2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2021 Honda Ridgeline

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline underwent significant stylistic changes to better embody the traditional truck image. Honda redesigned elements in front of the windshield, the front doors, and added a new rear bumper featuring exposed dual exhaust outlets. The Ridgeline sported more aggressive tires and introduced new wheel designs in black, dark gray, and bronze. The standout HPD Package added oversized fender trim, a unique grille, and bold stickers on the cargo bed, making it more attractive for truck enthusiasts.

This model came in four trims: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition, with prices ranging from $36,490 to $43,920, excluding a $1,175 destination charge. The interior, based on the Honda Pilot SUV, was praised for its functionality. It included generous storage spaces and hard plastic surfaces, ensuring easy cleanup after adventures.

Comparatively, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz embraced a smaller footprint, drawing parallels to the mini trucks of the '70s to '90s but with modern unibody construction and striking design. At 195.7 inches long and 75 inches wide, it was over a foot shorter than a Toyota Tacoma. The Santa Cruz’s styling was more SUV-like with a bed, featuring a toothy grille and blended headlights. Available 18-inch and 20-inch wheels enhanced both off-road capability and aesthetics.

The Santa Cruz’s interior had a design more typical of SUVs rather than trucks. The materials, while not luxurious, were appropriate for its price point and mission as a rugged adventure vehicle. The air vents integrated with a trim ring encircling the dashboard added a cohesive touch, and controls were well-placed.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline aimed to please with a powerful and smooth 280-horsepower V6 engine, delivering 262 pound-feet of torque. The Ridgeline’s standard all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) could distribute up to 70% of engine power to a single rear wheel. With its unibody architecture and independent rear suspension, the Ridgeline offered excellent pavement handling, though it wasn’t ideal for rock-crawling due to its 7.64 inches of ground clearance. It could tow a maximum of 5,000 pounds and had a competitive payload rating of 1,583 pounds.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz provided a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. An optional turbocharged engine delivered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged version offered standard AWD and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Cruz impressed with an 8.6-inch ground clearance and a suspension that ensured a comfortable ride even with a loaded bed. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine and had a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds, making it versatile for recreational use.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline emphasized comfort and functionality. Its interior featured manually adjustable front seats with inboard armrests, ample storage, and supportive seating. More expensive trims offered leather seats, heated front seats, and a power sunroof. The Ridgeline's cargo bed was dent- and scratch-resistant and could hold 33.9 cubic feet of cargo. Notably, it had a dual-action tailgate and a 7.3 cubic-foot weatherproof trunk, making it versatile for various tasks.

On the other hand, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz's small truck bed, at 52.1 inches long, limited its utility for standard-sized cargo like bicycles or plywood. However, Hyundai optimized the space with features such as a lockable tonneau cover, height-adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, and an in-bed power outlet. The Santa Cruz's interior, like the Ridgeline, offered useful storage, though rear legroom was tight. It featured innovative storage solutions like compartments under the bed and rear seats.

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims enhanced the system with SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, and a premium sound system. The Ridgeline, however, maintained a more analog experience compared to some competitors.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, meanwhile, came with a similar 8-inch touchscreen offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims boasted a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen, wireless device charging, and Hyundai's Blue Link telematics service. The Santa Cruz's technology was more comprehensive, featuring quick-response screens and innovative features like a digital key for Android phones.

Every 2021 Honda Ridgeline came with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Though helpful, these features occasionally had issues, such as misidentifying obstacles. The Ridgeline also featured a multi-angle reversing camera and, on higher trims, included blind-spot warning and automatic high-beam headlights.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a range of safety features like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking as standard. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist. This system performed adequately for safe highway driving but struggled with highway curves, a common issue with such technologies.