The 2026 Santa Cruz: Not Your Average Pickup Truck

The Hyundai Santa Cruz isn’t like any other pickup truck—and it doesn’t intend to be. Although it’s classified as a compact truck, the Santa Cruz defines itself as a sport adventure vehicle up for any task, off-road or on. Blending the utility of a truck with the comfort of an SUV, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has staked out a unique niche in the automotive market.

Launched in 2022, the Santa Cruz was the first four-door truck sold by the Korean manufacturer in America. To set it apart from its competitors in the pickup truck segment, Hyundai outfitted the Santa Cruz with distinctive, sleek styling and unique features. But it never forgot the model’s basic mission as a capable, dependable truck. 

The Santa Cruz appeals to small business owners and off-road enthusiasts looking for generous cargo space, superior horsepower and handling, and the ability to tackle any terrain in a lighter truck. Yet many of those same buyers want a pleasant, steady ride similar to an SUV—and they will find it in a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz for sale near Oak Ridge.

Power and Performance Options

What drivers want most in a truck is the strength to conquer any terrain, as well as a potent powertrain and competent drivetrain to get you there with ease. That’s the whole point of owning a truck. To seek out the rarely traveled roads for adventures in a vehicle with stress-free handling. And the 2026 Santa Cruz delivers on that promise with two dynamic powertrain options and five trim levels.

Hyundai kicks off the Santa Cruz lineup with a powerful engine. The first three trims—the SE, SEL, and SEL Activity—are equipped with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that produces 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. All trims come with an eight-speed automatic transmission for 2026, which is a change from previous years, where the optional engine was paired with a DCT instead of a traditional automatic. 

The SE, SEL, and SEL Activity are offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Backed by superior engineering, maneuvering along challenging roads or dirt trails will not be an issue in this trio of Santa Cruz trims. However, the higher trims offer even more capability for Oak Ridge drivers.

Hyundai steps up the drivetrain in the top-of-the-line XRT and Limited trims with a standard HTRAC all-wheel drive system. Providing optimal stability and control by distributing power between the front and rear wheels, drivers won’t have to worry about traversing rugged topography. 

The XRT and Limited trims take the powertrains to the next level, too, with a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. With that boost, the XRT and Limited rev up the output to 281 hp, with 311 lb-ft of torque providing excellent acceleration and the power to pull serious loads, which is a major reason drivers enjoy the Santa Cruz.

The XRT is the off-road model, and the chassis is supported by 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires for an added level of confidence on the road. Want even more assurance? Hyundai furnishes the Santa Cruz XRT with a Terrain Mode Select system. Whether you’re plowing through snow or trudging through mud, you can switch to a drive mode matching the road ahead. 

Cargo Capabilities and Features

Although a compact truck, the Santa Cruz doesn’t skimp on cargo space. It provides more than sufficient storage area for multiple uses. Business owners can stow work materials, while off-roaders can fill up the bed with the recreational gear needed for a weekend getaway far from Oak Ridge. 

Let’s start with that bed. It can hold 27 cu.ft. of whatever you want to take along, from luggage and work supplies to a trail bike or a camping tent. Its stowaway space doesn’t stop there, though. There’s even more storage capacity with a sizable underfloor container in the truck bed for stuff you don’t need to use right away, or may want to unpack when you get home. All told, the Santa Cruz can carry a substantial 1,411 lbs.

If you’re taking a lot of your valuables, you want to keep them safe, right? The Santa Cruz offers a locking tonneau cover to secure your belongings for the long haul. Since nobody wants their packages rolling from side to side, the Santa Cruz also comes with six tie-downs in the bed to keep things firmly in place during a bumpy ride. A multi-function tailgate makes grabbing your gear easy, while LED lighting in the bed illuminates the area so you don’t have to fumble around for your things. 

The Santa Cruz is the perfect get-away-from-it-all transportation, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up all your creature comforts on a hidden trail. Stay connected and comfortable with an available 115-volt power outlet in the truck bed. It charges up your devices, camping equipment, and lighting for your home away from home. 

A generous bed, combined with outstanding towing capacity, makes the Santa Cruz an even better option for recreation and work. If you’re looking for maximum capacity, look at the XRT and Limited trims. Each can tow an extraordinary 5,000 lbs, which is enough to bring along a loaded trailer or larger boat. However, Hyundai recommends the trailer be fitted with its own braking system independent of the Santa Cruz. With that adjustment, the Santa Cruz can move as much (or as little) as you need when spiriting off to unexplored parts or heading to the worksite.

Make Your Next Truck the 2026 Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz packs together two of the most important elements in a truck: class-leading towing capacity as well as responsive handling for whatever road you travel. Sure, it can smoothly navigate paved roads around Oak Ridge. But it’s equally adept on much tougher trails. 

The compact truck segment may be small, but the Santa Cruz manages to outclass its competition with its style, strength, and overall utility. The 2026 Santa Cruz easily surpasses the towing capacity of its nearest rivals, the Ford Maverick, which maxes out at 4,000 lbs; it also beats the Maverick in horsepower and torque. In fact, the Ford falls short by 31 hp and 31 lb-ft of torque, which is a meaningful difference that you will feel behind the wheel.

As for price, the 2026 Santa Cruz has a base MSRP under $30,000 for the SE trim, which is much lower than most of the pickup trucks on the market. The Santa Cruz is also packed with features that many trucks lack, making it a great investment for a first-time buyer. 

With its five trims, the Santa Cruz puts forth attractive choices for buyers. Starting with the SE and ranging up to the fully loaded Limited, the Santa Cruz can be an all-around utility vehicle for home and work or an all-out adventure vehicle for forays into uncharted territory. Every trim comes in at a very reasonable price for what you get in this fun-to-drive yet sturdy truck. 

Whatever version you pick, the Santa Cruz more than lives up to its moniker as a sport adventure vehicle. Though it’s been on the road for a relatively short time, the Santa Cruz has caught the attention of many Oak Ridge drivers, and it will continue to do so in the future.

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