2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT First Test: Gettin’ It Done
Hyundai’s small truck is tiny, but it gets the job done, more so than you probably expect.
Pros
- Small size
- SUV-like ride
- Underbed storage
Cons
- Small size (bed is tiny)
- Interior styling doesn’t match the exterior
- The Ford Maverick is better
When it was released in 2021, The Hyundai Santa Cruz made a strong impression as a compact pickup truck that was practical for city life, with its maneuverability and respectable hauling capabilities. Then came the Ford Maverick to steal the spotlight. With its standard hybrid engine, slightly larger frame, and more functional truck bed, the Maverick outpaced its Korean competitor as a simply superior small pickup. Despite this competition, the 2025 Santa Cruz retains its unique appeal, offering a blend of style, convenience, and versatility that carves its own space in the market.
0:00 / 0:00
Spending several days behind the wheel of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT highlighted its exceptional maneuverability, refined powertrain, and broad appeal. Equipped with distinctive bumpers and a bold grille, the Santa Cruz XRT trim aims to exude a rugged persona. While it does offer increased capability compared to other Santa Cruz trims, it isn’t built for tackling extreme off-road adventures. Instead, it’s a stylish and versatile option for most drivers.
What Does XRT Mean?
Hyundai first introduced the XRT package in 2022, unveiling it in the Tucson and Palisade SUVs. While its purpose is to amplify off-road appeal, the trim leans more toward being an aesthetic upgrade. On the Tucson, for instance, the XRT trim is even available with front-wheel drive, focusing on the rugged styling that caters to buyers seeking a more adventurous look rather than true off-road capability.
In the Santa Cruz, the XRT trim stands out by being available only with all-wheel drive. It features a bold dark grille, distinctive 18-inch wheels, red front tow hooks, and specially designed front and rear fascias. The XRT also comes equipped with Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires, a notable upgrade from the all-season tires found on other models. While the Santa Cruz offers both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines, the XRT is powered solely by the high-output turbo engine. This performance boost enables the XRT to tow up to 5,000 pounds and haul slightly more than 1,400 pounds with ease.
Beyond the added hardware, the XRT package doesn’t differentiate itself significantly in terms of functionality. The all-terrain tires and distinct bumpers do provide the compact truck with slightly improved off-pavement performance, offering better grip and an enhanced approach angle. However, aside from these minor improvements, the XRT is like the rest of the Santa Cruz lineup when it comes to off-road capability.
If the XRT catches your eye, it’s undoubtedly due to its striking appearance—and who could blame you? This compact pickup truck radiates undeniable charisma, with Hyundai’s subtle yet distinctive upgrades truly making the XRT shine. Its bold styling and unique details ensure it stands apart, drawing attention wherever it goes.
Smooth Operator
Under the hood of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT lies a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This power is distributed smoothly to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. During our time with it, we found this drivetrain to be a well-tuned piece, offering smooth and precise shifts at just the right rpm. At lower speeds, the power delivery feels fluid and gentle, while at higher speeds, such as freeway merges, the transmission will hold gears until it is the right time to shift.
Driving the Santa Cruz around town is a breeze. Its compact size makes parking in tight spots or squeezing into street parking a simple task. The truck feels so nimble and unobtrusive that it’s easy to forget you’re driving a pickup. Despite its small stature, it offers impressive practicality with the ability to transport tall items that won’t fit in a compact SUV like the Tucson.
Given the similarities between the Tucson and the Santa Cruz, driving the latter almost feels like piloting an SUV. The cabin remains impressively quiet at freeway speeds, with minimal wind and tire noise—a rarity in trucks. Accelerating to freeway speeds feels effortless, with our test team recording a 0–60-mph time of 6.5 seconds. The Santa Cruz XRT also completed the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at 96.9 mph.
Inside Details
Much like other Hyundai-Kia models, the Santa Cruz XRT now has a sleek curved display featuring dual 12.3-inch screens, elevating the cabin’s refinement. Both the infotainment and driver’s displays offer excellent resolution, delivering a crisp visual experience. However, the driver’s display would benefit from improved graphics. While there are various graphic options available, none is tailored specifically for the Santa Cruz; instead, they are shared across Hyundai’s lineup. Introducing truck-themed graphics unique to the Santa Cruz represents a fantastic opportunity to enhance its character and align the interior more closely with its rugged exterior and practical abilities.
Similarly, while the cabin’s overall design is appealing, we’d prefer more robust features that match the truck’s rugged exterior. Aside from the shifter, there’s little in the interior that echoes the rest of the pickup’s tough, adventurous vibe. The HVAC system’s air vents and touch controls are borrowed from the Tucson, which isn’t a drawback, but the lack of distinctive, truck-oriented elements leaves the interior feeling out of place.
The interior does offer a comfortable experience in the front row, but the rear seating can be a bit challenging. We found the back seat to be slightly too upright, with no option to recline due to the bed layout. However, the rear seats do lift, creating a generous storage area beneath them.
The Truck Stuff
The truck bed is thoughtfully equipped with plenty of tie-down points, catering to most users’ needs. Our XRT test model features the same practical rail system found in other models, enabling the tie-downs to be adjusted easily fore or aft for added versatility. The bed’s hard plastic construction appears durable and scratch-resistant, though it doesn’t quite match the resilience of a traditional bedliner. This design, however, allows for a spacious underbed storage compartment that’s ideal for stashing camping gear or doubling as a cooler during tailgating events. Conveniently, the compartment also includes a drain plug for easy cleaning and water drainage.
Accessing the underbed storage can be somewhat irritating, as the tailgate tends to obstruct easy entry. Despite the minor inconvenience, this additional storage feature enhances the Santa Cruz’s overall usefulness, making it a handy inclusion for those who need versatile packing options.
Is the Santa Cruz XRT a Good Buy?
Our experience with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT was thoroughly enjoyable. Its smooth powertrain, comfortable ride quality, and compact size make it an excellent option for urban dwellers and those seeking versatility. We wish the interior had more rugged, truck-oriented features to appeal to traditional pickup truck buyers, but the SUV-like amenities offer a modern and refined touch. The bed isn’t the largest, but it’s good enough for camping trips and light-duty tasks like backyard projects, making the Santa Cruz XRT a well-rounded small pickup with plenty of charm and utility.
Miguel Cortina is Mexico Editor at MotorTrend, covering the auto industry in the U.S. and south of the border. He joined MotorTrend in January 2015 and is an avid automotive enthusiast who enjoys playing golf, surfing, and running in his free time.
Read More
