Here It Is! The All-New Hyundai Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle!

Recently, Hyundai has revealed the highly anticipated Hyundai Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle. Built at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) in Montgomery, the 2022 Santa Cruz boasts a bold yet sleek design while maintaining empower dynamics and innovative technology fit in any urban and adventure-focused environments. 

“Santa Cruz, with its bold styling, breaks open all new segment territory, both for Hyundai and the industry. Open-bed flexibility coupled with closed-cabin security meets the changing everyday needs of its adventure-oriented buyers, while powerful and efficient engines and superb manoeuvrability ensure it is a pleasure to drive in urban or off-road environments. Our customers will wonder just how they managed before owning one,” said Hyundai Motor North America president and chief executive officer Jose Munoz.

Developed as the ultimate Sport Adventure Vehicle, the Santa Cruz was built based on research that found consumers were looking for a vehicle that can fit their everyday lifestyle while ensuring adaptability all around. The Santa Cruz provides a solution by featuring a secure, open bed area which includes a lockable tonneau cover and hidden bed storage. Not only that, customers can still value the secure utility of a compact SUV, with its comfort, passenger space, fuel efficiency and parking ease. 

Santa Cruz offers two powerful and efficient powertrains - a standard 2.5-litre direct-injected in-line four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed hydraulic automatic transmission, as well as a 2.5-litre direct-injected turbocharged engine linked to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Both engines allow the vehicle to produce about 190 hp and 244 Nm as well as 275 hp and 420 Nm, respectively. The latter powertrain also includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual shifting control. 

The front view of the Santa Cruz features a bold grille, supported by a skid plate element in the lower front fascia. Included are also a hidden lighting signature that becomes visible within the grille only when illuminated as well as daytime running lights (DRLs) with a parametric jewel design with high-tech precision detailing. The hood and fenders further extend the overall design, showcasing a striking feel.

From the sides, the Santa Cruz maintains a sporty look, with the A- and C-pillars presenting faster forward and rearward rakes than the typical open-bed utility vehicle. The vehicle rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with a multi-faceted, triangular design which is surrounded by armor-like wheel arches, which conveys both wheel-articulation and off-road capabilities. 

Meanwhile, the rear is fitted with a horizontal “T” lighting signature which adds visual width, distinguishing the vehicle from others. The functional rear open bed area features secure, lockable in-bed storage, integrated corner bumper steps, and a lockable tonneau cover which integrates well with the overall design. The rear tail lamps are embossed with “Designed in California”, a tribute to Hyundai’s California-based design team.

Interior-wise, the Santa Cruz showcases a refined yet sophisticated cabin, with the contrasting rugged yet refined motif to match the bold exterior. It features an enveloping dual-cockpit design which encapsulates each passenger. The ease of ingress and egress as well as ergonomic drives was also focused for this vehicle. The premium centre stack display includes an edgeless 8-inch infotainment display which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as an optional 10-inch centre digital cluster display. An in-cabin storage is also available for convenience, located under the rear seats. To complete the premium ambience is a Bose® audio system.

One key feature of the Santa Cruz is the Advanced HTRAC AWD SYSTEM, which is available for both variants. The system is developed as a multi-mode system, which provides an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles. A wide range of torque distribution variability is also available, which is tuned for conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering and hill starts.

The Sport setting allows for a more agile and dynamic feel by sending more torque to the rear wheels. For customers who are keen in towing their gear with them, the 2.5L four-cylinder is rated at approximately 1,587 kg while the 2.5L Turbo AWD model struts roughly about 2,267 kg of towing capabilities. 

Santa Cruz was also developed with a focus in enhancing driving dynamics and responsive performance for a wide range of urban and off-road driving, multi-surface driving conditions. Thanks to its shorter wheelbase, short overhangs and wide track the vehicle can have exceptional agility in urban environments. Being fitted with alloy wheels that are wide, all-season and all-terrain allows for optimum handling in any road surface. 

In terms of safety, the Santa Cruz offers the Hyundai SmartSense feature suite which includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Driver Attention Warning (DAW). An array of optional features are also available - Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), Blind-spot view Monitor (BVM), Highway Drive Assist (HDA), Surround View Monitor (SVM) and the Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA).

Seamless connectivity and technology is seen in the vehicle, with Santa Cruz offering Digital Key which is supported by a dedicated smartphone app. The Hyundai Digital Key app allows smartphones to control selected vehicle systems remotely - users can lock and unlock vehicles, activate the panic alert and even start the engine. Currently compatible only with Android operated phones, the Digital Key allows owners to leave the physical keys at home and allow secure sharing of keys with family and friends.  

The Santa Cruz also receives multiple Blue Link® Connected Car service enhancements. As standard, Blue Link is complimentary for three years and includes features such as Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Stolen Vehicle Recovery and Destination Search by Voice and others. Blue Link features can be accessed via interior controls or the MyHyundai.com web portal, the MyHyundai with Blue Link smartphone app, the Amazon® Alexa Blue Link skill and the Blue Link Google Assistant app. Note that some features are even accessible and can be controlled via Android Wear™ and Apple Watch™ smartwatch apps. 

To ensure better experience for shoppers and owners of Hyundai vehicles, the Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance programme was introduced as part of the Hyundai Assurance program. As a recap, the Hyundai Assurance is made up of Owner Assurance (now inclusive of complimentary maintenance), and Shopper Assurance which offers customers options to simplify their buying process and improve the owning and service experience.