2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Review
The Santa Cruz is a sports adventure vehicle from the Korean manufacturer Hyundai. With its SUV/truck configuration, it sits in a class of its own and is perfect for those who don’t follow the crowd.
What's Different From 2022?
There have been no significant changes to the Santa Cruz for 2023, but there have been a few.
This year, the 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment and navigation systems is now available in the Preferred trim instead of only in the top-level Ultimate trim.
The Santa Cruz range is no longer available in the Ice White and Mojave Sand colours, but the similar colours of Atlas White and California Sand have replaced these.
The Preferred trim also gets dual-zone climate control as an upgrade on the single-zone annual air conditioning found in the 2022 model.
The Ultimate trim for 2023 is very similar to the 2022 trim, but there are a few upgrades. This trim gets black front and rear skid plates and side steps. It also has a 10.25" full-colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation as standard features.
Both trims also gain a wireless charging system for smartphones.
Exterior Layout and Options
Interior Layout and Options
2023 Santa Cruz Model in Ontario
The 2023 line-up is as exciting as before. The Santa Cruz in the Preferred trim has an MSRP (in Ontario) of $42,956*, with the Ultimate trim starting at $49,756*.
The vehicle retains its quirky looks with a very comfortable cabin and a great load bed with a hard, sliding, lockable tonneau cover. The lockable, waterproof, under-bed storage compartment is a great storage option for valuables.
Both trims have a 2.5-litre turbo charge, gas-powered four-cylinder engine that puts out 281 horsepower. It's coupled to an eight-speed dual-clutch SHIFTRONIC transmission with all-wheel-drive. These engines give the Santa Cruz a perky drive and return a frugal 12.1 L/100km around town and 8.7 L/100km on the highway.
The Santa Cruz has a very comfortable cabin with cloth seats in the Preferred trim and leather seats in the Ultimate trim. The cabin will seat adults comfortably, and the Ultimate provides rear air vents for added comfort.
The Santa Cruz has always enjoyed a modern design. The bold SUV front end and the practical truck bed are an exciting and versatile combination. This vehicle makes the most of its compact design, so it's a pleasure to drive in tight city confines, and parking is a breeze, but it is still large enough to be comfortable on a long trip. The hidden LED daytime running lights accentuate the bold grille, and the wheel arch accents give a board hint of its off-road capability.
