Here’s What I Love AND Hate about the Hyundai Santa Cruz Compact Truck After Driving It For a Year! 

I was Blessed! I bought my Blue SEL Premium turbo with activity package in August of 21 , At West Broad Hyundai in Richmond Va They Don't Sale over MSRP! So my sticker was 31,325 and they gave me extra 25 k warranty and free Synthetic Oil changes for life. God is Faithful! My home Dealer Sold a White full Loaded limited wile we were still driving it. And Jacked price up. 3k

​@@rusty383You did not get the Premium Turbo + activity package then for that price. Stop.

@@rusty383 I call bs. That truck MSRPs for $37k.

@@dillonh321 it’s crazy to see the Colorado Zr2 (highest Trim) have a 4 cylinder sell for 45k

@@nogamblinge2671 To be fair it’s a fairly advanced, powerful and heavy built 4 cylinder but yeah it should be at least $15k less. In fact the whole truck market should be dropped by at least $15k IMO.

Nah that would require seals that leak over time then you have a mold truck.

just get an avalanche

Hi Buddy. I put the new K&N filter in mine. It really made a great difference! With the Cat it has 3 Mufflers. I am a retired Professional Driver. I have to have sound to hear everything in that little Hot Rod Turbo. I took that monster heavy last Muffler off and added 2 Beautiful twin Stanless cut outlets and it's the perfect mellow Sound like a 325i BMW and it looks stock. They have choses single iodized Black or stainless and same in twins. Now it sounds like it looks. Beautiful. Every thing

Would it be fair to say then that the turbo model would not be worth the extra money?

@@rogermoreno1152 It depends on how fast you want to go and how much you're willing to spend. For my needs the base engine has been great. Zero regrets.

What's is best way carry 2 mountain bikes on this Santa cruz?

Not quite up to Toyonda level, but better than Ford. Maverick has more recalls.

@@ThisGuyRides Hyundai comes with a great warranty as well. 5 year 60k miles Basic, 10 year 100k mile powertrain.

As a 2 door, it wouldn't fit into that market. A Dakota, yes. Rampage was like a Ranchero El Camino on a K car platform.

I think not being the same size as the Ridgeline is a good thing. For the people that want fwd pick up but live in the city it's nice to have an option.

Yeah, the Ridgeline offers more in size and comfort, for a little more cost!

Your man card has officially been revoked 😂

@@9663mu my wife would agree with you 😪

If you care about backseat spacing maybe don't go for a truck. Why not a minivan or a big SUV? And they're cheaper usually.

"My Limited DOES NOT have the hesitation or the herky jerk dct" Give it some time...

Which one do you Surf Fish with The NA AWD The NA FWD East Coast sand West Coast sand Gulf Coast sand

many people do not understand/know how to properly drive a DCT which often causes failure quickly. It isnt as bad forwet DCT but kia and hyundai are cheap and use DRY dct. There is a certain way to drive a DCT. They need "babied". I suggest you have your friends do some research on DCT so they can start driving them correctly. They are kind of like manuals trans.. Its super odd. DCT really need babied in city driving. They are just not made for stop and go traffic well. I personally would not get a DCT because I just don't want to add all that extra stress and focus into the vehicle when driving. If i wanted that id get a manual trands. DCTs are odd and if you don not drive them properly things can get bad quickly. Kia nd Hyundai seem to be putting dry DCTs in a lot of their vehicles.

@@johnj6306 The 2023 Santa Cruz uses a wet DCT, not a dry, I own the Night Edition. It definitely needs to be driven with how it shifts in mind, but overall this seems to be a good transmission for rural driving. I do a lot of back roads and highways, not a lot of city driving. First time I've ever bought a Hyundai. Only time will tell on how it holds up. I'm only planning on keeping it 5-7 years and no more than 100k miles. I will do all services reccomneded by the manufacturer. Hopefully it holds up.

​@@darylhurlbut3473well, how is it holding up?

@DevilDog53 Synthetic Especially when it has a turbo! I called Hyundai about it too ! They are supposed to call the dealer

$40k for a Hyundai...What hell are these people smoking to mark a small truck over $40k?

😂😂

do you have the jerky transmission at slow speed like he mentioned in this video?

Nah, this comment is vile!😂

savage! I actually wish Nathan would have been in this video as well. It's one thing to have this truck (sorry) in the TFL fleet for a year, but probably a lot more insightful to drive it every day? (plus, he has better taste in music :P)

😂

It’s called static electricity!

these two guys are idiots

I just bought the exact same NE truck, same color. It’s been fantastic so far. The ride is very refined, quiet and smooth. Way more refined than I expected. The power is great. The transmission hasn’t been an issue but it’s early. And the back seat is perfectly fine for normal sized adults. Mine is a 2023 and has physical buttons for the climate control. I think the Night Edition in Hampton Gray is the best looking example of this truck.

Naturally aspirated is tried and true

I like it too youre not alone haha

Definitely polarizing lol. I love the way it looks, very odd but still cool. I have one used to work with a bunch of trucksexual machinists, welders, etc., and a bunch of them loved it😂 Even the "square body or it's not a truck" guys kind of had their interest piqued. Made them feel things and they didn't like it lol.

thought it was ugly until i actually saw it on the road in person

It's a really eye-catching design, very modern and pleasing to look at.

Design is good, but the price sent me to Ford.

Actually they call it an SAV - sport adventure vehicle

@@edsgarage001 yes I stand corrected

Hyundai did a great on the Santa Cruz. It’s a big market for small trucks and they made a better looking truck than expected. I had my doubts when they announced it, but I see the appeal. I’m a ford guy but if my job made me drive a Santa Cruz i Wouldn’t mind.

yes, shovel and maybe a 15' tow chain

it's 9-1-24. I believe all the bugs have been fixed

Comments bullied me out of considering a ridge line lmao but reviewers rave about ridge lines.

Looks great maybe wait for the ‘24

Best warranty in the world so I wouldn't worry about that at all

I went with the base model and glad I did. The non turbo has enough power for me and the conventional transmission works great and is proven. Also prefer the interior controls with real knobs and buttons for the climate control. Wanted as much bed space as possible so the retractable bed cover was a no go for me. Was difficult to find a base model. Most dealers had mainly loaded ones which were 10K more and would of given me the features I specifically did not want.

I waited years for the Santa Cruz and was a bit disappointed. Mostly, I wanted more room…more backseat space, more bed space. The compact size of the Santa Cruz has pushed me toward the Ridgeline. That vehicle just seems to be a perfect mix of “truck” things without being “over-trucked.” It’s so practical.

Just stick with your Ridgeline. It better than Cruz in every aspect. Especially around the same price for high trim.

@@g7003041 Agree 👍

I’d spend the extra money and get the Ridgeline.

@@linhunnicutt6556 That is why I think the Santa Cruz is over priced.

What are the products we just got ours

@@stevelarge5215 most will tell you in their description. I use P&S products almost exclusively, but Chemical Guys, has an interior detailer that has antistatic properties. Ethos Interior detailer and conditioner, CarPro Inner QD, and Formula 303 may have as well. I like to find one brand that I like that ha a quality lineup across the board nd stick with them for everything I can. They tend to work well together and then you can learn all the ins and outs if them and how they work best. If it's my personal car and I don't have to worry about margin I'm going to go with a premium line like CarPro, Mckee's 37, Koch-Chemie, AMMO and use them exdclusively. HTH! PS as important is the cloth you use go with Auto fiber, or Rag company and stay with a Korean microfiber product, preferably edgeless, and get a twisted loop towel for drying and alwyas use a drying aid. HTH

Not to mention the ability to use a USB cord to operate it if you lose your keys!

Base equipment Santa Cruz is only $27,000 and much better than the featured car.

They’re ok from Colorado ‘22 ownerAll mid size trucks would shine on versatility if the rear cab was 3in further back it could accommodate so many more passengers without knee pressing into seats

Really? It’s just a bad one you got. They are great.

in Canada 🇨🇦 $42k start .Tacoma $46 k start

The prices are joining just absurd though

And real buttons, not capacitive touch stuff!

No they aren’t.

lol

Nope

You will .@@bradleyscarreviews

Truth !!! I was dead set on this UNTIL I hit the santa cruz forum n saw everything from 22 to 24s DCT shitting the bed. Once guys gave up the ghost at 11k and again at 23k ...nah that was enough for me and where I live with tons of hills the turbo is a must ..so its a no go for me until they ditch that pos DCT