2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD had a polarizing exterior design, with a front end and grille that resembled a vintage furnace or a freight train. It was a vehicle that exuded machismo, appealing to those who wanted a rugged and imposing look. Inside, the cabin was more conventional, prioritizing quantity over quality. Despite not having the best fit and finish, the spacious interior, comparable to a living room, made up for it. The Silverado 3500HD offered various trim levels, from the basic Work Truck (W/T) to the luxurious High Country, each adding more features and comfort.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz had a smaller footprint, reminiscent of mini trucks from the 1970s to 1990s, but with a modern twist. Its unibody construction and unique styling made it stand out, looking more like an SUV with a bed than a traditional pickup. The Santa Cruz was shorter than a Toyota Tacoma but nearly as wide, offering a distinctive appearance with a toothy grille and blended headlights. The interior was conventional and honest, with materials appropriate for its price range and mission as a rugged adventure vehicle. The top Limited trim featured a well-integrated design with practical air vents and a ring of trim encircling the dashboard.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine options. The standard 6.6-liter V8 gas engine produced 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 delivered 445 horsepower and an impressive 910 pound-feet of torque, mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Both engines could be configured with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) with low range. The diesel engine, in particular, provided excellent pickup and optimal performance, thanks to the 10-speed automatic transmission. The Silverado 3500HD boasted a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds, making it a powerhouse for heavy-duty tasks.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The base engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the optional turbocharged engine offered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The naturally aspirated version had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional all-wheel drive (AWD), whereas the turbocharged engine was AWD only. The Santa Cruz's multi-link suspension provided a fun driving experience, with a self-leveling feature for a loaded bed. The turbo engine delivered ample thrust, although the vehicle's off-road capabilities were limited. The Santa Cruz had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with the base engine and 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine, along with a payload capacity of 1,906 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in various configurations, including regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed. The single cab had one row of seating, while the crew cabs offered two rows of spacious seating with ample headroom and legroom. The Silverado featured integrated bed steps in the rear bumper corners and additional step-ups along the side of the bed, making it easier to access the vehicle's large cargo area.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its small truck bed measuring 52.1 inches long, had limited utility for larger cargo. However, Hyundai included features to maximize the available space, such as a lockable tonneau cover, height-adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, in-bed LED lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Santa Cruz also had storage compartments under the bed and rear seats, as well as corner steps for easier access. The vehicle was available only in a four-door crew-cab configuration with seating for five. While rear-seat legroom was tight, front-seat space was more generous, and outward visibility was good.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with upgraded trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and the High Country trim adding navigation. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons, dials, and a home button. The Silverado also offered numerous trailering features, including backup camera guidelines and additional camera angles, as well as a trailering app for monitoring critical functions.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The digital cluster could display blind-spot images from the optional surround-view camera system. Hyundai's Blue Link telematics service included smartwatch and Google Assistant connectivity. The 10.25-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster in the Limited trim were responsive and visually appealing, with quick boot-up times and intuitive controls. Wireless device charging and Hyundai's digital-key feature were also available.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. However, advanced safety features such as forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also available for added convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, being a new model, did not have safety ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA at the time. However, it offered standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims included blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist performed well for highway driving but struggled with handling curves, a common issue with similar systems.