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Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT: Built for adventure

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT.

 

 

Sometimes you need a little modern retro mashup to get the job done and have some fun, like the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT and its nod to the El Camino era. The four-door enhanced sport adventure vehicle with a pickup bed made its debut at the New York International Auto Show last week, boasting two powerful, flexible, and efficient powertrains; available HTRAC AWD; and a more aggressive front design for a wider stance.

Santa Cruz offers redesigned exterior and interior surfaces along with new infotainment and additional advanced driver assistance systems. It holds five passengers comfortably. The 2025 Santa Cruz, designed in California, arrives at Hyundai dealerships this fall. It will come in five trims: SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Limited. It sports a truck bed that is just over 4 ft (52.1 in. by 53.9 in.).

"The development goal for freshening Santa Cruz was to give it an even bolder, stronger design. We also wanted Santa Cruz to be more capable, and the available XRT trim delivers with all-terrain tires, front tow hooks, and improved off-road capability. Customers are going to appreciate all the new design details and enhancements inside and out. Santa Cruz is a true sport adventure vehicle," said Jose Munoz, president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Company and president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America.

"More vertical lines and redesigned headlamps bookend a menacing new grille incorporating larger chambers. These changes give the 2025 Santa Cruz a more planted, robust stance," said Brad Arnold, senior design manager of exteriors at Hyundai Design North America. "On the Santa Cruz XRT, we've augmented the model's off-road capability by increasing the approach angle and adding all-terrain tires and unique wrench-inspired alloy wheels."

XRT trim-specific changes include: new XRT-exclusive front and rear bumper fascia designs, a new XRT-exclusive front grille, front tow hooks, wrench-inspired XRT-specific 18-in. wheels, 245/60 R 18 all-terrain tires, an increased approach angle, a Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor, and XRT logo debossing on front upper seatbacks.

Santa Cruz offers two powertrains. The standard powertrain is a 2.5L direct-injected in-line four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. This engine couples to an eight-speed automatic transmission for quick acceleration and superb efficiency. Santa Cruz also offers a 2.5L direct-injected turbocharged engine with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque linked to an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). This DCT includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual shifting control. The 2.5L turbocharged powertrain adds a new tow mode for the 2025 model year.

The eight-speed transmission for the standard 2.5-liter engine provides quick and crisp shifts for an engaging and efficient driving experience. A multi-disc and individually controlled hydraulic channel torque converter improves responsiveness by expanding the direct connection band, while a downsized oil pump and double ball bearings minimize frictional losses.

Both 2.5L four-cylinder and 2.5L four-cylinder turbo models offer HTRAC all-wheel drive capability for complete confidence when pursuing adventures of all kinds or for that extra peace of mind when driving in an unexpected snowfall. HTRAC AWD was developed as a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles.

The Sport setting gives Santa Cruz a more agile feel by sending additional torque to the rear wheels, for a sporty, dynamic experience. This system has a wide range of torque distribution variability, tuned for conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering, and hill starts. For those customers who like to tow their weekend gear with them, the 2.5L 4-cylinder is rated to tow 3,500 lb, and the 2.5L Turbo AWD model boasts a generous 5,000 lb of towing capability.

In keeping with the more capable exterior, the upgraded Santa Cruz interior provides a clean, non-nonsense high-tech look combined with increased functionality. The new panoramic curved display houses an optional 12.3-in. driver information cluster and available 12.3-in. audio-video navigation (AVN) system for an immersive digital experience. In addition, the center stack controls are more ergonomic, with additional physical switchgear for frequently used audio and HVAC functions. The strong horizontal and vertical shapes of the new instrument panel are consistent with Santa Cruz's refreshed exterior changes while offering additional storage including a new shelf above the glovebox.

Specific interior changes include: a new instrument panel, a new panoramic curved display that houses an optional 12.3-in. driver information cluster and available 12.3-in. audio-video navigation (AVN) system, new audio/video/navigation and HVAC controls with switches and buttons, a new steering wheel, new air vents, and a rear seat center armrest with two cupholders.

Forward Attention Warning is a new safety feature for the Santa Cruz to address a lack of driver attention or drowsiness. New color choices include Rockwood Green and Canyon Red exterior and Medium Gray seating surfaces.

The Santa Cruz should start around $30,000, with the XRT starting around $42,000.

Learn more at hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/2025-santa-cruz.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited.

 

 

Source: Hyundai

Published April 2024

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