12/6/2023 0 Comments 2022 hyundai santa cruz off roadWhat does that mean? Well, underneath, it shares a basic platform with the redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson small crossover SUV. It also uses unibody construction rather than the traditional body-on-frame pickup underpinnings. For starters, it's 10-15 inches shorter than most midsize rivals. The GMC Hummer EV would like a word.There are some differences between the Santa Cruz and other traditional trucks. Instead of trying to define the Santa Cruz, maybe it’s time to start taking a look at redefining what it means to be a truck. It checks many boxes, is obviously the product of a lot of customer research, and is likely to deliver a lot of bang for the buck (pricing isn’t available yet). The biggest thing that the Hyundai Santa Cruz isn’t is a sacrifice. It’s not meant to tow your 4x4s around the country, but it can take your surfboard and mountain bike on board. It’s not meant for the job site, unless your job happens to be as an REI adventure guide. That plays into the whole thesis behind the truck’s existence to begin with. The truck was never designed to be bigger or have a grille that is like the Palisade’s. The face of the Santa Cruz is the face of the new Tucson. The GM trucks – GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado – have grown substantially in the last few years, with their heavy-duty versions becoming even larger. Have you seen a GMC Sierra HD lately? Massive presence! The Santa Cruz has dimensions more like a midsize SUV meaning that it is easy to parallel park and fits into a parking garage with aplomb, which is especially important for urban dwellers and those along the California coast. That length is a sweet spot in the automotive market as trucks grow in size. The grille and shoulders are designed to be more aggressive. The platform and body of the Santa Cruz has been stretch sideways and lengthened beyond the dimensions of the SUV, and its wheelbase is longer. The only shared components between the Tucson and the Santa Cruz are in the cabin. Sure, it’s easy to look at the Santa Cruz and immediately think that it’s just a Tucson wearing a truck suit. The Ridgeline is bigger than the Santa Cruz. SUVs are notoriously more comfortable and tech-forward than trucks, but there’s a lot of utility there as well. The two have a lot in common, but they’re not necessarily for the same crowd though they both have untraditional looks, a trunk in the bed, and SUV-like interiors. Then there’s the inevitable comparisons to the Honda Ridgeline. The Subaru Crosstrek grew more powerful for the 2021 model year with a fresh engine option. It’s adventure-ready thanks to its all-wheel drive technology and equipment, but not as off-road-ready as a Wrangler. It’s also one that owners of another Ford, the Bronco Sport, may have their eye on. It’s a model that likely appeals to Subaru Crosstrek and Outback owners in the same way that the Subaru Baja did back in the day. But, the Santa Cruz is also expected to compete more against the unexpected. Ford sees it as competition for its forthcoming Maverick pickup and it’s not wrong. The 2022 Santa Cruz isn’t designed to compete with the Ford F-150. It’s important that one thing is crystal clear. Half a decade after the Santa Cruz concept was the belle of the ball at the North American International Auto Show, the production version of the truck has shown its face.
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