2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its compact dimensions, evoked memories of the mini trucks from the 1970s to 1990s. However, its unibody construction and unique styling positioned it more as a modern iteration of the Subaru Baja or a smaller Honda Ridgeline. Measuring 4,970 mm in length, 1,905 mm in width, and 1,695 mm in height, the Santa Cruz was over 40 cm shorter than the shortest Toyota Tacoma, yet nearly as wide. Its wheelbase of 3,005 mm was almost 23 cm shorter than the Tacoma's. Despite its compact size, the Santa Cruz was slightly larger than the 2022 Hyundai Tucson, making it more of an SUV with a bed than a traditional small pickup. Its distinctive design, featuring a toothy grille and integrated headlights, ensured it stood out on the road, with only a few nods to traditional truck styling.

The interior of the Santa Cruz was more conventional compared to its exterior, with a straightforward design that avoided the faux ruggedness seen in some truck interiors. The materials used were appropriate for its price range and its intended role as a rugged adventure vehicle. The integration of air vents with a trim ring around the dashboard was a notable design feature. While the materials weren't luxurious, they were fitting for the Santa Cruz's mission. The vehicle was available with 20-inch wheels, though 18-inch wheels were also offered for those seeking better off-road capability.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma, a staple in the North American market since 1995, was part of the third generation introduced in 2016. Despite a facelift in 2020, the Tacoma was beginning to show its age, particularly in its cabin. The exterior maintained a contemporary look with an aggressive grille and headlights, but the interior revealed its age with hard plastics and outdated switchgear. The Tacoma was available in various configurations, including Access Cab and Double Cab, with different packages like SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Pro. Standard features included 16-inch steel wheels, an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like alloy wheels, fog lights, and upgraded infotainment systems.

The Tacoma's TRD Pro model was designed for off-road adventures, with features like a TRD-tuned suspension, underbody skid plates, and a multi-terrain monitor. The TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro models included Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control, enhancing their trail capabilities. While the Tacoma's V6 engine provided decent power, it struggled with highway acceleration due to its transmission gearing. The suspension offered a balance of smoothness and firmness, making it suitable for both city driving and off-road trails.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz in Canada was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard, as front-wheel drive was not available in the Canadian market. The Santa Cruz's multi-link suspension contributed to its enjoyable handling, and the self-leveling feature accommodated a loaded bed. Despite its 20-inch wheels, the ride quality was impressive, with low cabin noise. The turbo engine provided ample power for everyday driving, though towing capabilities were not tested. With a ground clearance of 21.8 cm, the Santa Cruz offered some off-road capability, but it lacked features like low range and locking differentials, making it less suitable for serious off-roading. Its towing capacity was 2,268 kg, and the payload capacity was 864 kg, aligning more with midsize SUVs than traditional pickups.

In Canada, the 2022 Toyota Tacoma came standard with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, with four-wheel drive as standard. Both six-speed automatic and manual transmissions were available. The Tacoma's maximum towing capacity was 2,948 kg, with a payload capacity of 583 kg. While the V6 engine was more capable than the four-cylinder option available in the U.S., it struggled with highway acceleration due to its transmission gearing. The suspension was designed for off-road use, providing a smooth ride and firm handling around corners. The TRD Pro model excelled on trails, with features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control enhancing its off-road capabilities. The steering, while requiring effort at low speeds, was well-suited for trail navigation.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a maximum payload capacity of 864 kg, but its small truck bed, measuring 1,323 mm in length, limited its utility. Larger items like bicycles or 4x8 sheets of plywood required creative solutions for transport. However, Hyundai included features to maximize the bed's utility, such as a lockable tonneau cover, height-adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, in-bed LED lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet. The Santa Cruz was available only in a four-door crew-cab configuration, with seating for five. Rear-seat legroom was tight, but front-seat space was more generous, and visibility was good thanks to a low hood and short front end. The interior offered decent storage space, with a centre console and storage bin under the rear seats. Controls for heated and ventilated seats were conveniently placed, though touch pads for audio and climate control were less user-friendly while driving.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma was available in Access Cab and Double Cab configurations, with bed lengths of five feet and six feet one inch. The Access Cab featured clamshell rear half-doors and seating for four, with limited legroom in the rear jump seats. The Double Cab offered seating for up to five, but rear-seat legroom remained tight. The front seats provided ample legroom, but the tilt/telescoping steering wheel's limited range could be an issue for taller drivers. The Tacoma's cab included plenty of cupholders and storage options. The bed featured in-bed lighting and a power outlet, enhancing its utility.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a digital instrument cluster. The digital cluster could display blind-spot images from the optional surround-view camera system. Hyundai's Blue Link telematics service included smartwatch and Google Assistant connectivity. The 10.25-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster in the test vehicle were visually appealing and responsive, with quick boot-up times and intuitive graphics.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma's base infotainment system featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth compatibility. Higher trims added an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system, though older, was user-friendly with a straightforward layout and large icons. Apple CarPlay integration was seamless, though the tuning and volume dials were small. The test vehicle included a wireless device charger, which required manual activation. While the Tacoma lacked advanced tech features, its simplicity was appreciated by those with active lifestyles.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz was designated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, though it fell short of the top rating due to standard halogen headlights on the Preferred grades. NHTSA ratings were not available. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, driver attention warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit assist. A surround-view camera system and Highway Driving Assist were available on the Ultimate grade. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist performed comparably to other systems in its class, with limitations on handling highway curves.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma came standard with driver assistance features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The standard backup camera's image quality was grainy, requiring extra attention when reversing. The 2022 Tacoma had not been tested by the IIHS, but the similar 2021 model received high crash test scores. The NHTSA awarded the 2022 Tacoma a four-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests.