2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2023 Toyota Tundra

The 2023 Toyota Tundra was a behemoth of a truck, with its massive grille and interlocking design elements that gave it a purposeful and solid appearance. The truck's exterior was characterized by slim, high-mounted headlights and a three-dimensional stamped design at the rear, adding to its visual appeal. The new SX Package introduced in 2023 added dark gray metallic wheels and body-color trim pieces, enhancing its rugged look. Inside, the Tundra offered expansive seats and a spacious interior, with a 14-inch touchscreen dominating the dashboard in higher trims. Despite its polarizing exterior, the Tundra's interior provided ample space and comfort, making it a desirable choice for truck enthusiasts.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz was a compact unibody crossover with a small bed, offering a unique blend of style and utility. Its design featured a cool Tron-looking grille, protruding fenders, and a sharply raked C-pillar, making it stand out on the road. The interior was neither luxurious nor sparse, with high-quality materials and a funky four-spoked steering wheel. The Santa Cruz's interior design was cohesive, with a thin horizontal bar of trim spanning the driver and passenger space. While it may not have been a traditional pickup, the Santa Cruz offered practicality and style for those seeking a versatile vehicle.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra marked a significant departure from its predecessor with the introduction of two six-cylinder engine options. The standard 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine produced 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid version, known as the i-FORCE MAX, delivered an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The Tundra's 10-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth and consistent power delivery, and the multi-link rear suspension improved ride quality over various terrains. With a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds and a payload of 1,940 pounds, the Tundra excelled in its class. The TRD Pro trim offered genuine off-road capabilities, with features like a 1.1-inch lift, 2.5-inch fox shocks, and a multi-terrain system, making it a formidable off-road performer.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged version. The turbocharged engine produced 282 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, providing peppy performance and smooth shifts through its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Cruz's ride quality was excellent, and its compact size made it highly maneuverable in urban environments. While not designed for serious off-roading, the Santa Cruz's AWD system with a center locking differential and hill-descent control allowed for light off-road adventures. However, its ground clearance and approach angles limited its off-road capabilities, making it more suitable for gravel roads and city driving.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra prioritized practicality and thoughtful design, with a spacious interior and user-friendly controls. The Tundra featured big physical controls for volume, climate, and driving functions, ensuring ease of use. The center console offered ample storage, with a clever sliding door for easy access. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom, and the backseat flipped up for additional storage. The Tundra's bed options included a 6.5-foot or 8.1-foot bed for the SR5 trim and a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed for other trims, providing versatility for various needs.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz, while not a traditional pickup, offered impressive utility with its compact bed. The bed measured 52 inches long and nearly 54 inches wide, with lockable underfloor storage and multiple tie-down points. The Santa Cruz's payload capacity was 1,411 pounds, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds with a braked trailer. Inside, the rear seats folded up for taller items, but rear legroom was limited to 36.5 inches. Heated front seats were available on all but the base model, with ventilated seats offered on the top trim. The Santa Cruz's interior design was practical and functional, catering to those seeking a versatile vehicle.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra featured an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR and SR5 trims, with a 14-inch screen available on higher trims. The infotainment system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 12-speaker audio system available on the Limited trim and above. The Tundra's 12.3-inch digital instrument panel impressed with its resolution and brightness, making it a technological marvel compared to older models.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz came with an 8-inch touchscreen on the SE and SEL trims, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upper trims featured a 10.25-inch display with wired smartphone compatibility. The infotainment system was intuitive, but the lack of a physical volume knob was a notable omission. Charging options included dual USB-A ports, with wireless charging available on higher trims. The Santa Cruz's technology package was user-friendly, though some features required precise touch inputs.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra was equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite, offering features like automatic emergency braking, road-sign detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available but not standard across all trims. The Tundra received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for CrewMax models.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a comprehensive set of driver-assistance systems, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and lane-keep assist. The Limited trim featured Highway Drive Assist and a blind-spot view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Cruz five stars in front crash tests and four stars for rollover safety. The 2023 model received "Good" or "Superior" ratings from the IIHS, with improvements in headlamp technology for 2024.