Rival Santa Cruz to be cancelled

[Scott Asheville]

Kind of saddened this morning to read Hyundai is discontinuing the Santa Cruz next year. I was kind of hoping, in the sense that competition is good for the breed, that they would bring out a vastly improved small truck. Now it looks like their next truck will be Ranger sized.


https://www.autonews.com/hyundai/an-hyundai-sunsets-santa-cruz-pickup-early-0129/

Sponsored

 

[Art Vandelay]

I know a lot of Ford fanboys will rejoice at this rumor of the Santa Cruz being cancelled.
But the Santa Cruz really isn't a bad vehicle, it's a very comfortable and capable truck and yes the looks are a little polarizing but there are other vehicles with questionable looks that sell well. The interior is really nice and kind of makes the Maverick interior feel like a cheap toy.

I think where Hyundai really missed the mark with the Santa Cruz is with fuel efficiency. People are looking for fuel efficient vehicles more than ever and the Santa Cruz gas mileage is no better than a midsize truck. Meanwhile the Maverick Ecoboost easily beats the SC in fuel efficiency and the Maverick Hybrid mpg rating destroys the SC's mpg rating. Most people looking for a small truck or any smaller vehicle are doing so, at least in part, for better fuel economy.

It was also quite a bit more expensive for the 2022 & 2023 model years but Ford has now raised the price substantially each year on the Maverick and now the cost of Hyundai and the Maverick aren't very far off.

 

[robbyrob]

the market is working the Cuz was simply not selling thus Hyundai is dropping it

 

[Cherokee]

The Santa Cruz interior, Honda Interior,
Hyundai’s interior. All made in Taiwan !
Hell I don’t know or care where they were made.
IMO they ALL LOOK the same.
Boring.

The Ford Maverick Still stands alone !

 

[Erod]

This is something I can certainly speak to. I’m sitting in my 2024 Santa Cruz company vehicle right now that I’ve driven probably 25,000 miles.

I was looking for a new backup vehicle, the last few weeks and from a couple friends having them and also specifically being pleased with fuel efficiency I bought a 2025 maverick hybrid last Friday

My cumulative fuel efficiency for the last 5000 miles, in this non-turbo Santa Cruz which includes mainly highway driving is 24.8 miles per gallon

I do really like the locking bed floor storage that the Santa Cruz has but that’s all it’s got over the Maverick and I’ve literally only driven the Maverick now maybe 50 miles

 

[wax87]

I know a lot of Ford fanboys will rejoice at this rumor of the Santa Cruz being cancelled.
But the Santa Cruz really isn't a bad vehicle, it's a very comfortable and capable truck and yes the looks are a little polarizing but there are other vehicles with questionable looks that sell well. The interior is really nice and kind of makes the Maverick interior feel like a cheap toy.

I think where Hyundai really missed the mark with the Santa Cruz is with fuel efficiency. People are looking for fuel efficient vehicles more than ever and the Santa Cruz gas mileage is no better than a midsize truck. Meanwhile the Maverick Ecoboost easily beats the SC in fuel efficiency and the Maverick Hybrid mpg rating destroys the SC's mpg rating. Most people looking for a small truck or any smaller vehicle are doing so, at least in part, for better fuel economy. If Hyundai could rush a new powertrain with much better fuel economy into the SC I think they'd easily sell a lot more than they are currently.

It was also quite a bit more expensive for the 2022 & 2023 model years but Ford has now raised the price substantially each on the Maverick and the cost of Hyundai and the Maverick aren't very far off.

and now with that comptition gone Ford will raise the price again

 

[BigClydeLittleTruck]

My gut says that it more than just cosmetics, although that certainly plays a role. I suspect that it's "too car like" for most truck people and "too truck like" for most car people. Hence, it couldn't find a market because of the needle they were trying to thread.

 

[Scott Asheville]

FYI. I did not start this thread. The admin did. I posted the article to an existing Santa Cruz thread, and the admin moved it to a new thread.

 

[commadorebob]

I don't like the loss of competition. But based on the sales numbers, it wasn't really competitive.

FYI. I did not start this thread. The admin did. I posted the article to an existing Santa Cruz thread, and the admin moved it to a new thread.

We reserve the right to blame you anyway...

 

[Scupking]

The problem with the Cruz was it looked like it didn't know what it wanted to be. Was it a truck or an SUV? People that want a truck want it to look like a truck and people that want an SUV want it to look like an SUV. I believe that was the biggest issue. The other issue was bad gas milage and small interior.

 

[SteeleMech]

I'm surprised that Chevy hasn't brought the Montana to the North American market.

 

[dalola]

It was never really true "competition" for the Maverick, very few are interested in a "truck" from Hyundai. It's existence had no affect on the Maverick, just as it's extinction won't either. It's a unique lifestyle vehicle with a very limited market, as Hyundai found out. They will run into he same problem if in fact they venture into a larger "truck". I suspect that will not happen. They need to stick with cars & SUV's, where they are accepted in the segment.

 

[Darthie]

Kind of saddened this morning to read Hyundai is discontinuing the Santa Cruz next year. I was kind of hoping, in the sense that competition is good for the breed, that they would bring out a vastly improved small truck. Now it looks like their next truck will be Ranger sized.


https://www.autonews.com/hyundai/an-hyundai-sunsets-santa-cruz-pickup-early-0129/

I tried to buy one before the Maverick and the stealer told me it was a piece of junk and tried to get me to buy a Santa Cruz. I almost made a fatal error. Luckily like all stealers he lied to me about pricing and tried to force a bunch of dog sh•t dealer add ons in the deal. Once again I walked out pissed off. Stealers are terrible.

 

[tpollauf]

and now with that the competition is gone, Ford will raise the price again

Exactly !!! With no competition, the sky is the limit for what future prices will be. Just in time for when I plan on getting one later this year

 

[Ryom]

the market is working the Cuz was simply not selling thus Hyundai is dropping it

Nobody is really contesting that point. The problem is that with the extremely thin field of competitors to the Maverick there is little to keep Ford honest and on their toes. Therein lies potential stagnation for the model as they aren't forced to compete.

Sponsored