2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its smaller footprint compared to current midsize pickups, evoked memories of the mini trucks from the 1970s to 1990s. However, its unibody construction and unique styling made it more akin to a modern Subaru Baja or a smaller Honda Ridgeline. Measuring 195.7 inches in length, 75.0 inches in width, and 66.7 inches in height, the Santa Cruz was over a foot shorter than a Toyota Tacoma but nearly as wide. Its 118.3-inch wheelbase was 9.1 inches shorter than the Tacoma’s, yet it was slightly larger than the 2022 Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV.

The Santa Cruz’s design resembled an SUV with a bed rather than a traditional small pickup. Its toothy grille and blended headlights, similar to the Tucson, ensured it stood out on the road. The truck-styling elements were limited to the “Santa Cruz” name stamped into the tailgate, some plastic body cladding, and a bit of chrome. Available with 20-inch wheels or 18-inch wheels for off-roading, the Santa Cruz’s interior was more conventional, with a straightforward design that avoided faux ruggedness. The materials, while not luxurious, were appropriate for its price range and its intended use as a rugged adventure vehicle.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered two models: the Silverado Limited (LTD) from the first half of the year and a refreshed version from the second half. The updated Silverado came in regular cab, extended cab (Double Cab), and crew cab configurations, with various bed lengths and trim levels ranging from the basic Work Truck (WT) to the luxurious High Country. The new Silverado ZR2, designed for high-speed desert running and challenging terrain, featured standard four-wheel drive (4WD) and a host of off-road enhancements.

Prices for the Silverado ranged from $34,845 to $70,490, with the ZR2 topping the lineup. The ZR2 included features like Glacier Blue paint, a Technology Package, a power sunroof, off-road high-clearance side steps, a MultiFlex tailgate, and a hard tonneau cover. Across the lineup, the 2022 Silverado received styling updates to the headlights, grille designs, front bumpers, and wheels. Chevy Safety Assist became standard, and higher trims featured a new interior with digital instrumentation, a widescreen infotainment touchscreen, and improved materials. The standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine gained more torque, and the turbodiesel inline-six’s towing capacity increased to 13,300 pounds.

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 an optional turbocharged engine delivered 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The naturally aspirated version offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD), while the turbocharged engine was AWD only.

The Santa Cruz’s driving experience was more car-like, with a standard multi-link suspension that made it fun in corners and included a self-leveling feature for a loaded bed. Even with 20-inch wheels, the ride quality was impressive, and cabin noise was minimal. The turbo engine provided ample thrust, though towing and off-roading 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, and a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 focused on performance, with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Despite its power, the ZR2’s acceleration was merely acceptable, and its fuel efficiency was low, averaging 16.3 mpg over 130 miles of mixed driving. The ZR2’s suspension, featuring a 2-inch lift, 33-inch mud-terrain tires, and Multimatic 40mm DSSV dampers, excelled in off-road conditions, providing a smooth ride on rough terrain.

The ZR2’s off-road capabilities were impressive, with a 31.8-degree approach angle, 11.2 inches of ground clearance, steel skid plates, and electronic locking front and rear differentials. The truck handled various off-road challenges with ease, and its modifications also benefited daily driving, offering a smooth ride and quiet cabin. However, the ZR2’s handling on curvy roads was less impressive, with the tires losing grip sooner than expected.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz’s small truck bed, measuring 52.1 inches long, limited its utility. Typical cargo like bicycles or 4x8 sheets of plywood wouldn’t fit completely in the bed. 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 had storage compartments under the bed and rear seats, and corner steps for easier access.

The Santa Cruz was available only in a four-door crew-cab configuration with seating for five. Rear-seat legroom was tight, but front-seat space was more generous, and outward visibility was good. The center console offered decent storage space, and controls for heated and ventilated seats were conveniently placed. However, touch pads for audio and climate control functions were harder to use while driving.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2’s suspension lift and oversized tires made entry and exit challenging, but robust grab handles and optional off-road high-clearance side steps helped. The Silverado ZR2’s interior was comfortable, with 10-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The crew cab provided ample legroom, headroom, and foot room, and a heated steering wheel was standard.

Chevrolet improved the Silverado’s interior with soft materials on the upper door panels, digital instrumentation, and a 13.4-inch touchscreen display. Storage space was plentiful, with hidden storage in the rear seatbacks and a generous in-cab storage area behind the front seats. The deep cargo box offered plenty of volume, and corner-step bumpers made accessing the bed easier. The MultiFlex tailgate provided versatility, and a spray-in bedliner protected against damage.

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.

In the Santa Cruz Limited, the 10.25-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster performed well, with clear graphics and quick response times. Wireless device charging and Hyundai’s digital-key feature, which allowed smartphone use instead of a key fob, were also available.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s new 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and connected services like a WiFi hotspot and navigation. The system also featured Google Built-in digital assistant and other Google-based features, though it was slower to respond to spoken commands and less intuitive than the previous system.

The Silverado’s seven-speaker Bose sound system had improved sound quality, and the rear camera mirror provided a video feed for better visibility. The test truck also had a 15-inch head-up display, which supplied pertinent information within the driver’s line of sight. The combination of the digital gauge cluster, infotainment display, and head-up display made it easy to find information without feeling overwhelmed.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz lacked safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to its newness. However, it offered standard 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.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included basic driver-assistance and collision-avoidance features. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on lower trims. The Silverado also featured Teen Driver, which tracked driving behavior and produced a report card.

High Country trims offered Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system for approved highways. The Silverado ZR2 test truck had advanced driving assistance systems that worked with refinement and accuracy. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems operated smoothly, providing helpful assistance on narrow roads.

Crash-test data for the updated 2022 Silverado was unavailable, but the 2022 Silverado Limited (LTD) received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and unimpressive results from the IIHS.