2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline had undergone a significant styling update a couple of years prior, which included a new front end with bolder details, LED headlights, fog lights, and taillights, as well as larger dual exhaust outlets and more appealing wheels with aggressive tread designs. These changes gave the Ridgeline a more rugged appearance, although the optional Honda Performance Development (HPD) packages with oversized fender flares were best avoided. The Ridgeline was available in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Black Edition, all equipped with a V6 engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and an i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD system. Prices ranged from $47,435 to $56,435, excluding destination charges and fees. The Ridgeline shared many components with the Honda Passport SUV, offering a refined and sophisticated driving experience compared to traditional pickups like the Toyota Tacoma. Its interior, reminiscent of the Honda Pilot, featured a leather-lined cabin with quality materials, ample storage, and a modern design.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, though not a traditional pickup truck, was a unibody crossover with a small bed attached to the rear. It was available in two trims in Canada: Preferred and Ultimate. The Santa Cruz was about 35 centimetres longer than the Hyundai Tucson, sharing a similar front end with a distinctive grille. Its design was intentional, with protruding fenders and a sharply raked C-pillar, making it stand out. Inside, the Santa Cruz offered high-quality materials for its price point, with a funky four-spoked steering wheel design. The interior was neither overly luxurious nor sparse, with a cohesive look created by a thin horizontal trim bar. The fit and finish were commendable, and the plastics felt good to the touch.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline shared its platform with the third-generation Acura MDX and Honda Pilot SUVs, as well as the Honda Odyssey minivan and Honda Passport SUV. It featured a fortified platform for pickup-truck duty, powered by a 3.5-litre VTEC V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring AWD system allowed up to 70 percent of power to be directed to a single rear wheel. The Ridgeline offered a competitive 694-kilogram payload capacity but was limited to a 2,268-kilogram towing capacity due to its unibody construction. It excelled in driving dynamics on pavement, with a fuel economy averaging 10.4 litres per 100 kilometres on a road trip. The Ridgeline's ride was supple in the city and SUV-like on the highway, with remarkable athleticism on twisty roads. However, the steering felt heavy at lower speeds.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz in Canada was sold exclusively with AWD and a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 282 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission provided smooth shifts, and paddle shifters allowed for more control. The Santa Cruz offered excellent ride quality, easily absorbing rough pavement, and its maneuverability made it ideal for city driving. It could navigate tight spaces and heavy traffic with ease. Off-road, the Santa Cruz featured a centre locking differential and hill-descent control, although its ground clearance and geometry limited its capabilities. The Santa Cruz was best suited for gravel roads, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms with a braked trailer.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline prioritized function with features like shelves in the front door panels, a giant storage console, a dual-action tailgate, and an in-bed trunk. The interior, similar to the Honda Passport, offered comfortable seats with power adjustment and excellent leg support. The rear seat was less generous in headroom and legroom compared to the Passport, but it provided a high seating position and rear air conditioning vents. The rear seat cushion flipped up to create a load floor, and the truck bed featured a dual-action tailgate and a flat, scratch-resistant composite cargo bed. The Ridgeline's unique unibody platform allowed for a lockable, weatherproof, 206-litre trunk under the load floor.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, while not a traditional pickup, offered utility with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms with a braked trailer. The bed measured 1,230 millimetres long and nearly 1,368 mm wide, with lockable underfloor storage and side cubbies. The Santa Cruz had a total payload of 640 kilograms and featured a sliding and locking tonneau cover. Inside, the rear seats folded up for taller items, but rear legroom was limited to 926 mm. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with ventilated seats available on the Ultimate trim.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline's infotainment system was dated, with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. The system was slow to load, and the voice recognition system had delayed responses. The touchscreen lacked modern design standards, and the navigation display was cluttered. The Ridgeline's technology needed an overhaul, but it was functional once users acclimated to it.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured a 10.25-inch display infotainment system with wired smartphone compatibility. The system was intuitive, with quick reaction times and clear graphics. However, it lacked a physical volume knob, relying on touch-sensitive buttons. The Santa Cruz had dual USB-A ports up front, with additional ports for rear passengers on the Ultimate trim. Wireless charging was available only on the Ultimate trim.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline came with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard in Canada. The Ridgeline received favourable crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with top marks in all crash tests and a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a comprehensive set of advanced driver-assistance systems, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, and lane-following assist. The Santa Cruz Ultimate trim featured Highway Drive Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a blind-spot view monitor. The NHTSA gave the Santa Cruz a full five stars in a front crash and a four-star rollover rating. The 2023 model received "Good" or "Superior" ratings from the IIHS, with improvements in headlamps for the 2024 model.