2022 RAM 1500 vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its compact dimensions, evoked memories of the mini trucks from the 1970s to 1990s. However, its unibody construction and unique styling positioned it more as a modern reinterpretation 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 notably shorter than a Toyota Tacoma but nearly as wide. Its wheelbase of 118.3 inches was also shorter than the Tacoma's, yet it was slightly larger than the 2022 Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV. The Santa Cruz's design leaned more towards an SUV with a bed rather than a traditional small pickup, featuring a distinctive grille and integrated headlights similar to the Tucson. The interior, while conventional, was honest and appropriate for its price range, with well-integrated air vents and practical materials.

In contrast, the 2022 RAM 1500 presented a more traditional full-size truck appearance, available in Quad Cab and Crew Cab styles with a standard 6-foot, 4-inch cargo box, and an optional 5-foot, 7-inch box for Crew Cabs. The RAM 1500 offered seven trim levels, from the basic Tradesman to the high-performance TRX. The truck's design retained elements of the "big rig" styling but was overall clean and contemporary. Inside, the RAM 1500 Limited trim exuded luxury with its busy design, featuring exposed stitching, mixed materials, and various patterns. The Indigo and Sea Salt two-tone color scheme, along with high-quality materials and construction, contributed to a cabin that felt upscale and refined.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The base engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while an optional turbocharged version delivered 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The naturally aspirated engine offered standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, whereas the turbocharged variant was all-wheel drive only. The Santa Cruz's multi-link suspension provided a fun driving experience, and the turbo engine offered ample power. However, its off-road capabilities were limited, with 8.6 inches of ground clearance and no low range or locking differentials. The Santa Cruz's towing capacity ranged from 3,500 pounds with the base engine to 5,000 pounds with the turbo engine, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds.

The 2022 RAM 1500 offered a range of engines, including a standard 3.6-liter V6 with a mild-hybrid system, a 5.7-liter V8 with or without eTorque, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 for the TRX model. Our test truck featured the EcoDiesel engine, a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 producing 260 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The EcoDiesel's towing capacity reached up to 12,560 pounds, with our Crew Cab Limited 4WD managing a 9,600-pound trailer and a 1,780-pound payload. The RAM 1500's coil-spring rear suspension and optional air suspension provided a smooth ride, and the cabin was notably quiet. However, the brake pedal's delayed action was a minor drawback.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz's small truck bed, measuring 52.1 inches in length, limited its utility for carrying larger items like bicycles or plywood. However, Hyundai included features to maximize the available space, such as a lockable tonneau cover, adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, in-bed LED lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Santa Cruz offered a four-door crew-cab configuration with seating for five, though rear-seat legroom was tight. Front-seat space was more generous, and the vehicle provided decent storage options, including a center console and under-seat storage.

The 2022 RAM 1500 offered ample interior space and comfort, especially in the Limited trim, with heated and ventilated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a reclining rear seat. Practical storage solutions were abundant, including a versatile center console, rear center armrest with a covered tray, and Ram Bins under the rear floor. The multi-function tailgate allowed for flexible loading options, and the optional RamBox storage bins provided additional secure storage. The power-deploying running boards, adjustable via the Uconnect 5 system, added convenience, though their placement in the system's menu was somewhat counterintuitive.

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 digital instrument cluster. The digital cluster displayed 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 visually appealing and responsive, though touch pads for certain functions were less user-friendly.

The 2022 RAM 1500 introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system on Big Horn and higher trims, offering faster loading times and improved features. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 12-inch display available on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa Built-in, satellite radio, and connected services. Our test vehicle featured the 12-inch display, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a Ramcharger wireless charging dock. While Uconnect 5 generally performed well, the voice recognition system and overall complexity posed some challenges.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, being a new model, lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. However, it offered standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims included additional features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering.

The 2022 RAM 1500 offered a range of driver-assist features, with higher trims available with the Advanced Safety Group and Rebel Safety Group packages. These included automatic high-beam headlights, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Our test truck also had rear parking sensors and a rear automatic braking system, though the latter was overly sensitive in certain situations. The IIHS awarded the RAM 1500 a Top Safety Pick rating, and the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, though frontal-impact ratings suggested room for improvement.