These are our unofficial renderings of a compact pickup that still has old-school functionality.
After a long buildup, the Hyundai Santa Cruz finally made its debut to the world on April 15. The small pickup truck is still being mastered, starting with its five-seat configuration and ending up with the tiny bed at the rear. The Santa Cruz arrives at a time the US market is more hungry than ever for trucks. However, Hyundai decided not to call it a pickup. It’s actually called a “Sport Adventure Vehicle” and we believe we know why.
First, the unibody design with a single-piece design is not typical pickup truck construction. The bed is only four feet in length, and it has an open bed at its back. The optional tonneau covers make this space even smaller, and it’s impossible to access the interior from the outside. It’s easier to pick up lumber at the hardware store with a Tucson SUV or a Veloster.
This got us thinking about the past of trucks. Even compact pickup trucks used to be able to carry large cargo. That was the point of a pickup truck. We reimagined our pickup truck. Santa CruznHyundai’s Sport Adventure Vehicle is not the only use for this pickup, but it can be used as a two-door, 2-seater pickup truck with a bed to haul stuff.
The Santa Cruz style is preserved in our unofficial renderings. However, the cargo bed can now be extended to the industry standard of 6.5 feet for full-size pickups. You can now transport plywood sheets 4×8 feet with Hyundai’s bed extender option. As Hyundai shows in its official Santa Cruz press photos, you don’t have to ride your mountain bike across the tailgate.
We wonder if there is a small truck market that has not been tapped. A two-seater vehicle is not the best choice for modern buyers who want a vehicle that can do all of their tasks. But, it’s still an option for those looking for a vehicle that will fit in with the Santa Cruz four-door or any of the many SUVs flooding the roads of the world.
This stylish SUV is a great alternative to a truck, but doesn’t look like a truck. Are we crazy here? We cannot be the only ones who are interested in this.