Which engine should I get — the 2.5L NA or the 2.5T turbo?

Get the 2.5T if you'll tow more than the occasional small trailer, if you do regular highway-merging or hill-climbing with the bed loaded, or if you just want the better driving experience. Get the 2.5L NA if your use case is light — weekend gear hauling, the occasional Lowe's run, mild weather — and you want the lower price and slightly better fuel economy.

What's the towing capacity of the Santa Cruz?

Up to ~5,000 lb with the 2.5T turbo plus HTRAC AWD configuration — enough for a small camper, jet skis, a UTV trailer, or a small boat. The base 2.5L NA tows up to ~3,500 lb. Always confirm the towing rating on the specific build sheet.

What's the bed length, and what fits in it?

About 4.3 feet from tailgate to bulkhead — fits gear, mulch bags, hunting equipment, kayaks (with the multi-position Sailgate down), and standard ATVs/UTVs with the tailgate down. Full 4×8 sheets of plywood don't fit flat in the bed even with the tailgate down — that's the size tradeoff for a unibody pickup.

HTRAC is Hyundai's all-wheel-drive system. It runs primarily front-drive for efficiency and routes torque to the rear wheels when needed for traction or stability. It's well-tuned for Kentucky winter driving, light gravel-road use, and modest light off-pavement work — but it is not a low-range, body-on-frame off-road system.

What trims are available?

Typical Santa Cruz trim ladder runs SE → SEL → Night / XRT → Limited. SE and SEL cover most volume buyers; XRT adds rugged styling and modest off-road touches; Limited is the loaded leather/tech configuration. Engine availability is trim-dependent — confirm the specific build before ordering.

What kind of fuel economy does it get?

The 2.5L NA is EPA-rated around 22 city / 26 highway. The 2.5T turbo is closer to 19 city / 27 highway. AWD trims drop a couple of MPG. Real-world numbers vary with load, tow use, and driving style. If MPG is the top priority, cross-shop the Maverick Hybrid.

What does 'unibody pickup' actually mean for me as a buyer?

Unibody means the body and frame are integrated — same construction as your average crossover SUV. The benefit is car-like ride, handling, and interior comfort. The cost is reduced maximum payload and serious off-road articulation. For a daily-driven lifestyle truck, unibody is usually the right call. For a job-site work truck, body-on-frame still wins.

Should I get the Santa Cruz or the Ford Maverick?

Get the Maverick if hybrid fuel economy and the lowest entry price are your priorities — its standard hybrid is the segment's MPG leader. Get the Santa Cruz if interior quality, the available 281 hp turbo, and Hyundai's longer warranty matter more than peak fuel economy. Both are unibody compact pickups; they overlap heavily on intent.

Should I get the Santa Cruz or the Honda Ridgeline?

Ridgeline is a size larger, costs more, tows and hauls more, and has a longer bed. Santa Cruz is more car-like, easier to park, more efficient, and cheaper. Buy on which size and price bracket fits your life — both are unibody pickups, but they're not the same vehicle.

What does the warranty cover?

Hyundai's full warranty applies: 5 years / 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain. That's longer than the standard coverage on the Maverick or Ridgeline — a meaningful tiebreaker if you keep vehicles a long time.

How big is the Santa Cruz bed?

The Santa Cruz has a 4.0-foot (48.4-inch) bed with a lockable tonneau cover. It also features an innovative in-bed trunk that provides 27 cubic feet of lockable, weatherproof storage beneath the bed floor, which can also double as a cooler thanks to its drain plug.

Can the Santa Cruz tow a trailer?

Yes, the Santa Cruz with the 2.5T engine and HTRAC AWD can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The base 2.5L engine with FWD has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Is the Santa Cruz a real truck?

The Santa Cruz is classified as a sport adventure vehicle (SAV) rather than a traditional pickup truck. It uses a unibody construction (like an SUV) rather than a body-on-frame design (like traditional trucks). This gives it better ride comfort and handling but less heavy-duty hauling capability than full-size pickups.

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: What's in stock, trim-level comparison, FAQ's.

Updated 2026-06-04

Hyundai Santa Cruz Gallery2 photos

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