2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz presented a distinctive take on the pickup truck segment, combining unibody construction and innovative styling reminiscent of the Subaru Baja or a smaller Honda Ridgeline. At 195.7 inches long, 75.0 inches wide, and 66.7 inches tall, the Santa Cruz was over a foot shorter than the Toyota Tacoma but nearly as wide. Its 118.3-inch wheelbase was 9.1 inches shorter. Despite these dimensions, the Santa Cruz was larger than the 2022 Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV, suggesting it wasn’t exactly diminutive.

The Santa Cruz’s design leaned towards looking more like an SUV with a bed rather than a traditional pickup. It featured a unique toothy grille and blended headlights similar to the Tucson, making it stand out. Traditional truck design elements included the “Santa Cruz” stamped into the tailgate, some plastic body cladding, and a bit of chrome. It came with optional 20-inch wheels or 18-inch wheels for off-roading.

Inside, the Santa Cruz had a more conventional look, with an honest design approach. The materials were appropriate for the price range and the rugged “adventure vehicle” theme. The integration of air vents with a trim ring encircling the dashboard added a nice touch, and controls for the optional heated and ventilated seats were well-placed on the center console.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma, meanwhile, started showing its age despite a facelift in 2020. Its aggressive grille and contemporary headlights kept the exterior looking modern. However, once inside, the cabin exposed its dated design with hard plastics and old switchgear mixed with newer elements like push-button start.

Trim levels ranged from SR to TRD Pro, each adding features like larger wheels, sport suspensions, leather upholstery, and premium audio systems. Interior design leaned more towards functionality with lots of buttons and manual controls. Despite some modern tech, the cabin felt dated compared to the more contemporary competition.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). An optional turbocharged 2.5-liter engine delivered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The naturally aspirated engine offered front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional all-wheel drive (AWD), while the turbocharged version came with AWD as standard.

On the road, the Santa Cruz felt less like a truck and more like a sporty crossover, thanks to its multi-link suspension and self-leveling feature, which made it fun in the corners. The turbo engine provided robust acceleration, particularly when unloaded. With a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds (naturally aspirated) and 5,000 pounds (turbo), and a payload capacity of 1,906 pounds, it was positioned more for recreational use rather than heavy-duty work.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma had a base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine generating 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque—an underwhelming option best avoided. The more robust choice was the 3.5-liter V6, producing 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. This engine was optional in the SR and SR5 trims but standard in higher trims. The Tacoma boasted a towing capacity of up to 6,800 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,685 pounds.

The V6 provided decent performance in town but struggled on highways due to less-than-ideal gearing and transmission behavior. TRD models enhanced off-road capability with tunable suspensions and features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control. These trims were particularly suited for trail use, absorbing bumps and dips effectively.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz claimed a notable maximum payload capacity but was limited by its small truck bed measuring 52.1 inches, significantly shorter than the Toyota Tacoma’s beds. Typical truck cargo like bicycles or 4x8 sheets of plywood required creative positioning or carrying with the tailgate down.

Despite the small bed, Hyundai incorporated features to maximize space, including a lockable tonneau cover, height-adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, in-bed LED lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Santa Cruz offered additional storage with under-bed compartments and bins under the rear seats. Accessing the bed was made easier with corner steps.

The Santa Cruz came only in a four-door crew cab configuration with seating for five. Rear-seat legroom was tight but comparable to some larger midsize trucks. Front-seat space was better, with good outward visibility due to the low hood and short front end. The center console provided ample storage, and the design of steering wheel controls was thoughtful.

In contrast, the Toyota Tacoma was available in Access Cab and Double Cab body styles. The Access Cab had clamshell rear half-doors and seating for four, with tight rear seating best suited for short trips or additional storage. The Double Cab had better rear space but still struggled with legroom for adults on longer journeys.

Front seats could slide back to offer ample legroom for the driver and front passenger, though taller drivers might find the telescoping steering wheel insufficient. The Tacoma’s cab had plenty of cupholders and storage. The truck bed featured in-bed lighting and a power outlet, enhancing utility.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured advanced technological offerings. The base model came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trim levels added a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a digital instrument cluster that displayed blind spot images from the optional surround-view camera system. Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics service provided smartwatch and Google Assistant connectivity.

In our test vehicle, the 10.25-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster performed impressively. The displays were clear and responsive, and the system booted up quickly. Wireless device charging and the digital-key feature, usable with Android phones, were also available.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma offered a 7-inch touchscreen in the base model, while other trims featured an 8-inch screen. Despite being an older design, the infotainment system was user-friendly, with a basic layout and large icons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were easy to navigate, although tuning and volume dials were small. The Tacoma also had a wireless device charger that required manual activation.

Though the Tacoma lacked the array of advanced tech features found in the Santa Cruz, it provided a straightforward experience suited for drivers prioritizing durability over high-tech convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims offered additional safety features such as blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma came standard with driver-assistance features including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Tacoma received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and high scores from the 2021 IIHS crash tests, confirming its safety credentials.