The latest 2023 Santa Cruz model is now available with several important updates. Here are the main highlights you could enjoy with a test drive.

Eye-Catching Exterior Design

The Santa Cruz is a vehicle of two parts. From the front end, it offers a sleek and powerful SUV profile, leading to a spacious two-row cabin that offers all the comforts of a high-end family crossover. The underlying platform is shared with the three-row Hyundai Tucson, but the Santa Cruz dispenses with the rearmost seating and instead offers a pickup bed that turns the vehicle into an SUV/truck combination that’s uniquely flexible.

Capable Power Under the Hood

However, the Santa Cruz’s pickup qualities go far more than skin deep, with the engineering under the hood offering plenty of power for both driving and towing duties. Every model is built around a 2.5L turbo engine that makes a commanding 281 horsepower and 311lb-ft of torque, passed through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to all-wheel drive as standard.

The result is a powerful and confident drive with enough torque in reserve to haul up to 2,272kg in trailer weight, taking the Santa Cruz into true workhorse territory.

Selectable Drive Modes and Terrain Control

The Santa Cruz driving experience is made even smoother by its combination of selectable drive modes and advanced terrain control. The overall powertrain and steering responses can be set to Normal, Sport, or Smart modes to optimize handling to your tastes, while the Snow, Sand, and Mud modes make off-road adventuring a genuine proposition.

Advanced Safety and Driver Assist

The Santa Cruz shows its SUV heritage with a range of active safety and driver-assist technologies that would grace any family vehicle. Key features offered on every trim include:

• Driver-attention monitoring to safeguard against drowsiness
• Blind-spot monitoring with automatic collision avoidance
• Rear cross-traffic detection with automatic braking
• Forward-collision warnings with pedestrian and cyclist detection plus automated emergency braking
• Lane-keep and lane-following assist for extra safety on the highway

Moving up the trim levels offers even more, with options including a junction-turning collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.

High-End Interior Technology

Lastly, the 2023 Santa Cruz is equipped with an impressive level of interior technology to make every journey as comfortable as possible. At the base level, essential driving data is supplied by a 4.2-inch colour display, with higher trims upgrading to a much more generous 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster.

A 10.25-inch touchscreen display is used to access the infotainment functions, which include in-built navigation and smartphone connections through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available wireless charging pad makes it simple to keep your devices fully juiced, while the standard Bluelink-connected vehicle system offers smartphone control of features, including engine ignition, door locking, and climate settings.

Experience the Versatility of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers the best of both SUV and pickup worlds, boasting the comfort you need for everyday driving alongside the rugged design and capability to be a heavy-duty performer. To experience its unique qualities for yourself, please book a test drive by clicking on the button below.