The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT AWD Compact Pickup Truck
What is a Santa Cruz? The Santa Cruz is a compact crossover pickup truck built in the Montgomery, Alabama, assembly plant and sold in North America by Hyundai. The Santa Cruz is built on a unibody platform, the same as the Hyundai Tucson SUV, which gives it a smoother, more car-like ride than a traditional body on frame truck. Hyundai markets the Santa Cruz as a SAV, a Sport Adventure Vehicle, targeting buyers who want the convenience of a compact, comfortable vehicle, with the added utility of a small truck bed for weekend adventures, cycling, sports and hauling stuff from Home Depot.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a small pickup truck with significant features. The updates for model year 2025 include a new front fascia and a new front grille, and a redesigned interior centered around a panoramic curved display with two 12.3″ digital screens for the driver display and the infotainment system. Buyers can choose between 2 engine options: a standard 191 HP 2.5L 4 cylinder gas engine, or a more powerful 281 HP turbocharged 2.5L 4 cylinder on higher trims, which comes with standard all wheel drive (AWD) and a 5,000 pound towing capacity.
Here are 6 key features on the new 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Truck:
New interior tech: A curved panoramic display with two 12.3″ inch screens is the centerpiece of the redesigned cabin, which also includes a new center stack with more physical switches, buttons and dials. Hooray!
Exterior styling updates: The 2025 model features a new front fascia, grille and road wheel designs. The XRT trim gets a rugged looking front and rear bumper design.
Powertrain: The base engine is a 2.5L 191 HP 4 cylinder gas engine with an 8 speed automatic transmission in front wheel drive (FWD) or optional AWD.
Turbocharged: Or pick the 281 HP 2.5L turbocharged 4 cylinder gas engine with an 8 speed dual clutch automatic transmission and then AWD is included.
Towing and hauling: With the turbocharged engine, the Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds and it includes a lockable, under floor storage bin in the composite cargo bed.
Driving characteristics: The Santa Cruz prioritizes car-like handling, agility and a comfortable ride, making it a good choice for city driving for those who need some truck bed capability without the bulk of a larger traditional sized pickup truck.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a starting price of only $28,750 for the base SE trim. This price includes the standard 2.5L gas engine and FWD with options for AWD, or the more powerful turbocharged gas engine and other features available in higher trims.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck now comes in 5 models with 5 different starting prices, and they are: The base SE trim starts at $28,750. Next up is the SEL edition and it starts at $30,450, and the new SEL Activity model starts at $33,450. The XRT model, which is today’s review truck, starts at $40,250 and the top of the line Limited Edition starts at $42,750.
To present this new updated truck, this week Hyundai sent me a Santa Cruz compact pickup to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this XRT AWD edition is $40,250. The options on the test truck are: the special paint for $500 and the carpeted floor mats for $225. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), including the $1,450 delivery charge is: $42,425.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to $47,728. At just 272 bucks under $48 Grand, you get a nicely optioned turbocharged pickup truck that gets 18 MPG city, 26 MPG highway, and 21 MPG in combined driving. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds of a camper, boat or utility trailer and do it in style, grace and comfort all day long.
So, who is the buyer for a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Compact Pickup Truck? The buyer for a Santa Cruz is typically someone who wants the utility of a small pickup truck for lifestyle needs, such as hauling bikes or weekend project materials, but also prefers the comfort, car-like ride and modern technology of an SUV. This buyer is often an urban or suburban resident who prioritizes safety, style and versatility, over heavy duty truck capability.
Here is the profile of a typical Hyundai Santa Cruz buyer:
Lifestyle focused: They want a vehicle to transport gear for hobbies, like camping or mountain biking, but not necessarily for work.
SUV and truck hybrid: They appreciate the functionality of a truck bed, without the price, size, and the heavy driving experience of a full size truck.
Tech Savvy: They are interested in modern features, like a larger center stack digital screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and advanced safety features, which are now included on the XRT and Limited Edition models.
Urbanites: They may be city dwellers who want a vehicle that is easy to park, use and maneuver, with the flexibility of a covered and lockable truck bed for occasional use.
Aesthetically minded: They are drawn to the Santa Cruz’s unique, sleek and modern styling; which differs greatly from traditional boxier pickup truck designs.
XRT specific: The XRT trim is for those who want the standard all wheel drive and turbocharged engine in a more rugged, off road and cool looking package.
Why they choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup over the other brands of small trucks:
Versatility: It serves as both a comfortable daily driver and a capable vehicle for light duty hauling and weekend adventures.
Refined experience: The driving dynamics are more like an SUV, than a traditional body on frame truck, and this compact PU truck is more fun to drive, look at and live with.
Convenience features: The smaller size and features such as, a lockable bed cover and the under the floor storage area offer several practical benefits.
Capability: While not a heavy duty hauler, the XRT has a 5,000 lb towing capacity, and with the AWD system provides confidence, stability and traction in all driving conditions.
So call, click or visit your local Hyundai dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new and updated 2025 Santa Cruz XRT AWD Compact Pickup Truck. And remember that the base price for a new Santa Cruz starts at only $28,750. Hyundai Santa Cruz – Now bolder, better, and more capable then ever, for all your adventures.
The key to life is to learn something new every day, and by reading my Bottom Line review, I hope you did just that, learned about something new and exciting. So, be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Drive safely, have a great day, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net