2023 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 received a styling update in 2022, which included a wider, more imposing grille and updated headlights. While these changes were noticeable, they felt more like a lateral move rather than a significant improvement. The truck already had a strong design, and the new look maintained its sharp appearance. However, the interior saw a more dramatic change, moving towards a more complex setup with a large screen and a less straightforward layout. This shift aimed to make the cabin experience more like that of daily driver cars and SUVs, but it might have been too complicated for those who preferred a simpler, work-focused truck.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, though not a traditional pickup truck, offered a unique design as a unibody crossover with a small bed. The Santa Cruz was about 14 inches longer than the Hyundai Tucson and featured a distinctive front end with a Tron-like grille. The design elements, including the protruding fenders and sharply raked C-pillar, were intentional and eye-catching. Inside, the Santa Cruz balanced quality and simplicity, with high-quality materials and a cohesive design. The four-spoked steering wheel was a notable design choice, and the fit and finish were impressive for its price point.

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four powertrain options. The base model came with a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Another option was the 3.0-liter Duramax turbocharged inline-six diesel engine, which delivered 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, buyers could choose between two gas V8 engines: a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, or a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The gas four-cylinder engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the other engines came with a 10-speed automatic. The Sierra had a towing capacity of up to 13,200 pounds and a maximum payload capacity of 2,240 pounds, depending on the engine and configuration.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered two engine options. Lower trims came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine, available on higher trims, delivered 282 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. This powertrain provided a peppy performance, making passing and uphill driving easy. The Santa Cruz excelled in maneuverability, making it a great city car, and its AWD system with a center locking differential enhanced its off-road capabilities. However, its ground clearance and geometry were not ideal for serious off-roading.

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 offered various cab and bed configurations, including a regular cab with a standard-size bed, a single cab with a long bed, a double cab with a standard bed, a full four-door crew cab with a short bed, and a crew cab with a standard bed. Our test model featured the crew cab/short-bed setup, providing ample cabin space and storage options. The MultiPro tailgate offered multiple configurations, including a bed step-up and a fold-out workstation. Bed steps cut into the rear bumper provided easy access to the bed.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, though compact, offered robust cargo hauling capabilities. The bed measured 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, with 43 inches between the wheel wells. It featured lockable underfloor storage, side cubbies, multiple tie-down points, and sliding rail anchors. The payload capacity was 1,411 pounds across all trims. The bed also had a sliding and locking tonneau cover, though the latch felt finicky. Inside, the rear seats folded up for additional storage, but rear legroom was limited to 36.5 inches. Heated front seats were standard on all but the base model, while ventilated seats were available only on the top trim.

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen and a carryover infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims received a 13.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google-connected apps, and trailering status apps. The Denali Ultimate trim included a wireless charging pad, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a wall-style power outlet. A 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and a head-up display were also available on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Hyundai’s BlueLink infotainment system on SE and SEL trims, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upper trims had a 10.25-inch display with wired smartphone compatibility. The system was intuitive and responsive, but lacked a physical volume knob, relying on touch-sensitive buttons. Charging options included dual USB-A ports up front, with additional USB-A ports for rear passengers on higher trims. Wireless charging was standard on the top three trims and available on the SEL.

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 came standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and GM’s Teen Driver system. Higher trims offered additional features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and GM’s Super Cruise driver assist system. The rear headrests could flip down for better visibility, and the rearview camera mirror provided a clear view when needed.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a comprehensive set of advanced driver-assistance systems, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection. The Limited trim featured Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist, blind-spot view monitor, and adaptive cruise control with curve-slowing capability. The NHTSA gave the Santa Cruz a five-star front crash rating and a four-star rollover rating, while the IIHS rated the 2023 model highly in most categories.