The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz emerges with a series of updates, paralleling the refreshed Tucson, and introduces an adventurous XRT trim at the New York Auto Show.

Hyundai has unveiled the 2025 Santa Cruz alongside the updated Tucson at the New York Auto Show, offering a glimpse into the compact pickup's enhanced features and the new XRT off-road trim. Echoing the Tucson's exterior facelift, the Santa Cruz sports a redesigned front grille, a modernized front bumper, revamped daytime running lights, and novel wheel designs. The introduction of the XRT trim marks a significant evolution for the Santa Cruz, incorporating not merely aesthetic changes but genuine off-road capabilities.

Central to the XRT upgrade is the inclusion of all-terrain tires sized at 245/60R on distinctive 18-inch "wrench-inspired" wheels, a specialized front bumper to better the approach angle, and practical front tow hooks for off-road rescues. Exterior modifications extend to an XRT-specific grille and rear bumper, with the cabin benefiting from XRT branding and a standard Surround View Monitor to enhance off-road visibility.

Powertrain options for the Santa Cruz remain consistent with the previous model year, including a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine that now features a tow mode in its driving options for both Limited and XRT trims, maintaining a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

Interior enhancements for the Santa Cruz mirror those seen in the Tucson, boasting a new panoramic curved screen setup that amalgamates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with Hyundai's latest software. This upgrade ensures wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features, while tactile buttons and switches replace the previous touch-sensitive controls for improved usability. Further refinements are found in the steering wheel, air vents, instrument panel, and rear seat armrest design.

Like the Tucson, the Santa Cruz benefits from advanced technological features, including a fingerprint scanner for starting the vehicle, Digital Key 2 technology enabling phone-based key functions, infotainment capable of over-the-air updates, enhanced USB-C charging ports, and a novel driver attention monitoring system.

Set to hit dealerships this summer, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz will be available in two new colors: Rockwood Green and Canyon Red, with updated pricing details to be announced as the sale date approaches.

For Australians excited about the prospect of driving the latest from Hyundai's innovative lineup, the 2025 Santa Cruz offers a compelling blend of style, functionality, and off-road readiness. To discover more about this versatile vehicle or to book a test drive, explore our articles or click below for an experience that combines adventure with cutting-edge technology.