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If you want a small pickup truck, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has likely caught your attention. Along with the Ford Maverick, the Santa Cruz is a car-like truck with a relatively affordable price tag. And while the 2022 Santa Cruz might not have traditional pickup styling, it has found popularity in this segment. As a small truck though, is this vehicle reliable, and how many miles will it last?

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

In terms of reliability, the Santa Cruz is still a fairly new small truck. The Santa Cruz does share its powertrain with the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, and it does have some known issues. Plus, in the past, Hyundai has not typically been seen as the most reliable manufacturer. 

A 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz compact truck parked on a beach. DOes it have AWD?
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

But, according to consumer reviews on Edmunds, most owners do seem satisfied with their Hyundai Santa Cruz. So far, only one individual has given this vehicle one star. But, it is worth noting that this compact pickup has not been on the road all that long. So in the future, we should learn more about long-term reliability. 

Is the Santa Cruz a good truck?

As a unibody pickup, the 2022 Santa Cruz does do fairly well. It offers up to 281 horsepower and can come equipped with all-wheel drive. It can also tow more than the Ford Maverick, with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. So, if you are planning on towing things like boats or a camper trailer, the Santa Cruz might be better for you than a Maverick. 

One of the downsides of the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the lack of a dedicated off-road package. If you want a small, off-road truck, the Santa Cruz can handle some light trail duty. But there is not currently something available to it like Ford’s Tremor package. At the same time, you can get AWD and ample horsepower. So that should help if you are doing some weekend adventuring. 

Will the Hyundai Santa Cruz last long?

With awards like the 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick and Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance, the Santa Cruz should be able to last a fair amount of miles. Although, if you want to get the most out of your small truck, it is important to take care of routine maintenance and make repairs as needed. 

A 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz with AWD parked in the woods. Does this pickup truck have all-wheel drive?
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai

Traditional thought leads one to believe that a pickup should be body-on-frame. As a unibody truck, the Santa Cruz boasts more comfort and a smoother ride. Even though a vehicle like this might not be as capable as something like a Toyota Tacoma, it should be enough to handle most uses. Plus, it is certainly cheaper. 

According to Vehicle History, the Hyundai Tucson, on which the Santa Cruz is based, lasts an average of 200,000 miles. So you might be able to expect the same kind of longevity out of Hyundai’s small truck. But, only time will tell if this vehicle will be able to achieve those kinds of numbers.

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