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Among the competitive landscape of the auto industry, Hyundai is planning to release something that no other manufacturer has for a while. The South Korean company’s new pickup truck will be the only one of its kind available in America.
As consumer trends change, manufacturers like Hyundai are keeping up with what their customers want. The truck hasn’t been released yet but Hyundai can already claim something that no other truck manufacturer in the market can.
You might see more manufacturers build compact pickups to compete with the Hyundai Santa Cruz | Twenty20
What’s special about the Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a true compact pickup. Autotrader talks about the new Hyundai Santa Cruz which was originally teased in 2015. If you look for a compact pickup right now, you’ll mostly see popular midsize trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger.
The Santa Cruz is a unibody pickup, which means the frame and body are connected in one single piece like an SUV. Most trucks are built "body-on-frame" where the body is attached to a skateboard-style frame.
The Santa Cruz also has all-wheel drive and a fully independent suspension so the movements of each wheel don’t affect the others. On its website, Hyundai says the Santa Cruz "combines the flexibility of an open truck bed and the comfort of an SUV," with seating for five.
Which types of drivers will like the Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The Santa Cruz is appealing to buyers who are hesitant to buy large trucks. Since it still offers some payload capacity, the Santa Cruz is great for people who want a smaller truck that can still hold things. If you like the size of an SUV but want the storage ability of a pickup, the Santa Cruz was made for you.
The Santa Cruz is made to be more of a truck you take to outdoor activities than for transporting things. But it can still carry over 1,700 pounds. The appeal of a pickup truck is having storage in the back of the vehicle that you can use to carry big items.
You’ll still get that with the Santa Cruz, but you’ll be sacrificing space since the truck only has a 4-foot bed.
Typical pickup truck beds are around 6 to 8 feet long. You can still store and transport large items with the Santa Cruz, but not as much as you’d be able to with a midsize pickup or SUV.
Hyundai is counting on the smaller size to be a selling point for truck buyers who don't need as much storage capacity.
When can you buy the new truck?
The Santa Cruz isn't on the market yet, but the 2022 model year is expected to be available this summer. Hyundai is currently taking reservations for the new compact truck, which will come in SE, SEL, SEL Premium, and Limited trim options.
Hyundai hasn’t announced a suggested retail price for the Santa Cruz, but Car and Driver estimates that it will start at $25,000 for the base model, and $35,000 for the Limited. If you decide to buy the new Santa Cruz, and want to make sure you’re not overpaying for car insurance, Jerry can help.
The free app will compare quotes from 45 top insurance companies so you can see the most affordable rates. Jerry will also cancel your old policy for you, and you’ll get new competitive quotes every time renewal comes up.
