manual shifting. The atmo engine offers a towing capacity of 1600kg, while the turbo boosts that to nearly 2300kg.

Overall, the Santa Cruz draws clear styling inspiration from the recently launched Tucson SUV, most notably in its dramatic full-width front grille with distinctive daytime-running lights, and its angular silhouette. A prominent skid plate is a nod to its off-road ability, while extended wheel arches and chunky 20in wheels lend a degree of ruggedness.

At the rear, the Santa Cruz adopts new and unique T-shaped light clusters which have not yet appeared on any other production Hyundai models.  

Inside, the Santa Cruz adopts a layout and design ethos familiar from the Tucson. A pair of 10in screens are used for the infotainment and digital displays, while Hyundai's BlueLink connectivity services are equipped as standard. 

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: News and features editor

Felix is Autocar's news editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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ianp55 16 April 2021

It'salways seemed odd to me that Hyundai/Kia haven't got a pickup in it's European model range,the load area looks rather small compared say with the Ford Ranger,but the cabin seems spacious enough. The styling is quite striking especially the grille.how well will it do in the US,perhaps it will be seen as the Subaru BRAT for the 21st century? Very unlikely that Hyundai UK will bring it to Blighty,but it's rather different,you never know

ianp55 16 April 2021

It'salways seemed odd to me that Hyundai/Kia haven't got a pickup in it's European model range,the load area looks rather small compared say with the Ford Ranger,but the cabin seems spacious enough. The styling is quite striking especially the grille.how well will it do in the US,perhaps it will be seen as the Subaru BRAT for the 21st century? Very unlikely that Hyundai UK will bring it to Blighty,but it's rather different,you never know

superstevie 16 April 2021

@giulivo, as a non Christian, I don't think anything of the name. It is just a name afterall. I do rather like this, though