Hyundai announces pricing for the 2025 Santa Cruz, the redesigned truck costs $1,600 more than the 2024 model
The poorly selling Hyundai Santa Cruz has entered the 2025 model year with a number of improvements, including standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Revised exterior styling, a redesigned cockpit with a curved panoramic display that combines the instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, and new advanced safety technology sum up the facelift pretty well.
Hyundai unveiled the 2025 model in March 2024 at the New York International Auto Show. The first examples are expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in the fall. Prices start at $28,500 excluding the $1,395 delivery fee. For comparison, the 2024 model is still listed in Hyundai’s configurator for $26,900 plus the same $1,395 delivery fee.
The question is whether the newcomer is worth $1,600 more than the pre-facelift version. As far as the exterior changes go, the answer is no. As far as the interior goes, the only changes worth the extra dollars are switches and buttons for the infotainment and the Heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology System and cup holder for the rear center armrest.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto justify a few extra dollars. Convenience changes also include support for over-the-air firmware and software updates, USB Type-C ports, and new tow mode on the Limited and XRT trim levels with the 2.5-liter turbo.
Finally, the South Korean automaker has installed Forward Attention Warning across the board. Are you willing to pay the aforementioned $1,600 for these improvements, or would you rather spend your money elsewhere? Ford springs to mind, as the Maverick also entered the 2025 model year with more of everything.
Photo: Hyundai
Unlike Hyundai’s crossover pickup, Ford Motor Company focused on what customers actually want. Specifically, the Maverick Hybrid is now available with all-wheel drive. Dearborn’s favorite son has also expanded the lineup to include the Lobo, a street version of the Maverick that features a Mustang Track-inspired Lobo mode that reduces ESC interventions.
Hyundai, on the other hand, couldn’t bring itself to offer a hybrid powertrain or a street performance option for the Santa Cruz. We also have to remember that Ford’s 2025 Maverick undercuts the Santa Cruz, with the XL costing $26,295 without the $1,595 delivery fee. Pricing in the compact pickup segment is extremely important, and the availability of a hybrid also makes a big difference in terms of commercial success. How come?
The Maverick sold 77,113 units in the U.S. in the first six months of the year, compared to a disappointing 17,945 units from its direct competitor Hyundai. Of the aforementioned 77,113 trucks delivered that Ford reported, 40,000 were hybrids, making the Maverick Hybrid the most popular hybrid truck in the U.S. For comparison, the F-150 PowerBoost sold 33,674 units in the first half of 2024.
Given the above, we are not holding our breath for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz to pull off a miracle. As compact pickups target first-time buyers, the more truck-like 2025 Ford Maverick with more choices is sure to win the popularity contest in the second half of 2024.
