2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2023 Toyota Tacoma

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma belonged to the midsize truck segment, filling the need for a smaller alternative when full-size pickups like the Ford F-150 or Toyota Tundra were too bulky. Measuring nearly two feet shorter than these giants, the longest Tacoma variants still maintained a substantial, assertive look without appearing overly large. The vehicle's upright grille and tall bed contributed to its sturdy presence on the road.

Toyota offered the Tacoma in a broad range of trims, from the base SR to the more premium SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro versions. Shoppers also had other customizations such as the Trail Special Edition and a potential Nightshade Edition. With numerous powertrain choices, two bed lengths, and options between clamshell-doored access cabs and full four-door double cabs, the Tacoma was available in an impressive 34 combinations.

The 2023 model introduced the SR5 SX package, bringing black overfenders, wheels, and blacked-out trim and badging. Alternatively, the new Chrome Package included chrome highlights on the door handles, exhaust tip, and tailgate insert, along with 18-inch chrome-finished alloy wheels for a flashier appearance.

Testing the TRD Pro trim in Utah’s snowy conditions, the bright Solar Octane paint stood out, making our test vehicle visually striking. More than just aesthetics, the TRD Pro included underbody skid pads, a TRD-tuned suspension, a TRD sport exhaust, and a distinctive grille with “TOYOTA” spelled out in large letters, coupled with a hood scoop and blacked-out badging—cool factors that didn’t go unnoticed.

Inside, the Tacoma ranged from basic fabric-and-plastic interiors in the SR trim to well-appointed leather upholstery in the Limited trim. The TRD Pro featured Softex leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, and all-weather floor mats. The physical knobs and buttons for climate control and infotainment system were appreciated for their ease of use, even with gloves on.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, although not a traditional pickup, functioned as a versatile unibody crossover with a small bed attached. Available in SE, SEL, Night, and the new XRT trims, our focus was on the top-tier Limited trim.

The Santa Cruz’s exterior design, extending 14 inches longer than the Hyundai Tucson, was characterized by a cohesive look with a Tron-inspired grille and sharp design elements like the protruding fenders and raked C-pillar, ensuring it stood out from the crowd.

Inside, the Santa Cruz was balanced for its price point, offering high-quality materials and good fit and finish, but not overly luxurious. Unique touches like a four-spoked steering wheel and a thin horizontal trim bar separated the driver and passenger spaces for a visually appealing interior framework.

The base-level Tacomas came with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission. However, its underwhelming performance and negligible fuel efficiency gains had most buyers opting for the more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produced 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

Our TRD Pro test truck boasted the V6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. Despite the V6's power, the Tacoma wasn’t particularly quick, requiring a heavy foot on the accelerator to merge onto highways, which resulted in considerable engine noise.

City driving was pleasant enough, with decent acceleration and the TRD Pro’s off-road suspension handling urban potholes well. However, its off-road orientation led to imprecise steering and a wandering feel on paved roads. Fuel economy lagged behind, with EPA estimates of 18/22/20 (city/highway/combined) for the V6 with 4WD. Our test unit delivered a lackluster 16.3 mpg due to the elevated terrain and harsh winter conditions.

The Tacoma faced significant competition from newer entries like the Chevy Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger, and the compact Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick, which made the Tacoma seem a bit dated.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered various powertrains across trims. Lower trims featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup might have felt underpowered, especially considering the vehicle's weight of about 3,750 pounds.

Our Limited trim tester sported a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering a robust 282 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, channeling power to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. This configuration provided peppy acceleration and effortless passing, even uphill, with smooth shifts thanks to the dual-clutch system.

The Santa Cruz excelled in ride comfort, adept at absorbing rough roads, while its compact size made it remarkably maneuverable, easily handling tight parking spaces and bustling city traffic.

For adventurous drivers, the AWD system featured a center locking differential and hill-descent control for off-road excursions. However, the vehicle’s approach, departure, and breakover angles, coupled with 8.6 inches of ground clearance, suggested it was better suited for light off-roading or gravel roads.

The 2023 Tacoma presented diverse configuration options. The access-cab style, with clamshell doors and a six-foot-one-inch bed, appealed to those seeking a compact interior, though rear seating was cramped and ideal for minimal storage rather than passengers.

The double cab offered more convenience with four full doors and the choice between a long bed and a five-foot bed. Rear legroom remained limited, but the seats were comfier and practical for more cargo or occasional passengers. Front seats provided ample cubby space and comfortable leg and headroom, although tall drivers might struggle with limited steering wheel extension.

The Tacoma’s cargo bed, even in the shorter five-foot version, was spacious enough to handle various equipment, groceries, skis, and more, making it a practical choice for active lifestyles.

The Santa Cruz, while not a traditional pickup truck, provided substantial utility. The AWD variant boasted a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with a braked trailer, while FWD models towed 3,500 pounds. Without trailer brakes, the limit was 1,650 pounds.

The compact bed measured 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, with 43 inches between the wheel wells. During camping trips, the bed efficiently stored a variety of gear, including a shade canopy, chairs, an air compressor, and recovery equipment. Additional lockable underfloor storage, side cubbies, multiple tie-down points, and sliding rail anchors enhanced cargo management.

The integrated sliding and locking tonneau cover offered security, although it sometimes felt flimsy. All trims featured a dampened tailgate and convenient rear bumper side steps for easy cargo access. Inside, the rear seats folded up to accommodate taller items, though rear legroom was slightly limited at 36.5 inches compared to other compact crossovers.

The heated front seats in the Santa Cruz, available on all but the base model, provided intense warmth with three levels of adjustability. The Limited trim included well-functioning ventilated seats but lacked the extreme cooling some might desire.

Technologically, the Tacoma was functional but dated. Base SR trims included a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered an 8-inch version. Both featured Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio (subscription required), but the interface was seen as outdated compared to Toyota’s newer systems in other models.

Our TRD Pro tester included a six-speaker JBL audio system and two USB-A ports. While the Tacoma met basic tech needs, it fell short of the advanced features available in competitor models like the Chevrolet Colorado and Nissan Frontier.

The 2024 Santa Cruz featured Hyundai’s BlueLink infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen on SE and SEL trims, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims had a larger 10.25-inch screen, though it uniquely required wired connections for smartphone integration.

The system was user-friendly, with rapid response times and clear graphics. However, the lack of a physical volume knob and tiny touch-sensitive buttons for various functions could be frustrating for some drivers. The available Bose premium audio system provided quality sound but navigating the touch controls was cumbersome.

Charging options were limited, with dual USB-A ports up front and, on the Limited trim, two additional USB-A ports for rear passengers. Wireless charging was standard on top trims and optional on the SEL, but absent in the base SE trim.

Hyundai offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems in the 2024 Santa Cruz. All trims came with 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 junction-turning detection.

The Limited trim featured Highway Drive Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and a blind-spot view monitor displaying real-time footage in the gauge cluster when signaling a turn—a valuable safety enhancement.

The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Santa Cruz five stars in front crash tests and four stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS had yet to rate the 2024 model, but the 2023 version received high marks in various categories, except for seat-belt reminders and LATCH-ease of use, where it earned Acceptable ratings. The headlamps, previously rated Poor, were upgraded to Bi-LED projectors in 2024 trims.