Hyundai will release the new Santa Cruz model sometime next year, with mild upgrades. The upcoming truck is entering its second model year, and we expect it to be a carryover. Unlike the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz will continue to ride on the same unibody chassis, like Honda Ridgeline. In general, for 2023, the manufacturer will make some mild changes outside and inside.
Anyway, the most exciting news is that it will introduce much better standard equipment. On the other hand, the new truck will be powered by two engine options. As standard, it deploys a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the optional engine is still a potent 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This truck has no on-sale date, but we expect its debut to happen sometime next year.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Will Receive Small Exterior Changes
On the outside, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz will continue with the same design language that we saw for the first time on the Hyundai Tucson. Both models are attractive, and both share the same LED headlights, sharp shoulder line, and A-pillar rake. However, the new Santa Cruz gets its own personality.
This truck features a unique grille, hood, and front bumper. Around the back, it comes with one of the smallest bed on the market. However, it will be apart from Tucson SUV with its distinctive taillights and much stronger bumper. In general, we expect its exterior design to remain the same as on the previous model, with some minor modifications here and there.
Cabin Upgrades
Inside, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has one of the most excellent cabins among mid-size pickups. Hyundai has made some changes, adding more attractive materials and desirable modern features. Like the previous generation, the new one will keep the same seating layout. The current model has enough room for five passengers and some goodies. As you may know, the Santa Cruz truck is available as a four-door crew cab only, and passenger space in the front as on the back is decent.
Interestingly, this truck is the first in its class that offers a fully digital gauge cluster. It also provides a choice of either 8.0-inch infotainment or a much bigger 10.3-inch touchscreen. As we mentioned, there is much more standard equipment, on which some of them are wireless device charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. You can also upgrade stereo optionally with an excellent eight-speaker Bose sound system.
Safety Features
As the current Santa Cruz, the forthcoming model will include standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and active lane control. Optionally, you can get adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, blind-spot cameras, and a surround-view system. For 2023, we should expect even more safety and optional features.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Powertrain Specs
Under the hood, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz will feature a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that will produce 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain comes with eight-speed automatic transmission, and it uses standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.
The manufacturer offers a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque as an optional engine. This more powerful engine deploys an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
Towing and Payload Capacity
The new unibody 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz isn’t able to tow as much as its body-on-frame rivals, such as the Toyota Tacoma or Jeep Gladiator. This truck reportedly will haul around 5000 pounds, which is the same amount that Ridgeline can pull. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder is only rated at 3500 pounds.
When Can We Expect the New 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The new 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz is another carryover model that will gain mild changes over the outgoing truck. The forthcoming Cruz will look more handsome from the information that we got, and it should introduce a more comfortable cabin. Right now, there is no on-sale date of Santa Cruz, but we expect redesigned variant to happen sometime next year.
The pricing of this truck will vary depending on the trim level. For example, the base S trim starts at $25,000, while SEL is around $28,000. Moreover, there is also the SEL Premium model with a price tag of $38,000, and the most expensive Limited that’s above $40,000.
