The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the most unique vehicles to be released in a long time. It’s not quite a pickup truck, but it’s not quite a crossover or SUV, either. Landing somewhere in between the two segments, the vehicle is shorter than any pickup currently on sale today. Don’t let its size fool you, though. The Santa Cruz packs a load of standard features, compelling technology, and a useful bed into its funky shape.

The internet is full of people who’ll tell you that small pickups are destined to fail, but let me be clear: There is no reason that small, unibody pickup trucks can’t become the norm for most people that think they “need” a truck. They’re more maneuverable, cheaper to fuel, and easier on the wallet to buy. I think that’s a pretty good reason to at least give them a chance, and after a full day behind the wheel, it’s obvious the Hyundai Santa Cruz has enough merit to stand on its own as a useful and even fun vehicle to live with on a daily basis. Hyundai invited us to Santa Cruz, California to drive the new vehicle and see what it’s all about, so let’s dive in and take a look.

Hyundai’s signature LEDs add a futuristic touch to the Santa Cruz’ grille.Hyundai

Competent Powertrains and Handling

The Santa Cruz comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Our test cars on the first drive event were equipped with the optional turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, which produces 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The lesser engine comes paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the turbo powerplant gets an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. In its top configuration, the Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The turbo engine and DCT pairing are a treat, and make the compact Santa Cruz feel lively and fun to drive. On California freeways, passing is effortless, and the transmission readily downshifts to provide more grunt on demand. As people in the Santa Cruz area know, the roads quickly shift from wide-open cruising to twisty mountain highways, and the Hyundai can make that transition with ease. Don’t expect to keep pace with a dedicated sports car here, but the Santa Cruz’ wide stance and capable suspension system keep the ride both comfortable and interesting.

From the driver’s seat, it’s easy to forget what you’re driving. There’s no indication of a pickup bed or anything resembling a pickup truck-like ride. That’s thanks to the Santa Cruz’ unibody design, which is the same one used in crossovers and in the Honda Ridgeline. Noise, however, is another story. While it’s mostly controlled, freeway driving reveals weaknesses in the Hyundai’s sound insulation. Rough pavement and grooved road surfaces send more sound into the cabin than expected, but it’s far from severe.

There’s more than enough space here for most people, and configurable cargo options make it even more useful.Hyundai

Car-Like Comfort with Truck Utility

Cabin comfort and materials are another area where the Santa Cruz differentiates itself from traditional pickup trucks. Since the vehicle is based on the Tucson SUV, the layout inside is familiar and comfortable. The front seats are wide, deep, and nicely padded, and do a good job of holding the driver in place while flinging the Santa Cruz around mountain roads. Though I didn’t have my kids’ car seats on hand to test rear seat space, a visual inspection showed that there would be plenty of room for two kids without causing a tug-of-war with front-seat passengers for legroom.

The four-foot bed looks small on paper but is far more useful than you’d think in practice. Hyundai designed the space with under-bed storage, cargo D-ring tie-downs, side-bed storage compartments, and a sliding tonneau cover that is water-resistant. Owners can cut and insert wood pieces to create a sturdy shelf system with the bed’s molded slot system, and Hyundai will offer several bed accessories, such as racks and cargo organizers.

The optional 10.25-inch screen lacks wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but looks great.Hyundai

Useful Tech and Safety Features

The top Limited trim with options gets a useful and configurable digital gauge cluster, along with a large 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Hyundai’s infotainment software is far from the most colorful or the fanciest on the market, but its straightforward operation makes it less distracting and much less frustrating to use when the vehicle is in motion.

Due to its limited time in existence, the Santa Cruz hasn’t been crash-tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include lane keep assist, forward collision warnings with pedestrian detection, lane follow assist, and high beam assist. The SEL trim adds blind spot collision-avoidance assist and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, while a surround-view camera, blind spot camera, and highway driving assist system are available.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is an interesting vehicle, and not just because it’s unlike anything else on sale right now (that will soon change with the Ford Maverick). It’s interesting, because of its infectious attitude, unrelenting utility, and funky style that all work together in a surprisingly cohesive and entertaining way. If I were in the market for a truck, and I always am, the Santa Cruz would be hard to ignore.