It’s not a body-on-frame truck, so it won’t have that type of outright capability, but its towing capacity is still rated at an impressive 2,268 kg (5,000 lb), which is enough to tow a couple dirt bikes, pretty much any personal watercraft or a small boat. Practicality is where the Santa Cruz shines. It took less than two days during testing before it got unbearably dusty. My only complaint about the interior design is the shiny black surface used to house the touch-sensitive buttons and touchscreen. I wish there were even more adventurous design decisions made inside, but it’s still low-key and attractive. Inside, the cabin has some personality with the grey textile trim, contrast stitching on the leather seats, and orange accents on the dash that are exclusive to the Ultimate trim’s two-tone interior option.

I get California vibes from this truck, and that is a big compliment to all the thought that went into its design. Hyundai likes to point out that the truck was designed in California, which totally makes sense. I particularly like the colour and the headlights, but the whole package comes together well, and the design overall is cohesive and fun, displaying both its rugged and urban ethos proudly. While it is a brand-new model that probably gets a lot of looks because nobody has seen it before, the handful of people who stopped me to ask about it were all hyped about the truck, saying that it looks really cool, that they loved the colour (called Sage Grey, by the way), and that it was great to see something so unique. This is a fantastic-looking new vehicle and it’s been a while since anything I’ve driven has gotten this much attention from strangers.

2022 hyundai santa cruz pickup truck