Updates to the Santa Cruz That Knoxville Drivers Won’t Want to Miss

What intrigues you the most about the Santa Cruz? As the leading Hyundai dealer in Knoxville, we know the Santa Cruz’s appeal is undeniable and well-deserved. This compact pickup defies convention in every way imaginable, from making history as Hyundai’s first four-door truck to its unibody frame that heightens its efficiency and guarantees its SUV-like handling. The Santa Cruz showcases how Hyundai gives drivers the best of both worlds, with several notable updates for 2025 that add to its value and appeal. 

#1. Bolder Styling With a Rugged Refresh 

Whether venturing into downtown Knoxville or neighboring areas like Karns, every outing will turn heads when you’re behind the wheel of the 2025 Santa Cruz. From its unibody design to its history-making feat as Hyundai’s first four-door truck, the Santa Cruz already garners plenty of attention. However, that attention skyrockets after its 2025 refresh. 

Hyundai transformed the Santa Cruz from a sleek pavement crawler to an athletic road warrior capable of handling life on and off the pavement. The 2025 Santa Cruz’s rugged aesthetic is a culmination of updates, with many styling cues shared with the recently updated Tucson. The truck introduces a new front fascia complete with redesigned headlights and a menacing front grille, all complemented by new wheel designs and more vertical lines throughout the body that draw the eye upward. 

#2. Ready for Adventure in the New XRT 

Hyundai answers the growing demand for off-road-capable vehicles by expanding the Santa Cruz lineup with the XRT trim in 2025. The XRT readies the unibody truck for the trail, begging drivers to venture beyond the pavement and explore Knoxville’s more rugged terrain. But how does the Santa Cruz XRT differentiate itself as the most adventurous? 

Slated as the fourth in the Santa Cruz’s five-trim lineup, the Santa Cruz XRT is positioned below the top-tier Limited. Hyundai ensures the XRT exceeds expectations by proving it doesn’t simply look the part of an adventurer but is competent on modest terrain. The Santa Cruz XRT accomplishes this with its increased approach angle, all-terrain tires, and HTRAC All-Wheel Drive that provides exceptional traction, all while the 281-hp 2.5L turbocharged engine delivers a steady stream of power. 

The Santa Cruz XRT has the potency and traction to explore new terrain, but its off-road components extend even further. The trim is instantly recognizable by its exclusive grille and front and rear bumpers, including integrated tow hooks in the front. The interior of the Santa Cruz XRT also features exclusive details and advanced technologies, like a Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor, which heighten your situational awareness and visibility on all types of terrain. 

#3. A Seamless Panoramic Dashboard Display 

The 2025 Santa Cruz introduces a significant update to its cabin that transforms the interior into a modern cockpit. Hyundai replaces the dual-screen infotainment system with a curved panoramic display that complements the redesigned dashboard and incorporates the sleeker, updated instrument panel. Depending on the trim, the Santa Cruz offers an immersive digital experience via a 12.3-inch driver information cluster and an all-new 12.3-inch touchscreen interface. 

The panoramic display enhances the Santa Cruz’s cabin, but its benefits don’t stop there. The system offers over-the-air software and firmware updates to ensure the Santa Cruz is operating with the latest technologies. For 2025, Hyundai makes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on every trim while adding more convenience features, such as Hyundai Pay, a fingerprint scanner (for added security), Digital Key 2 Touch, and Bluelink+ Connected Car technology. These conveniences enhance your experience in the driver’s seat by keeping you connected, engaged, and informed, whether you are running errands in downtown Knoxville or navigating your weekday commute along I-275. 

#4. Added Peace of Mind With New Safety Tech 

Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite is one of the most comprehensive in the industry, so how could it get any better? The 2025 Santa Cruz proves it’s possible by expanding the suite with a Forward Attention Warning. The new addition complements many standard and available features, adding to the Santa Cruz’s value and appeal for 2025. 

The SmartSense suite equips every Santa Cruz with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, a Blind-Spot Collision Warning, a Driver Attention Warning, and High Beam Assist. Other standard features include Lane-Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning, and Rear Occupant Alert. But what other features can you expect as you climb the Santa Cruz’s five-trim lineup?

Progressing from the SE and SEL to the SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited adds more advanced technologies. For example, mid- and top-tier trims add Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection; the Santa Cruz XLT and Limited also add a Blind-Spot View Monitor and Smart Cruise Control 2 with Stop & Go—a new addition for 2025, which is perfect for Knoxville and Karns drivers who spend a lot of time navigating congested highways since it can mitigate driver fatigue by adjusting the Santa Cruz’s speed and steering. 

#5. Same Proven Powertrains With New Capabilities 

The 2025 Santa Cruz relies on the same proven powertrains, with Hyundai making one notable update for the year. The truck’s standard powertrain is a 2.5L direct-injected inline-four engine that works with an eight-speed automatic transmission to produce 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. The pairing offers outstanding acceleration, making the Santa Cruz responsive and efficient with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on front-wheel drive models or 21 MPG and 29 MPG, respectively, with Hyundai’s HTRAC All-Wheel Drive. 

For more excitement as you navigate life in Knoxville and the surrounding areas, look no further than the turbocharged 2025 Santa Cruz. Hyundai’s 2.5L inline-four with a turbocharger skyrockets the output to 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque; the addition of an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission puts paddle shifters on the steering wheel, giving you a physical connection to the turbocharged output. For 2025, Hyundai also introduces a Tow Mode, making it easier to take advantage of the Santa Cruz’s maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. 

The Santa Cruz’s turbocharged engine is only available with HTRAC All-Wheel Drive, making for a perfect pairing on trims like the XRT. The HTRAC system optimizes traction, giving you more control with its multi-mode system that fine-tunes the steering, throttle response, and other features to the situation and your performance needs. Moreover, the 2.5L turbocharged inline-four with HTRAC doesn’t guzzle fuel, boasting an EPA-estimated 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway that guarantees you can go the distance on and off the pavement. 

Key Takeaways for the Santa Cruz’s 2025 Update

Hyundai introduced the Santa Cruz in 2022, wowing the world with its first four-door truck. Over the last few years, the Santa Cruz has earned widespread praise for its versatility, but Hyundai proves that its truck is only just getting started. The 2025 Santa Cruz introduces a more rugged design, an adventure-ready trim, and a tech-savvy interior that puts everything you need within reach without compromising its interior aesthetic. 

These updates are pivotal in keeping the Santa Cruz relevant and showcasing Hyundai’s keen awareness of what drivers are looking for in a unibody truck. Hyundai’s exceptional warranty coverage is icing on the Santa Cruz’s already decadent packaging.

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