2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz -- Major CHANGES to This Affordable & Adventurous Truck!

[@CarConfections]

Are you looking to buy a Hyundai Santa Cruz or any new vehicle? Go to carconfections.com/new-car-quotes to get the BEST price and access to invoice pricing information!

[@mauriciomendez1912]

These prices, across the board, are getting ridiculous!!!

[@isaac198428]

*Subaru, Mazda, Dodge, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen* and *Nissan* should all join this segment of unibody little trucklets like Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick. Also *KIA* (Hyundai a Hyundai subsidiary) should also make a little truck. Subaru tried this once with the Baja and they ought to bring that nameplate back. *Better alternative to buying an suv, sedan or full size pickup.* You get a little bit of everything in this truck-let. The more vehicles, the better selection and pricing for consumers… Even though these would eat into the midsize truck market held by *Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado.*

[@richardkusimenkah]

I own a 2023 Santa cruz. Love it. Mine did have a tranny recall but it's being taken care of. I've mentioned it before on a different channel/vid. The compact truck segment ISN'T heating up because there are only 2 manufacturers making them Ford and Hyundai. For it to actually heat up we need Subaru to stop picking it's nose and make a small truck and for Toyota to actually release something. And please nobody mention the "new Toyota stout" or "Subaru brat". (These are internet unicorns that doesn't/ won't exist)

[@mauriciomendez1912]

Right? I miss the old school Mazda B series small truck, in the segment...😢

[@brokeboy87]

I can see those others other Japanese offerings being exclusive to the international market if they ever make those things.

[@ecovango6675]

That’s a great little truck, but where is the hybrid to compete with Ford maverick?

[@MEAMERIE]

It’s weird that they havnt added the hybrid option when the Tucson has/had a hybrid and plug in hybrid option.

[@preppysquirrel9712]

Mine gets 34.8-35.2 mpg on the interstate and can accelerate like a sports car in sport mode, and can tow 5k pounds, seems like a hybrids to me. Mine even has a battery, Lol. On a more serious note, they should , because the Tuscon NLine hybrid is a nice SUV, my daughter has one.

[@nickabbatiello828]

Great video of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz!! Great job Drew and Josh!!!

[@Kjhgr01]

It's kinda silly to have the chevron type left turn signal pointing to the right and the right turn signal pointing to the left! >

[@_IIN01]

Missed opportunity on making the turning signals on the top of the front drl like the refreshed Palisade & refreshed Tucson.

[@runescaper002]

@@_IIN01 That's actually how it is in Korea

[@TommyG11814]

I have a 2024 and thought the same thing.

[@magnoliap5824]

Right, that’s silly looking.

[@entasis.fifty-four]

I agree. It reminds me of the Union Jack taillights on the MINI with their chevrons pointing in the wrong direction too.

[@nicholasglade4572]

I could care less for the loaded limited model for $40,000 to $50,000. Hope somebody soon gets to see a 2025 base model.

[@botmoderator3405]

Preach brother.

[@jamiek1714]

This is the best looking truck on the market.

[@NateMTB64]

For the XRT and the Limited are they using the same motor as the new Santa Fe I ask that because my transmission needed replacement on my new SF XRT and people should know if they are using the same drivetrain

[@DominionAnako-bb7ry]

Love your video

[@brokeboy87]

The Ford Maverick or Honda Ridgeline are the only things that I know that competes with this. This will probable be the best value in this segment since Ford dealerships keep marking up the price.

[@cbotten106]

Ford dealers sure know how to gouge when they've got a winner.

[@GoldRaven-oe4by]

Lol no ford is utter garbage

[@RandallDenison]

Hyundai said from day one the Santa Cruz is not a truck.

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Excellent review!

[@henrikhook.]

Next time 2025 XRT model and Off-Road test, please.

[@turbojobo]

If they make a plug in hybrid is an instant buy only reason i havent got a maverick

[@Brooklynraised68]

It remains to be seen how reliable these trucks are

[@eugene44569]

its a Hyundai it is guaranteed to blow up before 100,000 miles

[@lazaro6314]

They already had recalls on the crappy transmission wjen they first came out, that Hurst resale value and reliability in the market

[@Brooklynraised68]

The paint on my bro in laws car flies of at highway speeds they don't care

[@GoldRaven-oe4by]

The higher trims are poop because the dct is awful and the turbo engines have been having some serious problems. Idk about the lower trims but they have na engines with normal automatics so i assume the reliability is significantly higher

[@chronos-calculus]

Funny how the Santa Cruz added "real" buttons for 2025 and the Maverick took some away for 2025.

[@GottiEss]

they should put the elantra hybrids system in it, maybe bump up the hp a smidge, would be the perfect scoot around trucklet

[@Ransburg81]

Looked at both the Santa Cruz and the Ridgeline, the Ridgeline is much bigger inside and all around beats the Santa Cruz. Also dollar for dollar the Ridgeline is just a better buy, in my opinion. I did go with a 2023 Ridgeline RTL.

[@MamaMC4950]

Add in the $4000 upgrade to the infotainment center that includes navigation and feature for feature, the Ridgeline costs about $6000 more than the Santa Cruz.

[@damienamado]

They need to drop the dual clutch

[@MatthewStandish]

This is frankly a ridiculous statement. DCTs are in BMWs, Porsche and the greatest performance cars. Maybe catch up on an engineering class?

[@damienamado]

@ hi thank you for your foolish comment. I couldn’t be sharing an opinion I knew nothing about :). There are huge reliability concerns with their dual clutches and they have proven to be far more problematic than their conventional 8 speed auto. Dual clutches being in German performance cars makes sense, as it’s a performance transmission. It does not, however, belong in a pickup truck by Hyundai, especially with the number of failures and customer complaints. Hence, my statement.

[@BoopSnoot]

Great review, although even now Hyundai is still hiding what the SE and SEL trims will look like!

[@CarConfections]

Thanks! Hopefully the build and price will be up on the Hyundai website soon

[@brandonswanson256]

There’s some of those trim models posted on autotrader!

[@BoopSnoot]

@@brandonswanson256 Yup, thanks they have recently popped up but I don't think were there last week.

[@aaronapitzsch2177]

What color is this?

[@nickstark8640]

Very odd that Hyundai would put an embargo on the Santa Cruz. Absolutely nothing has been updated in the drivetrain. I guess it’s just for hype. Love the interior updates. Especially the addition of the lighter grey color. Hopefully the rear center armrest is available on trims other than the Limited. Thanks for another great review.

[@CarConfections]

Thanks!

[@mianus5]

They should take away the H logo from the hood, that logo breaks the hard edges look. Consider spell out hyundai instead. Do we have a better transmission?

[@Mazzojoe]

But did they fix the god awful dual clutch transmission? ours has been replaced once already and get this. A remanufactured unit! not even a new one.

[@frederickmiller5492]

this. That transmission needs to be removed from EVERY car they make. They have other normal transmissions that have WAY fewer issues - just use those.

[@cbotten106]

Hyundai was having a little experiment there. A few teething problems. And they've gotta do something with all those old repaired transmissions... might as well throw them into a customers car. I think my sisters Kia hybrid has that tranny. Doesn't like starting on an incline.

[@justin________7477]

I'm weird, I like manual transmissions that don't depend on electronics issues. I would've strongly considered a Santa Cruz if it came with one.

[@GoldRaven-oe4by]

Unfortunately no. I wish more than anything they would just stop using the god awful dct that not a single human being on this earth wants

[@theusefulidiot4202]

​@justin________7477 i like manuals aswell but your talking as if ANY mid/compact trucks offer a third pedal anymore. I think the tacoma is literally the only one left.

[@GoldRaven-oe4by]

Hyundai and kia need to stop making cool vehicles im not made of money

[@chemjam92]

Not all midsized trucks are body on frame. Honda Ridgeline is unibody. I don't like those steering column cameras either.

[@kaleidoscope918]

Where was the donut test?! 😢

[@yankeesusa1]

This truck looks like something that would be very useful to average consumer but horrible reliability and a recall on power train. Not good

[@MamaMC4950]

As if all mfg don’t have recalls 🙄

[@justicecenter]

It’s a shame that adaptive cruise is only available on the turbo models.

[@BSBS-gk4iy]

Nice! 2.5 L with FWD will lasts forever!

[@GBR1111-x2t]

Please explain

[@gldi8hr]

Am I the only one that misses a shade for the gauge cluster/infotainment screen? A sunny daytime drive must get annoying with glare 😖

[@TheEasyeman]

Nope, I’ve been thinking that since they redid the dash few years back

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

How many donuts?

[@mfromaustralia1]

What do you mean "front wheel drive is standard and you also have all wheel drive" ??? All wheel drive is ALL: the time. So is this car only part time four wheel drive or all the time, like a subaru ??? And could you tell us please when you are going to test it off road ? No point otherwise !

[@CarConfections]

AWD is optional for $1,500 on many of the trim levels

[@garymcneil2216]

Major changes make it more expensive. So much for affordability.😬

[@lucassitanggang5154]

Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, Santa Claus

[@DarkJediChrisG-1425]

Santa Maria?

[@coreymundo1]

They dont have this interior color on website grrrrr

[@Graeaeae]

wait what happened to the brother he was my favourite

[@CarConfections]

He's overseas working on another video coming soon ...

[@darriontunstall3708]

It’s nice, but it’s very small 😂

[@darrylp6938]

really difficult to actually call this a truck with a straight face

[@MamaMC4950]

Hyundai doesn’t call it a truck.

[@menwaralanazi47]

You are so active... Soon you guys will run out of cars to review !

[@CarConfections]

We try to hit them all for you all! 🍩

[@Jmamboman]

They didn't get a hybrid. Aswingandamiss.

[@rrad8106]

No hybrid or EV options... 😒

[@cbotten106]

This is such a cute little trucklet! You just want to pinch it's cheeks. Unfortunately, the Ford Maverick kicked sand in its face and stole the SC's lunch money in the sales department. Market spoke loudly.

[@ThorMaxx]

Mavrick came in at a lower price and a hybrid option…so yeah.

[@anthonyleger6436]

​@@ThorMaxxYes, for the barest of bones at $20k when first introduced (and before some shady dealers were marking it up). Now however, it's up some $6k for the base comparatively.

[@MamaMC4950]

@@anthonyleger6436looks and feels like a $25,000 truck.

[@anthonyleger6436]

@@MamaMC4950 I drove a Maverick Lariat with the Lariat Luxury and Tremor packages for about a year before my wife bought a Santa Cruz SEL with Activity Package. We still have the Santa Cruz. It felt more finished than the Maverick and there was more value for the dollar coupled with a better warranty for peace of mind. The biggest disappointment with the Maverick was that the name "Lariat" means something. It means luxury, yet the materials used inside definitely didn't reflect that. I'm okay with that material level for the XL and XLT, but not on a Lariat trim that when all was said and done, had a sticker price close to $38k.

[@GBR1111-x2t]

Stupid sunroof. Smh

[@anthonykiedis1765]

Pretty sure my dealer still has new 2022's on their lot lol

[@MountainCat-i9c]

Prices always went up but the HP/ TQ is not increasing

[@rc8306]

Are you getting sponsored by Hyundai? You always have high praise for their vehicles? Not that there is anything with it having a sponsor. 😂😂😂😂😂😂.

[@sunghyunko9543]

It could simply be a good car?

[@robertsn6584]

Because they are good vehicles

[@CarConfections]

Absolutely not. Not sure if you're kidding but we don't do stuff like that. Remember the Santa Fe content?

[@thebigone6969]

This truck is too small and expensive like what’s the point??? Ain’t no hot gurls like me want them and they’re too small and weak to get any work done! Y’all best just miss my fantabulous yams with this mess!!!!!

[@robertsn6584]

Then go spend $60,000 on a full size truck

[@cbotten106]

If you want the "hot gurls" then you've gotta go full sized truck. Gotta pay to player!

[@kaleidoscope918]

😂😂

[@Mcdowells]

@@cbotten106 not necessarily, My hot gf is from Brazil and we had a very nice ride in mines over the weekend. In fact we had people come up to us and want to check out the sc

[@lizardking91]

Affordable? Somewhat. Will it beat a Maverick? Nope.

[@StayLoose200]

Depends on what you mean by beat… Santa Cruz is nicer, higher tow capacity, and higher ground clearance. Maverick has better gas economy (if you’re into that as a truck feature), longer bed, and cheaper base price. There are a TON of videos comparing them. Buy what you like, but with these baby “trucks”, you will never get everything.

[@lazaro6314]

Hyundai and Kia have to many engine fires, transmission cvt and dct problems, don't stand behind their product, have horrible resale value. Everyone knows Hyundai and kias are disposable cars. Statefarm is starting to not insure them google it, because of the Kia boys videos where kias are taken with a USB cable. Hyundai and kia didn't do sht until being forced to by nhtsa. Yeah don't spend your money on this crap, go buy a used ranger. Tacoma without the frame rot, or a Honda ridgeline or a MAverick which has a higher resale value.

[@MamaMC4950]

I bought my first Hyundai and have been driving them exclusively since then. In total, my family of five has bought 9 vehicles. The only issue EVER was a paint problem on my husband’s white 2008 Santa Fe. Hyundai repainted the entire vehicle, no questions asked. My husband passed the vehicle on to my granddaughter who drove it for five years before buying her own first vehicle….and we passed the Santa Fe on to my other granddaughter who drove it until it was totaled by a red light runner in Dec 2023. Over that 15 years, the ONLY mechanical repair was a replacement of the water pump. NONE of my other Hyundais ever had any kind of mechanical repair. Today, I’m driving my second Santa Cruz (traded my white 2022 for a blue 2024) and I absolutely LOVE IT.

[@lazaro6314]

@MamaMC4950 congrats yours is a Unicorn situation. Exists but extremely rare, to the point that their are class action law suits filed against kia and hyundai for bad 4 cly engines and bad transmissions. Forget about kia car fires that number in the thousands. You are truly what people call lucky your whole family. A simple Google search of Kia and Hyundia lemon vehicles, how they have to buy them back. That 2.0 four cly motors in kia forces, hyundai elantras were going bad under warranty. Hyundai had a back order on the motors as a whole assembly, dealership that were nice would put customers in a rental for however long, other crappy dealerships said they could do anything until the parts become available in this case a complete motor.

[@GoldRaven-oe4by]

You just said dont waste your money then go said to buy a ford instead so i cant take you seriously anymore