2025 RAM 2500 vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz was a unique blend of crossover and pickup, offering a distinctive design that set it apart from traditional trucks. Its unibody construction and compact size made it more of a "trucklette," with a small bed attached to the rear. Available in various trims, the Limited trim stood out with its intentional design elements, including a Tron-like grille and sharply raked C-pillar. Inside, the Santa Cruz balanced quality materials with a funky four-spoked steering wheel, providing a high-quality feel without being overly luxurious. The interior design was cohesive, with a horizontal trim bar delineating driver and passenger spaces.

In contrast, the 2025 RAM 2500 was a heavy-duty pickup that exuded power and presence. Its massive vertical grille and split headlight design gave it a commanding front end, while multiple hood styles added to its aggressive look. The RAM 2500 offered a range of trims, each with unique features, from the basic Tradesman to the luxurious Limited Longhorn and Limited models. Inside, the RAM 2500 catered to luxury seekers with leather seating, large touchscreen infotainment systems, and power deployable side steps. The truck's imposing size was matched by its interior spaciousness, especially in the Mega Cab configuration, which offered limo-like legroom.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version producing 282 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided a peppy performance, making it easy to pass and maneuver in city traffic. The Santa Cruz excelled in ride quality and maneuverability, making it a great city car. Its AWD system, with a center locking differential and hill-descent control, allowed for some off-road capability, although its ground clearance and geometry limited its off-road prowess.

The 2025 RAM 2500 came standard with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 405 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, capable of towing nearly 9,000 pounds. However, the majority of buyers opted for the diesel engine, which in 2025 came standard in its High Output spec, producing 430 horsepower and 1,075 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, offered impressive towing capabilities, with properly equipped models towing up to 20,000 pounds. The RAM 2500's five-link rear suspension and optional air suspension provided a composed ride, while the Power Wagon and Rebel trims excelled in off-road conditions.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, despite not being a traditional pickup, offered practical utility with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds in AWD form. Its bed, measuring 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, accommodated various camping gear with ease. The Santa Cruz featured lockable underfloor storage, multiple tie-down points, and a sliding tonneau cover. Inside, the rear seats folded up for additional cargo space, although rear legroom was limited to 36.5 inches. Heated front seats were standard on most trims, with ventilated seats available on the Limited trim.

The 2025 RAM 2500 offered multiple cab and bed configurations, catering to a wide range of needs. The Crew Cab provided ample space for adult passengers, while the Mega Cab offered exceptional legroom. Towing capabilities varied by configuration, with the Power Wagon towing up to 10,530 pounds and other models reaching up to 20,000 pounds with the diesel engine. The RAM 2500's maximum payload was 3,940 pounds, with the Regular Cab and Hemi V8 engine. The truck's interior was spacious and comfortable, with options for luxury features like leather seating and advanced infotainment systems.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Hyundai’s BlueLink infotainment system on lower trims, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upper trims had a larger 10.25-inch display, but only offered wired smartphone compatibility. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it lacked a physical volume knob. Charging options included dual USB-A ports, with wireless charging available on higher trims.

The 2025 RAM 2500 boasted an impressive array of screens, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen standard on lower trims and a 12-inch or 14.4-inch display available on higher trims. The largest screen extended past the dashboard, and a separate screen for the front passenger was also offered. Starting at the Laramie level, a 12.3-inch digital cluster replaced traditional gauges. The RAM 2500 also featured advanced towing technologies, including trailer reverse steering control and Trailer-Tow Pages.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and lane-keep assist. The Limited trim added features like Highway Drive Assist and a blind-spot view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Cruz five stars in front crash tests and four stars in rollover ratings, while the IIHS rated the 2023 model highly in most categories.

The 2025 RAM 2500 offered a range of safety technologies, with an optional Safety Group adding features like adaptive steering and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims included forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. The RAM 2500 also offered a suite of camera technologies, including a surround-view camera system. The NHTSA gave the RAM 2500 a four-star rating, while the IIHS had not yet rated the heavy-duty lineup.