That’s right. Hyundai just took the wrap off its first pickup truck which it says is NOT a SUV nor a truck, but an entirely new category which it called Sport Adventure Vehicle (SAV?).
The Santa Cruz (no relation or whatsoever to the skateboard brand), as it is called, is proudly designed in California (in case you don’t know, the taillight is emblazoned with “Designed in California”) and you know what happens when you gave a bunch of Californian designers the task of designing a NOT a truck. Well, a sport adventure vehicle, of course!
This SAV (man, it sounds well typing ‘SAV’ and saying it out loud) that is designed for both adventure and work, and anything in between.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a SUV, a sports car and a crew cab pickup truck rolled into one. The result is one hell of sporty-looking truck. Sorry, I mean a Santa Cruz.
It sports a 4 feet “multi-utility, secure open bed” for carrying all sort stuff imaginable. It even has hidden under bed compartment which you can turn into an ice box for parties.
The Santa Cruz offers two powertrains: a 2.5L direct-injected inline four that produces 190+ HP and 180+ lb-ft (244 Nm) of torque, paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a 2.5L direct-injected turbocharged motor with over 275 HP and 310+ lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. The latter is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) which also includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Both models offer HTRAC AWD for dealing with difficult terrains. Finally, this NOT truck boasts a high-tech, well-appointed interior featuring cutting-edge connectivity, modern convenience (wireless charging included), and an unbelievable host of Active Safety features as standard.
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is set to be available this Summer. Pricing is yet to be announced. Meanwhile, you may want to keep your eyes peeled on this link if you are interested in its availability.
All images courtesy of Hyundai USA.
