2021 Jeep Gladiator vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator was essentially a stretched and fortified Wrangler, designed for serious towing and hauling. It featured a short 5-foot cargo bed to maintain a good departure angle while providing utility. Despite its odd proportions, the Gladiator was a unique vehicle that grew on drivers, especially those who enjoyed off-roading and open-air experiences. The new Willys special edition and 80th Anniversary Edition added unique styling and features, while the High Altitude luxury model introduced premium touches.

Pricing for the Gladiator started at $33,545 for the base Sport model, but our test truck, equipped with Overland trim and a new turbo-diesel engine, came to $58,525. The interior, while durable and functional, was nearly identical to the Wrangler’s, with some modifications for rear seating. The Gladiator’s cabin featured Jeep Easter eggs and a utilitarian design, emphasizing its rugged nature.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its smaller footprint, resembled a modern take on the mini trucks of the past. Its unibody construction and unique styling made it more akin to the Subaru Baja or a smaller Honda Ridgeline. Measuring 195.7 inches long, 75.0 inches wide, and 66.7 inches tall, the Santa Cruz was over a foot shorter than a Toyota Tacoma but nearly as wide. It was slightly larger than the 2022 Hyundai Tucson, giving it a distinctive presence on the road.

The Santa Cruz’s SUV-like appearance, with a toothy grille and blended headlights, set it apart from traditional pickups. Available with 20-inch wheels or 18-inch wheels for off-roading, the Santa Cruz offered a versatile and stylish option. Inside, the design was more conventional, with appropriate materials for its price range and mission as a rugged adventure vehicle. The top Limited trim featured a well-integrated dashboard and practical storage solutions.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator introduced a new 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine, adding to the existing 3.6-liter gasoline V6. The diesel engine, costing an additional $4,000, produced 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, offering substantial low-end grunt and better fuel economy. During testing, the diesel engine averaged 22.6 mpg, slightly below the EPA’s estimated 24 mpg. The standard V6 returned 20.3 mpg in a previous test.

A Gladiator Sport with the standard engine could tow up to 7,650 pounds and haul up to 1,700 pounds of payload. The diesel powertrain, while not matching these figures, still offered impressive towing and payload capacities. Off-road, the diesel-powered Gladiator Rubicon excelled, with its torque making it easy to tackle tough trails. On paved roads, the Gladiator exhibited the same charms and quirks as the gasoline version, with a stiff ride and wind noise, but the diesel engine added to its appeal.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The base engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the optional turbocharged engine delivered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The naturally aspirated engine offered front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, while the turbocharged version was all-wheel drive only.

The Santa Cruz’s multi-link suspension provided a fun driving experience, with impressive ride quality and low cabin noise. The turbo engine offered ample thrust, though towing and off-roading capabilities were limited. The Santa Cruz could tow up to 3,500 pounds with the base engine and 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds. While not designed for serious off-roading, the Santa Cruz offered respectable ground clearance and four-wheel drive for light adventures.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator prioritized utility over comfort. The seats were supportive, but the small door openings, snug seating positions, and cramped rear legroom required some adjustment. Side steps or rails, while preserving breakover angle, made entry and exit more challenging. In-cabin storage included netting on the door panels, a small center console bin, cupholders, a dash-top tray, and an undersized glove compartment. The 5-foot steel cargo box held 35.5 cubic feet of cargo and featured multiple tie-down hooks, an adjustable tailgate, and optional accessories like a spray-in bedliner and Trail Rail cargo organizer.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz’s small truck bed, at 52.1 inches long, limited its utility for larger cargo. However, Hyundai included features like a lockable tonneau cover, height-adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, in-bed LED lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet to maximize the available space. The Santa Cruz also offered storage compartments under the bed and rear seats, and corner steps for easier access.

The Santa Cruz’s four-door crew-cab configuration provided seating for five, with tight rear legroom but more generous front-seat space. The center console offered decent storage, and controls for optional heated and ventilated seats were conveniently placed. However, touch pads for audio and climate control functions were harder to use while driving.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator, while old school in many ways, offered modern technology. The standard Uconnect 3 system with a 5-inch display included Bluetooth, voice text reply for Android devices, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The optional Uconnect 4 system, with a 7-inch touchscreen, added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-shelf Uconnect 4C system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and navigation, included SiriusXM Guardian connected services, an Alpine premium sound system, and an Amazon Alexa skill. The forward-facing Trail Cam, available with the Overland trim, was useful for off-road adventures.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trim levels 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 quick to respond and featured attractive graphics. Wireless device charging and Hyundai’s digital-key feature, which allowed smartphone use instead of a key fob, were also available.

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator’s standard safety features included a reversing camera. Depending on the trim level, advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams were available. The test truck had all these features, with blind-spot monitoring being particularly useful. The adaptive cruise control worked well, and Jeep offered both adaptive and standard cruise control. The NHTSA gave the Gladiator a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, as a new model, didn’t have safety ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA yet. However, Hyundai offered standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trim levels 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 curves, similar to other systems in this price range.