Eight Great Attributes of the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the most eye-catching models in today’s auto market. It blends an SUV and a pickup truck into a functional and surprisingly beautiful vehicle that asks its drivers, “Why choose one over another when you can get the best features of both?” Indeed, that is why the Santa Cruz’s devout following has been growing since its debut in April 2021.

If you’re looking for a Hyundai Santa Cruz for sale, 2024 is a great year to get behind the wheel. This new model year continues to provide the quality and style that has been part of the Santa Cruz since the beginning, and we believe there are eight great attributes that make it worth looking forward to. Some are big, some are small, but all of them come together to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

1) Noir Beauty Courtesy of the Night Trim

There are five trims available for the 2024 Santa Cruz—the SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Limited—and each has a variation of options and features. Some of these elements are aesthetic, while others offer additional technology or performance.

Our favorite trim is the Night. Sitting in the exact middle of the price range, it offers a sportier twist on the Santa Cruz, and it stands out because it comes standard with multiple features only available in the XRT and Limited trims but at a lower price point. It has a distinct style that gives it a unique identity; aesthetically, it’s an excellent trim for fans of monochromatic schemes, though the Hampton Gray exterior paint color compliments the all-over black scheme quite well.

2) The Turbocharged Engine Adds a Kick

The base Santa Cruz is powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, which generates 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity tops out at 3,500 lbs when properly equipped—a solid compliment to the payload max of 1,748 lbs.

Upgrading to the 2.5L Turbo engine massively boosts your power to 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque; this is a generous gain, raising the max towing capacity to 5,000 lbs. The 2.5L Turbo is standard on the Night, XRT, and Limited trims.

3) A Bold Exterior Design Pays Off

Is it a truck? Is it an SUV? The Santa Cruz dares to think outside of the box, pairing the sleek SUV body style that Hyundai is known for with a roomy bed. What sounds on paper like it shouldn’t work has, in reality, built a gorgeous vehicle with personality and versatility second to none.

The overall body style is so unique that it’s hard to pin down one specific area that shines the most. There’s a synergy to every touch on the Santa Cruz’s exterior that creates an aesthetic feast for car enthusiasts. From the exterior colors that bring in fun pops of taupe, sage, and cornflower to the flared grille fascia to the wide wheel wells, every bit of this vehicle fits together into a symphony of style.

4) Maneuverability for Every Mile

HTRAC all-wheel drive powers the Santa Cruz as it tackles all types of terrain. From snow to dirt, rain to hills, this vehicle has it under control. You can choose from Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, each calibrated to give you superior handling and control.

One area where the Santa Cruz shines is handling and maneuverability. With its shorter, stockier structure, the drive feels like you’re behind the wheel of an SUV even when you have a thousand pounds of payload in the bed or are hauling a trailer. The brakes are just sensitive enough to offer a highly responsive but controlled feel. All of these attributes come together to create a vehicle that is quite simply a joy to drive.

5) An Underfloor Bin Can Be a Big Cooler

The Santa Cruz’s bed is not there just for show. It offers a generous amount of room that can handle up to 1,748 lbs of cargo. Whether you’re going on vacation, tailgating, or offroading, the bed provides plenty of space for gear, luggage, and equipment, and a Tonneau cover offers lockable protection for everything in the bed.

If your perfect weekend includes having fun in the sun, one feature of interest is the underfloor bin storage. This compartment is lined and sealed to be watertight—so you can fill it with ice and have a cooler for a wide assortment of beverages and perishables! When you’re done, simply pull the plug and drain out the water!

6) Interior Comfort That Has Your Back

They say it’s what’s on the inside that counts. If that’s the case, the Santa Cruz is bringing its A-game. The interior is roomy, comfortable, and stylish. Built around a modern design, the clean lines accentuate details like bold stitching and flashes of chrome.

If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, you know a seat that’s comfortable for an hour can be a different story after three or four. The Santa Cruz has your back—literally—as its driver’s seat has power lumbar support, heating elements, and ventilation. Now, you can take the scenic route and enjoy every mile.

7) The Activity Package Opens Awesome Options

Automotive technology has changed drastically in the past two decades. It was once considered the ultimate status symbol to have a car phone; now, most cars have touchscreens on the dashboard that do much more than make phone calls. It’s normal now to have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and syncing systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Santa Cruz has all of these, accessed by an 8.0- or 10.2-inch color touchscreen.

On the subject of tech, the Activity Package is an add-on well worth considering, especially if you are into some extra tech perks. Dynamic Voice Recognition allows you to tap into a database of knowledge with nothing but your voice and a question. You can use it for directions, dining suggestions, weather reports, and other queries that can help make your drive safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

8) The Driver Attention Warning Is the MVP

At the end of the day, no features matter more than the ones that enhance safety. You’re trusting the Santa Cruz with your safety and that of your family and friends. The Santa Cruz has a range of features aimed at avoiding collisions, lessening the severity when a collision can’t be avoided, and helping you stay safe by alerting you to bad driving habits such as tailgating or lane drifting.

While all of the features in Hyundai’s safety suite deserve mention, there’s one in particular that caught our attention: the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) monitors your driving patterns for signs of drowsy or distracted driving. An alert will sound, and a message will appear on the instrument cluster to bring your attention back to the road.

It cannot be emphasized how important this feature is for the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers. Distracted driving resulted in 3,308 fatalities in 2022; the numbers for drowsy driving are even more troubling, with a AAA-estimated 328,000 collisions annually, resulting in 6,400 fatalities. Stopping when you’re too tired or distracted to drive is imperative to keeping the road safe for everyone. The Santa Cruz will let you know when it’s time to pull over, even if you’re not aware yet of how your driving is being impacted.

Feature Presentation: The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz has forged a path to the top by taking chances. This boldness is reflected in the singular body style, excellent performance, and the features that make it a comfortable and fun vehicle to drive. The individuality of this rare gem in a sea of cookie-cutter vehicles continues to shine in 2024.

There’s a lot to be said about tradition and legacy; they certainly have a place and should be honored, but sometimes it pays to try a different angle—to stand out from the crowd. If you’re the type that likes to take the road less traveled, you should do so in a Hyundai Santa Cruz.

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