2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz to be Revealed (Finally) on April 15

Hyundai has just released the first teaser sketches of its highly anticipated pickup, the 2022 Santa Cruz. It was about damn time as the concept originally debuted at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Actually, the company is describing it as a “sport adventure vehicle,” claiming it will pioneer a “new category of vehicle unlike anything else in the market.”

• Also: Hyundai Santa Cruz Production to Start in Alabama in 2021
• Also: It’s Official: Hyundai Will Produce The Santa Cruz

That’s because the Hyundai Santa Cruz will be smaller than traditional midsize pickups like the Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, and designed for recreation much more than work.

At first glance, the model is reminiscent of the next-generation 2022 Tucson, not only with the Parametric grille and headlights up front, but also the sharp creases on the sides. The wheels look more like those of the Subaru Crosstrek, while hammer-shaped LED taillights and big “SANTA CRUZ” lettering on the tailgate add a unique touch to the rear.

“Santa Cruz, with its bold styling, breaks open all-new segment territory, both for Hyundai and the industry as a whole,” said Jose Munoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America. “Open-bed flexibility coupled with closed-cabin security meets the changing everyday needs of its adventure-oriented buyers, while powerful and efficient engines and superb maneuverability ensure it is a pleasure to drive in urban or off-road environments. Our customers will wonder just how they managed before owning one.”

While he’s talking about powerful and efficient engines and superb maneuverability, no details are available at this point. One or more hybrid options could be offered, as is the case with the new Tucson.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz will be officially revealed in a digital world premiere on April 15. It will enter production in Montgomery, Alabama sometime in the summer and land in showrooms later in 2021. Don’t miss it!