2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is an interesting little vehicle that combines the inherent comfort and ease of use we associate with crossovers but throws in funky styling and a truck bed for increased utility. The Tucson on which the Santa Cruz is based gets a handful of updates for 2025 (you can check out the changes made to this trucklet's SUV counterpart here) and the same enhancements carry over to this wee pickup. For 2025, the Santa Cruz is infused with upgrades that make it a touch more rugged on the outside and a pinch more tech-forward on the inside.

In short, it's not that different from the current truck. The exterior gets a redux that includes a new grille, a new front fascia, new daytime running lights and fresh wheel designs. The rear and sides of the Santa Cruz are pretty much unchanged, however. The XRT trim, which replaced the SEL Premium model for 2024, gets its own set of tweaks with a different grille, XRT-specific bumpers, and distinct 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. It also gains a surround-view camera — which may prove useful off-road — and blind-spot warning.

When it comes to engines and drivetrains, the story is the same as it was last year. The base powertrain is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be had in either front- or all-wheel drive. If you want a little more poke, you can opt for a higher trim with the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and is all-wheel-drive only. 

The only notable change to the powertrain isn't even physical — for 2025, turbocharged models get a new tow mode. The base powertrain can tow up to 3,500 pounds and the turbocharged engine has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz does many things right. It drives smoothly like an SUV, and its trucklet design gives you the advantage of having a light-duty workhorse. Hopefully the updates to the 2025 model make it so we see more of these clever little cars on the road.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the perfect choice for someone looking for a small truck that is efficient and easy to live with. Smaller than a midsize, the Santa Cruz shares the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson SUV, a unibody, but has a bed instead of an enclosed cargo area that can come in handy. Along with its versatility, this compact truck provides excellent ride quality, good fuel economy and attractive pricing. For 2025, it's possible the Santa Cruz could arrive with some minor updates. Such a refresh could include changes similar to those that the Tucson is receiving for the 2025 model year: a reconstructed front fascia, new wheels and interior alterations that include more buttons.

Edmunds spotlight: Utilitarian and enjoyable

The Hyundai Santa Cruz has a unibody underpinning, which prevents it from matching larger trucks' capabilities, but it still handles many truck-like demands effectively. Although small, the Santa Cruz can really put in the work with its roomy 52.1-by-53.9-inch bed and its maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds (with the available trailer brake system). Doing away with the body-on-frame also gives the Santa Cruz a comfortable ride quality and better handling, which all together make driving more enjoyable.

Competitors to consider

The Santa Cruz was part of the rebirth of the compact truck segment, but it wasn't the only one to arrive with the same mission. Ford introduced the Maverick in 2022, which is the Santa Cruz's direct competitor and a good one at that. If neither of these suits you, then a midsize truck might be what you're looking for. But remember, those trucks have significantly grown and aren't on the compact side of the spectrum anymore.