Hyundai debuted the much-anticipated manufacturing model of its “sport journey car” on Thursday, greater than six years faraway from when the idea wowed the gang on the Detroit auto present in 2015. 

The low-slung four-door pickup primarily based on the 2022 Hyundai Tucson crossover SUV fills the vacuum created when the Subaru Baja left the market in 2006. The unibody utility car with a small mattress is greater than a foot shorter in size than the Honda Ridgeline, and some inches shorter in peak. At 195.7 inches, it is a couple of inches longer than the Subaru Outback and its wheelbase stretches 10 inches longer than the Tucson. 

It shares the face of the redesigned Tucson, too, with a grille stepped like a climbing wall that conceals daytime operating lights that boomerang out to the corners. The headlights sit low above a closely clad entrance bumper and entrance skid plate. The profile options spherical wheel arches and 18-inch wheels or obtainable 20-inch wheels in a star sample, and the tasteful cladding runs down the rockers to the rear the place the Santa Cruz actually makes its mark. 

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The rear bumper options nook steps just like the Chevy Colorado, and the identify stamped in daring on the bottom of the tailgate evokes toy Tonka vans of yore. The taillights bulge in hatchet shapes across the corners and flipping the gate down reveals a mattress that’s not a field. The higher half is shorter than the decrease half, measuring 48.4 inches up high and 52.1 inches on the backside. That is a minimum of a half foot shorter than different mid-size pickup vans. A lockable tonneau cowl and an underfloor storage bin with a drain plug make up for the mattress’s shortcomings.

Intelligent storage areas occupy the within as effectively, with a 60/40-split rear seat that may be flipped as much as entry a seat-length storage effectively. An 8.0-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto fills out base fashions, however an obtainable frameless 10.3-inch touchscreen will be had on larger trims. Hyundai will disclose particular options, trims, and inside dimensions nearer to the summer time on-sale date. 

The Santa Cruz cribs as a lot from the Tucson because it does from Hyundai’s N collection of efficiency automobiles. The usual engine is a 2.5-liter inline-4 that makes 190 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. It makes use of an 8-speed computerized with front-wheel drive, similar as within the 2022 Tucson. The bottom Santa Cruz can tow 3,500 kilos. 

The uprated engine is a 2.5-liter turbo-4 making an estimated 275 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It pairs to an 8-speed dual-clutch computerized utilized in Hyundai’s efficiency N variants however with totally different tuning. With obtainable all-wheel drive, it may well tow 5,000 kilos. 

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The HTrac all-wheel-drive system comes with a middle locking differential that splits the torque between the entrance and rear axles. If the motive force doesn’t press the locker for low pace off-roading, the system mechanically adjusts torque between the axles primarily based on situations and driver inputs. Drivers can select from Sport, Regular, and Sensible drive modes, and Sport sends as much as 50% of the torque to the rear wheels. When cruising, nonetheless, many of the torque goes to the entrance wheels for effectivity.

Gasoline financial system numbers have not been launched, however the Santa Cruz ought to be capable of escape city environs for the trailheads with a level of effectivity and enjoyable. Its brief overhangs ought to assist when the pavement ends and the overlanding begins. It has a Subaru-like 8.6 inches of floor clearance, a breakover angle of 18.6 levels and strategy and departure angles of 17.5 and 23.2 levels, respectively.

Commonplace on each Santa Cruz is computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lively lane management. Choices equivalent to blind-spot displays, blind-spot cameras, and surround-view cameras will assist get your bearings on the path or when slipping into that parallel parking spot. 

One other grounding pressure for the Santa Cruz is Hyundai’s distinctive guarantee, together with a 5-year/60,000-mile restricted guarantee, a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain guarantee, and three years/36,000 miles of complimentary oil adjustments and tire rotations. 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz goes on sale this summer time, with reservations opening up in late April.