2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Tucson: Differences & changes compared

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is the company’s first pickup, but it’s not a body on frame model, it’s based on the Tucson SUV.

Santa Cruz

Tucson

The Tucson and Santa Cruz not only share a platform, they share a design, but no exterior body panels.

Santa Cruz

Tucson

The Tucson has ridges down the center of the hood, while they're further to the sides in the Santa Cruz. Depending on the market, the Tucson has a wide array of engine options (diesel, gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid), but the Santa Cruz is only available with 2.5L and 2.5L turbo I4 engines (the latter isn't available in the Tucson).

Santa Cruz

Tucson

While the grille and headlights look the same, look closely and you'll see the Tucson has four layers of lighting, but the Santa Cruz only has three.

Santa Cruz

Tucson

The Santa Cruz has round wheel arches, but the Tucson's are angular. The Tucson also has more complex surfacing.

Santa Cruz

Tucson

The most obvious changes are behind the B pillar with the Santa Cruz having shorter looking doors, an open tray, and a longer wheelbase and overall length (see below).

Santa Cruz

Tucson

The Santa Cruz isn't designed to take the Toyota Tacoma or Ford F-150 on, but it's meant to appeal to people whose lifestyles require they to carry things (like bikes) that don't fit easily in an SUV.

Santa Cruz

Tucson

The dashboard and most of the interior is shared between the two cars, although the Santa Cruz has flip up rear seats and a traditional shifter.

Santa Cruz dimensions vs LWB Tucson

Length: 4,971mm (+301mm) | 195.7-in (+11.9-in)
Width: 1,905mm (+40mm) | 75-in (+1.6-in)
Height: 1,694mm (-1mm) | 66.7-in (+0.04-in)
Wheelbase: 3,005mm (+250mm) | 118.3-in (+9.8-in)