2024 Honda Ridgeline vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, though often classified under pickup trucks, was a unibody crossover with a small bed attached to its rear. Distinguished by its compact yet striking appearance, it was available in SE, SEL, Night, and the new XRT trims, though the model we tested was the top-tier Limited trim. This vehicle's design extended roughly 14 inches longer than the Hyundai Tucson, featuring a similarly futuristic front end. Each design element, including the pronounced fenders and the sharply angled C-pillar, appeared meticulously intentional. For those wishing to blend in, the Santa Cruz was probably not their best choice.

Internally, the Santa Cruz wasn't overly luxurious nor sparse. The four-spoked steering wheel offered a quirky design touch. Materials used inside felt high-quality, particularly for its price range, and we identified no fit and finish issues. The plastics felt good and not cheap. A thin, horizontal trim bar distinctly separated the driver and passenger spaces, extending into each upper door panel for a harmonious look.

On the contrary, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline traditionally never won any beauty contests. Its first-generation model had a polarizing design likened to the quirky Honda Element, while the second-generation model resembled a Pilot SUV with a reconfigured rear. By 2024, despite its continued second-generation status, Honda made notable styling adjustments to improve its presence. The Ridgeline’s blunt nose, raised hood, and newly styled tailgate lettering added a certain gravitas. The TrailSport trim, equipped with all-terrain tires, further bolstered its rugged appeal.

Inside, the Ridgeline received a revamped center console with a broad armrest covering a spacious storage bin, enhancing its pickup vibe over a minivan feel. A 7-inch digital display within the gauge cluster and a new-for-2024 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with upgraded graphics marked further modernizations. With options spanning Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, the Ridgeline presented a robust lineup supported by a standard 280-horsepower V6 engine and torque-vectoring AWD, ranging between $39,750 and $46,350 excluding the $1,395 destination charge.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz provided a differentiated performance experience based on trim and engine choice. Lower trims offered a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission. For heavier AWD forms, this might have felt underpowered, especially since the Santa Cruz SE and SEL weighed around 3,750 pounds.

Our test model featured a more potent turbocharged engine, elevating the power to 282 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Power was efficiently routed to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The turbocharged engine significantly boosted performance, even allowing for blissfully nimble passing on inclines. The ride quality impressed us, effortlessly absorbing rough patches, and the vehicle’s compact footprint made it an urban-friendly choice.

Off-road, the Santa Cruz could handle moderate terrains, as demonstrated by its participation in the Rebelle Rally with minimal modifications. The Michelin Primacy all-season tires would need upgrading for serious off-roading. Its 8.6 inches of ground clearance was decent, but with approach, departure, and breakover angles of 17.5, 23.2, and 18.6 degrees respectively, it was best suited to gravel roads and light off-road activities.

On the flip side, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline employed a reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. This engine powered all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission coupled with Honda’s i-VTM4 AWD system, channeling up to 70% of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel if necessary.

The Ridgeline’s towing capacity stood at 5,000 pounds with a maximum payload of 1,583 pounds for the Sport trim. With a ground clearance of just over 7.6 inches, its off-road capability was somewhat diminished. Even mild trails resulted in scuffs on the lower front air dam and scratches on the new skid plate. The Ridgeline excelled on paved roads with its smooth powertrain, quick acceleration, and responsive handling. It boasted a quiet cabin, although the TrailSport’s off-road suspension showed a firmer side on pavement, and its all-terrain tires emitted faint sounds at higher speeds.

Though the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz wasn’t a conventional pickup, it successfully covered the basic utility needs. In its AWD configuration, it could tow up to 5,000 pounds with a braked trailer. FWD models were rated to tow 3,500 pounds. For trailers without integrated brakes, the towing capacity was limited to 1,650 pounds. Its diminutive bed, measuring 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, albeit with a reduced 43 inches between the wheel wells, still managed to accommodate various camping gear effortlessly. The lockable underfloor storage and side bed cubbies added to its functionality, and the available sliding rail anchors and tie-down points enhanced its utility. The total payload across all trims was 1,411 pounds.

The bed’s sliding tonneau cover, designed for security, sometimes felt fragile. Each trim level included a dampened tailgate and side bumper steps for easier cargo access. Inside, the rear seats folded up for taller items, but with only 36.5 inches of rear legroom, space was notably tighter than in the Tucson. The heated front seats, available in all but the base trim, offered three levels of adjustability, although only the Limited trim provided ventilated seats.

Conversely, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline specialized in comfort and practicality over heavy-duty capabilities. It was easy to enter and exit, with supportive seating for up to five passengers. The TrailSport trim provided perforated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The front passenger seat remained fixed in height but was comfortable. The quick-acting defrosters and heated side mirrors added to convenience, especially during chilly conditions.

Rear passengers had ample legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and a center armrest with cupholders and a storage tray. Various in-cab storage solutions, including flipped rear seat cushions for more space, were innovative features. The Ridgeline’s 33.9 cubic-foot cargo bed, which featured a waterproof and lockable 7.3 cubic-foot trunk, provided unique practical use. Lined in plastic with a drain plug, the in-bed trunk was versatile for party supplies, wet gear, or luggage. The dual-action tailgate facilitated easy access.

In the tech department, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz presented a well-rounded, if slightly peculiar, offering. Lower SE and SEL trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims received a larger 10.25-inch display but only supported wired smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was straightforward with fast response times and clear graphics, although the lack of a physical volume knob was odd, necessitating use of the steering wheel control or a touch-sensitive button.

Touch-sensitive buttons for quick access to media, navigation, and climate control functions were handy but required precision. Charging solutions included dual USB-A ports upfront, with the Limited trim adding two more USB-A ports for the rear, though USB-C was absent. Wireless charging was standard on the top three trims but unavailable on the base SE trim.

For the 2024 Honda Ridgeline, its standard 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system included a volume knob, tuning buttons, and additional controls on the steering wheel. Honda updated the system with a faster processor, new graphics, and simplified menus. Standard features encompassed wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and HondaLink connected services.

The ridgeline added a new 7-inch digital display within the gauge cluster, enhancing user-friendliness. The Black Edition trim upgraded to include HD Radio, additional USB ports, and an eight-speaker premium sound system. Overall, Honda’s updates were practical and significantly improved the overall experience, even on the base Sport trim.

For the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, each trim level came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems. These included forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keep assist and lane-following assist, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims, like the XRT and above, added adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with expanded detection capabilities.

Our Limited trim tester featured Highway Drive Assist, coupling adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, enhancing commuting ease. Integration with in-dash navigation allowed for speed adjustments on curves. The blind-spot view monitor, displaying side-view video in the gauge cluster when signaling, significantly improved safety. The NHTSA had rated the Santa Cruz with five stars for front crashes and four stars for rollover resistance, although it lacked an overall safety rating. The 2023 model received high marks from the IIHS in most categories, and the 2024 model's new standard Bi-LED projector headlamps promised to improve on previously poor headlamp ratings.

The 2024 Honda Ridgeline's safety upgrades included standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert across all trims, marking a significant improvement for the base Sport trim. Honda Sensing ADAS package, featuring forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights, was robust yet sometimes less smooth in operation.

While the ADAS generally performed well, occasional false lane-departure warnings and unnecessary Road Departure Mitigation braking were noted. The Ridgeline’s IIHS crash-test results were mixed, with an Acceptable small overlap frontal impact score and Marginal headlamp rating. NHTSA, however, awarded the Ridgeline five stars in most categories, barring a four-star rollover rating.