2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2023 GMC Canyon

The 2023 GMC Canyon had a bold and aggressive design, characterized by its scrunched-up headlights and broad grille, giving it a fierce appearance. The body featured bulges and creases reminiscent of tensed muscles, enhancing its tough look. Sharing dimensions with the Chevy Colorado, the Canyon boasted a longer wheelbase and an "Ultra Wide Track" stance, with a standard factory lift kit. The Denali trim offered luxurious touches like laser-etched wood trim and leather upholstery, while the AT4X interior stood out with its vibrant red-and-white upholstery.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz was a compact unibody crossover with a small bed, offering a unique design that stood out with its Tron-like grille and sharply raked C-pillar. The interior was neither overly luxurious nor sparse, featuring high-quality materials and a funky four-spoked steering wheel. The design was cohesive, with a horizontal trim bar delineating driver and passenger spaces. The Santa Cruz was designed to be eye-catching, making it less suitable for those wanting to blend in.

The 2023 GMC Canyon was powered by a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard on the base trim, with four-wheel drive available. The AT4X model excelled in off-road conditions, equipped with features like electronic lockers and Multimatic spool-valve dampers. The Canyon offered a balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability, with solid acceleration and quiet cabins.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a turbocharged engine with 282 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. It provided a peppy performance, smooth shifts, and excellent ride quality. The Santa Cruz excelled in maneuverability, making it ideal for city driving and tight spaces. While capable of some off-roading, it required modifications for more challenging terrains. The AWD system and hill-descent control enhanced its off-road potential, but ground clearance and geometry limited its capabilities.

The 2023 GMC Canyon was available only as a crew cab with a 5.2-foot bed, offering ample interior space for a midsize truck. It featured the MultiStow tailgate with a waterproof storage compartment. The Canyon had a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,640 pounds, though it lacked a telescoping steering wheel and power-adjustable seats.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, while not a traditional pickup, offered practical utility with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds for AWD models. The bed was 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, with lockable underfloor storage and multiple tie-down points. The interior featured fold-up rear seats for taller items, though rear legroom was limited. Heated front seats were standard on most trims, with ventilated seats available on the Limited trim.

The 2023 GMC Canyon featured an 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system included Google Built-In functionality, offering a seamless experience for Android users. The Off-Road Performance Display and surround-view camera system enhanced its tech appeal, especially for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, supporting wireless smartphone connectivity. Upper trims had a 10.25-inch display with wired compatibility. The system was intuitive, though it lacked a physical volume knob. Charging options included USB-A ports and wireless charging on higher trims.

The 2023 GMC Canyon offered a standard Pro Safety Package with features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. Higher trims included additional safety features like rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz provided a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems, including forward collision avoidance and blind-spot monitoring. The Limited trim featured Highway Drive Assist and a blind-spot view monitor. NHTSA gave it five stars in front crash tests, while IIHS ratings for the 2023 model were mostly positive.