The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz continues to carve out its niche as a lifestyle-focused compact pickup with the ride and comfort of a crossover SUV. While traditional trucks might boast brute strength and size, the Santa Cruz offers a more refined and city-friendly approach to utility—perfect for those who want the versatility of a pickup bed without sacrificing the ease of daily driving.
For 2025, Hyundai has refreshed the Santa Cruz with subtle yet meaningful updates that enhance its appeal. A restyled grille and front bumper give the trucklet a more assertive presence on the road, while the new XRT trim introduces a more rugged look with unique 18-inch wheels, tow hooks, and all-terrain tires.
Inside, the Santa Cruz impresses with a surprisingly upscale cabin that feels more premium than you’d expect in this segment. Compared to its chief competitor, the Ford Maverick, the Santa Cruz’s interior materials and design feel more refined and thoughtfully executed. Higher trims get a new single-panel curved screen that houses a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen—bringing a more high-tech, unified look to the dash. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard across the board, which adds to the Santa Cruz’s modern feel. Lower trims make do with analog gauges but still benefit from the large touchscreen interface.
Under the hood, the 2025 Santa Cruz offers two engine choices. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivers 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. For those who crave more punch, the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine ups the ante with 281 horsepower and a robust 311 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is available on most trims. With the turbo engine, the Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
While it rides on the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson, the Santa Cruz sets itself apart with its four-foot pickup bed, which adds utility. It’s ideal for hauling bikes, camping gear, or weekend project supplies—things that might be a tight fit in a standard crossover. Yet, despite its bed, the Santa Cruz retains the smooth ride and easy handling of a car-based SUV, making it far more maneuverable than a traditional body-on-frame truck. Its compact footprint is a major win for city dwellers or those who prefer not to wrestle with a full-size pickup in tight parking lots.
However, the Santa Cruz isn’t without compromises. Unlike the Ford Maverick, it does not offer a hybrid powertrain—even though the Hyundai Tucson it’s based on does. That omission feels like a missed opportunity, especially as more buyers look to maximize fuel efficiency. Additionally, the Santa Cruz falls slightly short in cargo capacity compared to the Maverick, and pricing can be a sticking point. While the base model starts at $30,995—close to the Maverick—it becomes more expensive once you factor in all-wheel drive. A Santa Cruz SE with AWD starts at $32,495, whereas a base Maverick with AWD undercuts it at $30,660.
Still, for buyers looking for something different—a pickup that doesn’t feel like a truck—the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz delivers a compelling package. With its refined driving dynamics, versatile bed, upscale interior, and new tech upgrades, it stands as a stylish and capable alternative to more utilitarian small trucks. The Maverick may offer a bit more practicality and value, but if you prioritize comfort, design, and driving enjoyment, the Santa Cruz is hard to beat.
