The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz continues to be the lone pickup entry in the Koran car giant’s automotive arsenal, but while it will not get a companion to join its pickup truck sales ambitions, Hyundai is making some updates to the truck for 2024, including a trim level swap and more standard equipment.
SEL Premium Gets Benched, XRT Trim Takes Its Place In Santa Cruz Family
A major change for the Santa Cruz is that the SEL Premium trim (slotted just below the range-topping Limited) is being dropped, and in its place is the latest entry into the growing XRT trim family. Like other XRT models, The Santa Cruz version is designed to be a trail-focused styling package based on an SEL model equipped with the Activity Package. That means plenty of black styling accents and orange-hued trim on the wheel center caps. The tailgate also has a trim exclusive emblem, and the interior has black H-Tex upholstery, adaptive cruise control, and dark chrome trim elements. All XRT models will be powered by a 281 horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, with standard all-wheel drive.
In addition to this new trim level, Hyundai also confirmed that the truck will get an enhanced pool of standard equipment, with bi-projector LED headlights being standard across the entire trim lineup. An automatic defogger and dual-zone climate control are standard on SEL and higher trims, with the 10.25-inch infotainment system also being standard on SEL and above models. A minor but welcome safety-related change is the addition of haptic feedback capability to the steering wheel to help it work with some of the safety features.
When Can I Buy One?
With the Santa Cruz’s changes being minimal for 2024, it should come as no shock that the pricing ladder has also received minimal changes for 2024 with a base model now starting at $27,985 (up from $27,035). We have included a full pricing ladder below.
- Santa Cruz SE: (FWD) $27,985
- Santa Cruz SEL: (FWD) $30,735
- Santa Cruz SE: (AWD) $29,485
- Santa Cruz SEL: (AWD) $32,235
- Santa Cruz Night: $39,545
- Santa Cruz XRT: $41,185
- Santa Cruz Limited: $42,405
Thankfully, consumers won’t have to wait too long to get their chance to own one, with Hyundai confirming that the 2024 model will begin making its way to showrooms in the next few weeks.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.