2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Specs and Features

Explore the 2026 Santa Cruz Compact Pickup in Morristown, TN

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz gives drivers in Morristown, TN, a compact pickup that blends SUV comfort with real truck utility. At Rusty Wallace Hyundai Morristown, this lineup stands out with five trims, two engine options, available all-wheel drive, and a bed designed with built-in storage and power features. The Santa Cruz is built for daily driving, weekend hauling, and light-duty work without the size or stiffness of a traditional midsize truck.

The lineup includes SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited trims. Compared to competitors like the Ford Maverick, the Santa Cruz offers stronger available turbo performance, more premium interior features on upper trims, and a more refined driving experience overall.

Trim Levels and Configuration Breakdown

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz lineup is structured to move from practical daily use to higher-end comfort and performance.

• SE: 2.5-liter engine, 12.3-inch touchscreen display, wireless Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, LED lighting, rearview camera, composite bed with sidewall and underbed storage, Bluelink+ connected services
• SEL: H-Tex seating surfaces, heated front seats, dual automatic temperature control, eight-way power driver seat with lumbar support, heated side mirrors with LED turn signals, roof side rails
• SEL Activity: Power tilt-and-slide sunroof, rear sliding glass window with defroster, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 115V AC power inverter in bed, wireless phone charger, LED bed lighting, dual C-channel utility tracks, integrated lockable tonneau cover
• XRT: 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, HTRAC all-wheel drive, Terrain Mode Select, wider fender cladding, black exterior accents, Smart Cruise Control 2 with Stop and Go, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Surround View Monitor
• Limited: Leather-trimmed seats, ventilated front seats, Bose® premium audio, heated steering wheel, ambient LED interior lighting, Integrated Memory System, rain-sensing windshield wipers

Interior Comfort and Passenger Space

The Santa Cruz interior is designed for comfort and usability, with a layout that feels closer to a compact SUV than a traditional pickup. Materials and features improve as you move up the trim lineup, but every model focuses on daily comfort.

Interior dimensions are as follows:

• Front headroom: 40.2 inches without sunroof, 38.4 inches with sunroof
• Rear headroom: 39.6 inches
• Front legroom: 41.4 inches
• Rear legroom: 36.5 inches
• Passenger volume: 101.8 cubic feet

Available interior comfort features include H-Tex seating surfaces, leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable driver seating, and second-row air vents.

Higher trims also include a memory system for driver settings and a rear center armrest with cupholders.

Exterior Design and Functional Features

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz uses a unibody design that combines pickup capability with crossover-like styling. Exterior features are designed for durability and usability in both urban and outdoor settings.

Key exterior features include:

• LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED taillights
• Integrated rear bumper steps
• Roof-mounted LED cargo light
• Heated side mirrors with LED turn signals
• Sliding rear window with defroster

Additional exterior elements vary by trim. XRT includes wider fender cladding, black lower door accents, and dark styling elements. Limited adds dark chrome accents and body-color door handles.

Exterior paint options include:

• Blue Stone
• Phantom Black
• Atlas White
• Hampton Gray
• Sage Gray
• Rockwood Green
• Canyon Red

Bed Utility and Cargo Functionality

The Santa Cruz bed is designed with built-in features that improve usability without requiring aftermarket accessories.

Bed dimensions are as follows:

• Bed length: 52.1 inches
• Bed width: 53.9 inches maximum, 42.7 inches between wheelhouses
• Bed depth: 19.2 inches
• Bed floor height: 31.6 inches
• Bed gate height: 50.8 inches

Utility features include underbed storage compartments, sidewall storage, cargo tie-down points, and multi-level bumper steps. Higher trims add LED bed lighting, a 115V AC power inverter, dual C-channel utility tracks, and an integrated lockable tonneau cover.

Performance and Powertrain Options

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers two engine choices depending on trim level, allowing drivers to choose between efficiency-focused performance and stronger turbocharged output.

Powertrain options include:

• 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque
• 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque
• Eight-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®
• Front-wheel drive or available HTRAC all-wheel drive
• Terrain Mode Select on XRT

Standard engine models support up to 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes, while turbocharged models support up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

Fuel Efficiency Ratings

Front-wheel-drive models are EPA-estimated at 22 city, 30 highway, and 25 combined. All-wheel-drive models with the standard engine are EPA-estimated at 21 city, 29 highway, and 24 combined. Turbocharged all-wheel-drive models are EPA-estimated at 18 city, 25 highway, and 20 combined.

Safety and Driver Assistance Features

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz includes a wide range of standard safety systems and advanced driver-assistance features.

Standard safety features include:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Following Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist

Additional available safety features include Blind-Spot View Monitor, Surround View Monitor, Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.

Find the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz in Morristown, TN

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz gives you the flexibility of a pickup with the comfort and features of an SUV, making it a strong fit for daily driving, weekend projects, and everything in between. With multiple trims, available turbo power, and a functional bed design, it is built to adapt to how you actually use your vehicle.

Visit Rusty Wallace Hyundai Morristown in Morristown, TN, to compare Santa Cruz trims, explore available features, and schedule a test drive. You can also review our buying guide to help narrow your options, explore models like the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2026 Hyundai Tucson, and start your finance application online to move forward with confidence.

* All fuel economy mpg listing in the content above are EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary.

*Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.