Hyundai News:Spying: The Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Exists!

[William Maley]

The Hyundai Santa Cruz has been talked about off and on since its debut as a concept in 2015. But it seems the truck is finally coming to fruition as some new spy shots reveal.

Compared to the concept which was an extended cab, Hyundai is using a crew cab layout. The bed is quite short, possibly around four to five feet being our guess. Up front, the Santa Cruz gets the same front end treatment as the refreshed 2021 Santa Fe - wider front grille and new headlight treatment.

Following in the footsteps of the Honda Ridgeline, the Santa Fe will be based on a unibody platform. In this case, the Santa Fe. This likely means power will come from either the 2.4L four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque or turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 235 hp and 260 lb-ft. Our money is on the latter engine. 

Expect more details to come out on the Santa Cruz before its launch next year.

Source: Autoblog, Car and Driver

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[David]

Will be interesting to see how it sells. A Isuzu based truck with Hyundai style at what price point will be the interesting part.

[smk4565]

I am curious to see the size and how it does.  I think a pick up that is smaller than Colorado and Ranger that is more of a lifestyle truck rather than a work or off road truck could do well if priced below those mid-size trucks.

[ocnblu]

Definitely another "lifestyle truck" in the vein of the Ridgeline.  Based on the FWD/AWD Santa Fe, it should come in cheaper than a Ridgeline, I would hope.  It appears at this point to have no "rugged" affectations tacked on, like the Ridgeline. 

dfelt, it is Mazda, a Japanese brand that is bringing out an Isuzu-based body-on-frame pickup, it will not be sold here.  This is Hyundai, which is a Korean brand, and the "pickup" which is the subject of this thread is a unibody vehicle, FWD/AWD transverse engine, based on their semi-compact Santa Fe CUV.

[William Maley]

15 hours ago, dfelt said:

Will be interesting to see how it sells. A Isuzu based truck with Hyundai style at what price point will be the interesting part.

*Check notes...*

Umm, are you confusing the Santa Cruz with Mazda's new pickup. the BT-50?

This is the one that is based on a Isuzu truck platform, and will not be sold in the U.S. 

[riviera74]

Wise decision for Mazda NOT to sell the BT-50 here.  The competition would eat it alive.

As for the Santa Cruz, I doubt Hyundai will gain much market share with that unibody truck.  At least not here.  Who buys the Ridgeline now?  Who would buy this unibody truck?

[David]

@ocnblu @William Maley Thanks guys for keeping grounded, Yes My own FooBar as this week had a major product launch and it has been so crazy, I got lost in two different trains of thought.

Will still be interesting to see how this Hyundai pickup sells here in the US.

I also wish the Mazda truck would come here as I think it would sell and I know some folks that still have their 80's Mazda B2000 pickups that they love.

Thanks again guys, Glad it is Friday!  

Need a FooBar emoji so I could vote myself that.  

[ocnblu]

8 hours ago, riviera74 said:

Who would buy this unibody truck?

No one studly

6 hours ago, dfelt said:

Need a FooBar emoji

Is that anything like THIS bar?

[daves87rs]

I think it will be a nice looking pickup.....