Pickup truck buyers are fiercely loyal. Just ask Honda, Nissan and Toyota, who have been trying to take a bite out of the domestics in the midsize and full-size markets for years with varying degrees of success. Hyundai thinks it has cracked the code with the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz — the automaker's first pickup for the U.S. market.
Details are scarce at the moment, but we believe the Santa Cruz will share a basic platform with the Santa Fe crossover. That means a unibody construction similar to that of the Honda Ridgeline, which offers a more comfortable ride and roomier interior than its midsize rivals.
We don't know which powertrains Hyundai will offer, but a look at the Santa Fe's lineup offers some clues. That SUV's upgraded turbocharged four-cylinder is a given, but another four-cylinder might also be in the mix. The Santa Fe's naturally aspirated motor would lower the price and compete against budget offerings from the GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma. Hyundai could also bring over the Santa Fe's hybrid powertrain, which would make the Santa Cruz unique in its class.
