2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz is a truck for people who don't want a truck — which is also the Maverick's pitch, and the Ridgeline's pitch. What separates the Santa Cruz is its turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, which provides 281 horsepower and genuinely quick acceleration that neither the Maverick nor the Ridgeline can match. Built on the Tucson platform, the Santa Cruz rides and handles like the crossover it fundamentally is. The four-foot bed is useful for hauling bikes, lumber from the hardware store, or a weekend's worth of camping gear, but it won't accommodate a full sheet of plywood without the tailgate down. The lockable bed cover provides security that most trucks lack. The Ford Maverick is the Santa Cruz's most direct competitor, and it wins on fuel economy (37 MPG hybrid vs. 26 MPG gas) and price ($28K vs. $30K). The Santa Cruz counters with more power, a more refined interior, and Hyundai's warranty. Both serve the same buyer — someone who occasionally needs open-bed utility but primarily drives a comfortable crossover.