I spent a week with the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the thing that stuck with me most wasn’t the styling, it was how much truck this compact platform can actually handle. Step up to the turbocharged 2.5-liter and you’re looking at 281 horsepower, 311 lb-ft of torque, and a 5,000 pound tow rating, the best number in the compact truck class. It’ll do 0 to 60 in about 6.8 seconds too, quick enough that you won’t feel like you’re settling.
PRO: The Bed
Not only is it basically an SUV with a bed, the bed includes a lockable, drainable under-bed storage compartment that no competitor really matches. It’s a small touch but it adds real everyday usefulness for anyone hauling gear or tools.
PRO: Turbo Power
Step up to the turbo engine and you get 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque from the same 2.5-liter block. That’s a serious jump from the base engine and it makes the Santa Cruz feel genuinely quick for a compact truck.
PRO: Interior Quality
Move up the trim ladder and the cabin goes from cloth all the way to genuine leather with ventilated seats on the Limited. That’s a noticeably nicer interior experience than what you expect.
PRO: Strongest Warranty
Hyundai stands by their vehicles. Every Santa Cruz comes with a 10 year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty for the original owner. That’s roughly double what most competitors offer and it’s one of the strongest reasons to buy Hyundai over almost anything else in this segment.
CON: No Hybrid
Unlike its rivals, the Santa Cruz offers no hybrid powertrain at all. The rivals get near double the mpg’s crossing into 40 miles per gallon, numbers the Santa Cruz simply can’t touch with a traditional gas engine.
CON: Pricing
While the the base SE trim starts around $29,750, pricing on the top trims climbs fast, with the Limited and XRT both landing north of $41,000. At that price you’re bumping into midsize truck territory, which changes the value equation considerably.
