2023 Honda Ridgeline 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 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 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 2023 Honda Ridgeline, updated a couple of years prior, featured a new front end with bolder details, larger dual exhaust outlets, and more appealing wheels with aggressive tread tires. These changes gave it a more rugged appearance, though the optional Honda Performance Development (HPD) packages with oversized fender flares were best avoided. The Ridgeline was available in four trims: Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition, all equipped with a V6 engine, nine-speed automatic transmission, and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

Prices ranged from $38,800 to $46,230, excluding a $1,345 destination charge. The Black Edition test vehicle, with extra-cost Platinum White Pearl paint and accessory 18-inch black alloy wheels, had an MSRP of $49,866. While the Ridgeline was more refined and sophisticated compared to traditional pickups like the Toyota Tacoma, it shared many components with the Honda Passport crossover SUV. The interior, similar to the Passport, exuded quality with leather-lined seats, ample storage, and a sensible layout. Despite its design dating back to the 2016 Honda Pilot, it remained modern and upscale.

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), whereas 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, though towing capabilities were not tested.

With a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds for the naturally aspirated engine and 5,000 pounds for the turbo engine, the Santa Cruz’s tow ratings were more in line with midsize SUVs. It had a maximum payload capacity of 1,906 pounds. The Santa Cruz offered 8.6 inches of ground clearance and four driven wheels, but it lacked serious off-road capabilities due to the absence of low range, locking differentials, and underbody protection.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline shared its platform with the third-generation Acura MDX, Honda Pilot, Odyssey minivan, and Passport SUV. It featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a torque-vectoring AWD system. The Ridgeline’s unibody construction limited its towing capacity to 5,000 pounds, but it offered a competitive 1,583-pound payload capacity. The Ridgeline’s driving dynamics were sophisticated, with a smooth ride on pavement and nimble handling in city traffic.

The Ridgeline’s unibody construction and four-wheel independent suspension provided exceptional ride and handling qualities. It averaged 22.6 mpg on a road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco, landing between its official EPA ratings of 21 mpg combined and 24 mpg highway. The Ridgeline’s 7.6 inches of ground clearance and lack of traditional four-wheel-drive system limited its off-road capabilities, but it handled moderately challenging terrain well. The steering felt heavy at lower speeds, but overall, the Ridgeline offered a refined driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz’s small truck bed, measuring 52.1 inches long, limited its utility. Typical cargo like bicycles or a 4x8 sheet of plywood wouldn’t fit completely in the bed. However, Hyundai included features like a standard 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 to the bed.

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 functions like audio volume and climate control were harder to use while driving.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline prioritized function with shelves in the front door panels, a giant storage console between the front seats, and a dual-action tailgate with an in-bed trunk. The Ridgeline’s interior, similar to the Honda Passport, was comfortable with excellent leg support and a quality feel. The rear seat cushion flipped up to create a sizable load floor, and an accessory rear underseat storage system was available. The Ridgeline’s 64-inch cargo bed featured a dual-action tailgate, flat floor, and standard tie-down cleats.

Honda offered numerous accessories for the Ridgeline, including a roof rack, bed extenders, tonneau covers, and a bed tent. Some versions had a 150-watt/400-watt power outlet and in-bed stereo speakers. The Ridgeline’s unique unibody platform allowed for a lockable, weatherproof, 7.3 cubic-foot trunk under the load floor, perfect for carrying groceries, luggage, or wet gear. The trunk also had a drain plug, making it ideal for tailgate parties.

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 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 test vehicle looked great and worked well, with quick boot-up and response times.

Wireless device charging and Hyundai’s digital-key feature, which allowed the use of a smartphone instead of a key fob, were also available. However, the digital key only worked with Android phones.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline’s infotainment system, dating back to the mid-2010s, included wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with basic HondaLink services. Most Ridgelines had satellite radio, but only the RTL-E and Black Edition included a navigation system, premium sound system, cargo bed speakers, and wireless smartphone charging. The 8-inch touchscreen was smaller than expected, and the on-screen graphics were outdated. The infotainment content loaded slowly, and the voice recognition system had delayed responses.

The user interface was simple, with touch-sensing Home, Menu, and Back shortcut buttons and a stereo volume knob. However, there was no way to manually tune between radio stations without tapping on the screen, and the navigation display was cluttered. The wireless smartphone charger worked intermittently, making it unreliable. Overall, the Ridgeline’s technology needed an overhaul.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, being a new model, did not have safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 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 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.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline’s driver-assistance systems were aging and less refined compared to newer Hondas. The standard Honda Sensing collection included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on RTL trim and higher. The adaptive cruise control system struggled to maintain a safe following distance, and the lane-departure warning system’s steering wheel wobble was irritating.

The IIHS gave the 2023 Ridgeline mostly favorable crash-test and safety ratings, with only the headlights receiving a score other than Good or Acceptable. The NHTSA awarded the Ridgeline top marks in all crash tests and a four-star rollover resistance rating.