Uninterested in pickups too large for metropolis parking spots and tight garages? I do know the wrestle—I examined many giant vehicles myself. Nonetheless, not all vehicles are created equal, there some smaller vehicles which are extra like SUVs than “true” vehicles, however they meet the wants of a big group of customers. The compact 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT is one such truck.
It mixes pickup toughness with SUV consolation, making metropolis driving straightforward however nonetheless capable of deal with outside enjoyable. Preserve studying—this might be simply the truck you’ve been in search of.
Key Takeaways
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT trim begins $47,499 MSRP and affords a punchy turbocharged 281-hp engine with an 8-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. It reaches 0–60 mph in roughly 6.5 seconds.
Towing capability for the absolutely geared up XRT is spectacular at as much as 5,000 kilos (with trailer brakes), whereas most payload throughout all trims stands at a stable 1,411 kilos.
New options for the up to date XRT embody bolder styling: wider blacked-out grille, redesigned daytime working lights (diminished from 10 to eight components) for clearer visibility, sport-tuned suspension on softer tires for improved off-road journey high quality, and superior tech like twin digital screens sized at 12.3 inches every.
Inside highlights embody comfy entrance seating however tighter rear area in comparison with rivals; progressive cargo options that includes lockable tonneau cowl and built-in storage trunk underneath its four-foot mattress; sturdy security scores with customary collision avoidance tech serving to it earn NHTSA’s high five-star total ranking.
What’s New for 2025?
For 2025, Hyundai gave this truck a contemporary look and a few upgrades geared toward off-road followers. The XRT trim acquired particular consideration—making it bolder than earlier than.
Up to date entrance grille and fascia
Wanting on the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT, the up to date entrance grille stood out straight away. This redesigned grille is wider, blockier, and loaded with chrome particulars that actually amp up its truck-like look.
On my take a look at mannequin—the tough-looking XRT trim—it even got here blacked-out to dial in a stronger off highway aesthetic.
The contemporary fascia provides extra fashion too—shiny new daytime working lights minimize sharply into the design, paired properly with daring wheel designs that catch eyes on each drive.
Hyundai nailed it—with this new face, the Santa Cruz lastly feels rugged sufficient for weekend adventures.
Redesigned daytime working lights
The redesigned daytime working lights stood out straight away throughout my time with the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT. In comparison with final yr’s mannequin, Hyundai lowered the variety of mild components from 10 down to simply 8, giving them a clear but daring search for the outside makeover.
The brand new lighting association sharply frames the up to date entrance fascia and grille replace; it catches eyes, provides fashion, and brings a more durable edge to automobile look.
On my take a look at drive round city at nightfall, these refreshed automotive lighting components had been brighter and clearer than earlier variations I’ve tried—serving to me spot highway hazards quicker with out blinding different drivers.
They boosted each visibility and persona—a pleasant stability of practicality and styling enhancements. Hyundai nailed this element of their newest exterior redesign effort for certain.
Enhanced off-road options within the XRT trim
I took the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT out to check its enhanced off-road options on powerful terrain. The game-tuned impartial multi-link rear suspension made it straightforward to deal with tough trails, giving me secure and clean management at each flip.
Switching between completely different drive mode choices was fast and easy, letting me alter for mud, sand, or gravel with only one click on. With HTRAC all-wheel drive delivering improved grip in difficult circumstances and an eight-speed moist dual-clutch transmission system offering constant energy, tackling rocky slopes felt virtually easy—proof that this trim is really constructed for journey and dependable efficiency over demanding floor.
Pricing and Trim Choices
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz affords varied trims to match your wants and price range. I’ll provide the lowdown on pricing, with particular consideration to what the brand new XRT trim brings to the desk.
Beginning value and out there trims
In Canada, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is obtainable in three trims. The bottom Most well-liked trim has a beginning value of $41,999, the XRT trim (our assessment automobile) begins at $47,499, and the highest of the road Santa Cruz Final has a value of $50,499. These costs don’t embody Freight & PDI, different charges and levies, and gross sales taxes.
All the mannequin lineup affords loads of variant picks—whether or not it’s entry-level price you’re after or premium options.
My most popular selection is unquestionably the brand new XRT trim stage. It comes with rugged enhancements that go well with my fashion: upgraded off-road gear and distinctive design touches not present in different out there configurations.
For anybody wanting one thing particular with out stepping as much as Restricted version selections priced larger, XRT hits an thrilling stability between efficiency and worth.
Engine, Transmission, and Efficiency
The turbocharged powertrain within the XRT was spectacular. This boosted engine choice places out a formidable 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 lb-ft of torque between 1,700-4,000 rpm with its 2.5-liter turbo motor—loads of muscle for every day drives or weekend enjoyable.
Paired up with an eight-speed moist dual-clutch automated transmission (DCT), shifts really feel fast, clean, and exact; paddle shifters add much more management to every gear change.
This high-performance engine comes customary with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system, offering variable torque-split management that stored me assured each on slippery roads and tough trails alike.
There’s additionally a brand new towing drive mode unique to XRT and Restricted trims designed particularly for hauling heavier masses—like trailers or boats—with ease.
Sport-tuned suspension for the XRT trim
The game-tuned suspension is comfy on the highway and may deal with decently tough roads with ease. The XRT trim has smaller 18-inch wheels in comparison with the Final trim’s larger 20-inch set, fitted with softer tires and taller sidewalls for improved journey high quality.
The upgraded suspension system consists of performance-enhancing components—presumably coil-over shocks and stiffer sway bars—which ship enhanced automobile dynamics. This sporty suspension tuning sharpens dealing with on twisty roads whereas high-performance shocks present higher management over bumps.
Towing and Payload Capability
The 2025 Santa Cruz XRT affords stable towing and payload numbers, supplying you with loads of muscle—hold studying to search out out if it meets your hauling wants.
Most towing & Payload capability
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT has spectacular towing capabilities, it may deal with trailers weighing as much as 5,000 kilos with none hassle, on all three trims.
The Santa Cruz has a shocking quantity of most payload capability, which sits at a formidable 1,411 kilos. Which means instruments, gear, coolers filled with drinks, and fitter simply in a single go.
Hyundai retains it easy by providing the identical carrying capability throughout all trims.
The cargo mattress dealt with heavy masses easily with out feeling strained or weighed down. Even top-heavy gadgets stayed regular underneath that 1,411-pound weight restrict. Excessive payload rankings like this imply severe hauling functionality for weekend initiatives or outside actions with out stress over exceeding gross automobile weight rankings or load capacities.
Gasoline Financial system and Actual-World MPG
Gasoline economic system issues, and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT proves stable in real-world driving. The turbocharged mannequin scores an honest claimed consumption. The XRT is rated at 12.8/8.9/11.1 liters/100 kilometer in metropolis/freeway/mixed driving. The Final and Most well-liked trims are rated at 12.4/8.5/10.7 L/100 km.
Out in the actual world with regular driving round city and on the highways, the onboard laptop confirmed 9.8 L/100 km in about 75/25 freeway/metropolis driving. With figures like these, automobile effectivity feels stable sufficient if eco-friendly driving is in your thoughts however you aren’t prepared but for hybrid automobile effectivity or electrical automobile vary limitations.
Plus much less carbon emissions are at all times welcome information when pondering of sustainable transportation choices over time.
Inside, Consolation, and Cargo
Inside, the Santa Cruz XRT feels upscale however prepared for journey. You’ll discover loads of intelligent storage areas to stash your gear or instruments out again.
Seating and area within the cabin
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT affords comfy seating up entrance. The cabin area feels roomy, with sufficient legroom to stretch out on longer drives—I discovered it straightforward to drive for hours.
Rear seat consolation is one other story: it’s restricted in comparison with Hyundai’s Tucson, providing 5 inches much less rear legroom. Putting in a baby seat was difficult right here as a consequence of tighter cabin area; it took some additional effort and endurance on my half.
Regardless of having seating association rated for 5 passengers, I’d recommend maintaining taller pals in entrance for longer journeys.
With seating coated, let’s speak about cargo mattress usability and storage options subsequent.
Cargo mattress usability and storage options
The cargo mattress within the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT stands out for truck mattress performance. Not too long ago, I loaded up a brand new grill and a few tenting gear into its four-foot truck mattress—it dealt with cumbersome merchandise transport with ease.
The lockable tonneau cowl added peace of thoughts, offering safe cargo storage whereas maintaining my tools away from prying eyes. Inside, there’s additionally versatile in-bed storage just like what you’d see on the Honda Ridgeline; it let me retailer smaller gadgets like instruments with out cluttering the mattress itself.
One other helpful addition is the modern built-in trunk beneath the ground of this pickup’s truck mattress. This hidden compartment provides handy extra storage options—good for groceries or sports activities gear—and retains them secure from climate or theft.
Between its useful lockable mattress cowl and well positioned compartments, I’ve discovered that cargo group couldn’t be easier thanks to those intelligent cargo mattress options within the Santa Cruz XRT.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Inside, I discovered the tech setup straightforward to make use of and fast to reply. Connecting my smartphone took seconds—precisely what I’d need in a every day driver.
Show measurement and options
I hung out with the infotainment system on the 2025 Santa Cruz XRT, and the twin 12.3-inch screens caught my consideration straight away. The digital instrument cluster sits clearly behind the wheel, giving me all driving particulars in an interactive show that’s straightforward to make use of.
Subsequent to it’s a shiny, sharp 12.3-inch touchscreen interface for infotainment options like smartphone compatibility and multimedia integration.
The brand new leisure system pairs rapidly with my telephone—Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work easily—and 4 quick USB-C charging ports hold all units powered up throughout drives.
Contact response was fast, menus clear and easy to navigate; Hyundai has completed effectively making tech handy with out overwhelming customers with complicated controls or sophisticated choices.
Smartphone integration choices
The Santa Cruz XRT makes utilizing my telephone within the truck straightforward. The usual 12.3-inch infotainment display screen pairs wirelessly straight away with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—no cords wanted, simply bounce in and go.
With smartphone integration this straightforward, I can stream music, deal with calls hands-free, or comply with maps with out trouble—the sort of handy incar leisure any man would recognize.
Wi-fi connectivity between my cellular machine and the Hyundai infotainment system feels clean each time I’ve hopped behind the wheel to date. It helps quick connections to each main platforms (Android or iPhone), giving me fast entry to messages, apps like Spotify for music streaming, podcasts on longer drives—just about every little thing I want from automobile connectivity on a busy day.
Security and Driver-Help Options
The Santa Cruz XRT packs loads of sensible security tech to maintain you safe behind the wheel. It even scored effectively in crash-tests, which provides peace of thoughts for every day driving or weekend journeys.
Key security applied sciences
I recognize having sensible tech to maintain me secure wherever I drive—and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT has loads. Each trim, together with the rugged XRT mannequin, comes customary with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping help are additionally a part of the fundamental package deal. I discovered blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert particularly helpful when backing out from crowded parking spots or merging on busy highways.
Hyundai packs a full set of superior driver help options into this pickup. The collision avoidance system rapidly alerts me if visitors instantly stops forward, whereas driver’s assists like lane departure prevention steer gently so I can keep safely centered in my lane with out drifting.
Blind spot detection is at all times lively in my aspect mirrors— giving clear alerts if one other automobile hides simply exterior my sight strains—making freeway driving stress-free daily.
NHTSA security ranking
Security issues to me so much, so it’s excellent news the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT earned a five-star total automobile security ranking from NHTSA. The pickup comes with customary driver help programs like ahead collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane departure warning system and lane maintaining help know-how.
It additionally affords choices corresponding to adaptive cruise management and has a regular driver-attention warning to assist forestall fatigue on longer rides. With these collision avoidance applied sciences backing me up, feeling safe behind the wheel will get a lot simpler.
Remaining Ideas on The Hyundai Santa Cruz Decide Up Truck
After driving the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT for every week, I’m impressed by its stability of consolation and functionality. The off-road options stood out, making path drives straightforward. Regardless of some tighter area within the again seat, its city-friendly measurement affords nice comfort round city or on weekend journeys.
With punchy efficiency, a luxurious cabin and distinctive design—this little truck is prepared for journey. For many who need a versatile pickup with fashion and performance, the Santa Cruz XRT delivers throughout the board.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT Overview Photograph Gallery
Folks Additionally Ask
What options does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT provide?
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT comes with rugged styling, improved off-road capability, and superior security tech—plus a snug cabin that makes every day driving pleasant.
How effectively does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT carry out off-road?
With its upgraded suspension, all-terrain tires, and protecting skid plates beneath, the brand new Santa Cruz XRT handles tough trails confidently—and easily tackles uneven floor.
Is the inside of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT sensible for on a regular basis use?
Sure—the cabin affords loads of storage choices and user-friendly controls to maintain issues easy on busy days; seats are comfortable sufficient for lengthy drives too.
Does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT have good gas economic system?
Contemplating its energy and functionality, this mannequin delivers respectable fuel mileage that’s aggressive in its class—making it an environment friendly selection each round city and on longer journeys.
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