The 2025 Santa Cruz gets a bolder, stronger design with more vertical lines, redesigned headlights, and a strong grille with larger chambers. An available XRT trim adds a bit more ruggedness with its all-terrain tires, front tow hooks, and improved off-road capability.

In keeping with its refreshed exterior, Hyundai has also upped the interior with a new panoramic curved display that houses an optional 12.3-inch driver information cluster and available 12.3-inch infotainment system. The center stack controls also sport physical switchgear, particularly for frequently used audio and climate controls. The re-design has also freed up a new storage shelf just above the glovebox.

New technologies include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Over-the-Air support to the infotainment system, USB Type C ports, and a fingerprint scanner that links vehicle settings.

Powering the Santa Cruz is a 2.5-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque. This is coupled to an 8-speed automatic. There’s also a turbocharged version of the same engine and this one ups the horsepower count to 281 horsepower, while torque goes up to 422 Nm. It’s linked to an 8-speed dual clutch with paddle shifters.

Regardless of powertrain, both offer Hyundai’s all-wheel drive tech called HTRAC AWD. The HTRAC AWD was developed as a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles. A Sport setting gives a more agile feel by sending more torque to the rear wheels. There’s also a Tow mode available.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz remains a North America exclusive where it goes on sale there sometime towards the middle of the year.