2022 Ford F-150 Lightning 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 the 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. Despite being larger than the 2022 Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV, the Santa Cruz was not exactly tiny.

The Santa Cruz’s exterior 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 only nods to traditional truck styling were the “Santa Cruz” name stamped into the tailgate, some plastic body cladding, and a bit of chrome. Available with 20-inch wheels that filled the arches nicely, Hyundai also offered 18-inch wheels for off-roading. Inside, the design was more conventional, with materials appropriate for its price range and mission as a rugged “adventure vehicle.”

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, despite being one of the most significant vehicle debuts in decades, looked surprisingly normal. It had unique exterior styling cues but largely resembled other F-150s on American roads. Available in four trim levels—Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum—the Lightning came with only one cab style and one bed length: a crew cab and a 5.5-foot bed. The base Pro trim, aimed at fleet use, started in the low $40,000 range, making it an appealing entry into electric pickups.

Identifying an F-150 Lightning was straightforward. The most recognizable feature was the big LED headlight bar stretching across the front. Below it, the space where a real grille would be on a gas F-150 was replaced with a plastic façade. The rear featured badges on the flanks and a taillight bar on higher trims. Inside, the Lightning offered ample space, with 43.9 inches of front-seat legroom and 43.6 inches of rear-seat legroom. The interior materials were good, with plenty of plastic components but also nice touchpoints. The Lariat trim featured a panoramic sunroof, under-seat storage, and numerous power outlets, including a 240-volt outlet in the bed.

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 multi-link suspension made it fun to drive in corners, and the self-leveling feature accounted for a loaded bed. The turbo engine provided ample thrust, but the base engine’s performance was untested.

The Santa Cruz had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with the naturally aspirated engine and 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine, along with a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds. While it offered 8.6 inches of ground clearance and AWD, it wasn’t ideal for serious off-roading due to the lack of low range, locking differentials, and underbody protection.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning featured dual electric motors, one on each axle, providing 426 horsepower with the standard range battery and 563 horsepower with the extended range battery. Both configurations delivered an impressive 775 pound-feet of torque. The dual motors ensured all Lightning models had AWD. The standard-range battery offered an EPA-estimated 230 miles on a full charge, while the extended-range battery provided 320 miles. The Lightning’s independent rear suspension, rather than traditional leaf springs, was a notable difference from other full-size pickups.

The Lightning’s standard-range battery measured 98-kilowatt hours, while the extended-range battery was 131-kilowatt hours. Charging options included 120-volt and 240-volt outlets, with fast charging from 15 to 80 percent in less than 45 minutes at a DC fast-charging station. The Lightning’s performance was impressive, with rapid acceleration and a low center of gravity, but its weight limited its cornering abilities.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz’s maximum payload capacity was impressive, but its small truck bed limited utility. At 52.1 inches long, it was much shorter than the short bed on a Toyota Tacoma, making it difficult to fit typical cargo like bicycles or 4x8 sheets of plywood. Hyundai included features to maximize 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, and corner steps for easier bed access.

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

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, as a pickup truck, offered plenty of functionality and capability. The 5.5-foot bed had numerous tie-down points, and the front end lifted to reveal a 14.1-cubic-foot “Mega Power Frunk” with an underfloor storage bin and drain. The Lightning could serve as a backup generator, powering a typical household for three days with a full battery. The 9.6-kilowatt onboard power supply was useful for powering tools on a job site.

The Lightning’s towing and hauling numbers were impressive, with a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds. However, approaching these figures would reduce the truck’s driving range. Onboard scales displayed the weight in the bed, and the remaining driving-range estimate adjusted accordingly.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including 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 images of blind spots 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 looked great and worked well, with quick boot-up and response times.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning featured impressive technology, with all trims getting at least a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 and offering three years of navigation. The Pro and XLT trims had a landscape-oriented 12-inch display, while the Lariat and Platinum trims had a 15-inch portrait-oriented screen. The 15-inch screen was stunning but had a confusing layout. The Lariat trim added an 8-speaker B&O stereo, while the Platinum trim upgraded to 15 speakers. The Lariat trim also featured a wireless charging pad and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system included games, useful for passing time while charging.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims offered blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning came with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features on the Pro trim included a 360-degree surround-view camera, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Reverse Guidance, and a forward sensing system. The XLT trim added adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Lariat trim offered Ford BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system with a driver-facing camera to ensure attention.