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The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the newest compact trucks available. Although it hasn’t been around very long, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the model. In the midsize truck segment, it’s one of two smaller new models along with the Ford Maverick. There’s a lot to like about the Hyundai Santa Cruz, but is it selling well? Check out how the new model’s sales compare to industry leaders in 2022.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz sales

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz compact truck sales. Is it selling well?
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz selling well? The new compact truck is selling well if you don’t compare it to the best-selling pickups. According to GoodCarBadCar, the Santa Cruz sold 8,400 units during quarter one of 2022. While that doesn’t sound bad, it’s far fewer than the best-selling models. For example, Ford F-Series trucks, Ram, and the Chevy Silverado have more than 100,000 units out the door. Although much further behind, the class leader for midsize models is the Toyota Tacoma, which sold 53,128 units during Q1 2022.

However, raw sales numbers don’t always tell the entire story. Most sales are down tremendously with the looming inventory problems caused by supply chain issues and the global chip shortage. For example, the Tacoma outsold the Santa Cruz by far, but it’s down in sales by 23.67% in 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Comparatively, Hyundai’s pickup wasn’t available last year, so those numbers are unavailable. However, looking at month over month since becoming available, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has been trending upward the entire time.

More people buy the Santa Cruz every month

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz parked in front of a lighthouse
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

Using GCBC’s tables from 2021, we can see the growth of Hyundai’s new pickup. Starting in July of last year, only 81 Santa Cruz models were sold. However, it’s only gone up since then. By the end of 2021, Hyundai sold 1,848 in October, 2,201 in November, and 3,000 in December. Although month-over-month data isn’t available for 2022, we have the year-to-date numbers.

Year-to-date, 14,701 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz models left lots and entered owners’ driveways. Over five months in 2022, that’s an average of 2,940 units per month. In short, that’s a step up from the end-of-year monthly totals GCBC reported for 2021. We expect the summer months into fall discounts to boost sales even more. While other models are trending down, the Santa Cruz is keeping a slow, steady, but upward pace.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good truck?

Overall, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is an excellent midsize or compact pickup truck option. Starting at $24,440, it’s more affordable than most rivals. In addition, it uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder or the same with a turbo engine to make 191 or 281 horsepower, respectively. More importantly, it’s one of the most fuel-efficient trucks, averaging 16 city and 34 highway mpg for a combined 24 mpg.

Consumer Reports loves that the Santa Cruz drives like a car. Its outstanding drivability makes it easy to maneuver and offers enough size and utility to qualify as a pickup truck. Additionally, it accelerates well, and the controls are intuitive for new users. Hyundai provides owners with a high-quality interior for every trim level, even the most affordable options.

In conclusion, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is selling well for itself. There’s no competition compared with industry leaders like the Ford F-Series trucks and the Toyota Tacoma. However, while other models are declining in sales, the Hyundai compact truck is just getting started. If the Santa Cruz’s upward sales trend continues, it’ll compete with the best of the best in no time.

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