The Hyundai Santa Cruz has enjoyed great popularity amongst American consumers since its debut. Buyers can't seem to get enough of the compact truck, which not only boasts funky styling but a healthy dose of practicality, features, and, importantly, value for money. Interestingly, these attributes are also what make its deadliest rival, the Ford Maverick, such a hit with the buying public.
To bolster its appeal, Hyundai has announced the arrival of a new trim level, known simply as Night. As the name suggests, the newcomer receives a host of darkened styling elements, such as model-specific 20-inch wheels, gloss black door handles and mirror caps, as well as a blacked-out chrome grille. The sinister-looking Santa Cruz also receives dual side steps and a unique fascia design at the front and rear.
Offered with the turbocharged 2.5-liter gas engine, the Santa Cruz Night has 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The force-fed powerplant is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission which, for the Night trim, is equipped with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Price-wise, the Night has been positioned as one of the pricier trims, with an MSRP of $35,810.
Hyundai hasn't made any mention of additional changes to the lineup, but the MY2023 Santa Cruz has received a price hike across the range. The base SE derivative now weighs in at $25,450, which represents an increase of $1,010. As a reminder, this entry-level variant is paired with a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine, producing 191 hp and 181 lb-ft. Power is sent to the front wheels via a traditional eight-speed torque converter. The SE AWD is now priced at $26,950.
This makes the cheapest 2023 Santa Cruz nearly $5,000 more than the 2022 Maverick. That's a big difference but, due to incredible Maverick demand, it's proving rather difficult to purchase Dearborn's little truck. Stepping up to the Santa Cruz SEL model will require at least $27,790. Should you require all-wheel drive, expect to pay $29,290.
The SEL Activity models command $31,060 and $32,560 for FWD and AWD variants, respectively. Aside from the aforementioned Night model, there are two other turbocharged offerings in the lineup. The SEL Premium is now listed at $37,350 (up from $36,130) while the range-topping Limited is priced at $40,320.
It's the poshest model of the bunch that receives the smallest increase. Last year's Limited is only $150 cheaper than the 2023 model.
It's never good news when an affordable vehicle gets more expensive, but Hyundai does have a good reason for jacking up the MSRP. All models, regardless of trim, now receive safe-exit warning, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic assist as standard. This isn't the first price increase given to the Santa Cruz in recent months, though.
Despite this, the compact truck still enjoys relatively healthy sales in the United States. In June, Hyundai managed to shift 3,502 examples to customers across the country. If you can get your hands on one, the Maverick does seem to be the better value buy. Even the range-topping Lariat (equipped with the 2.5-liter hybrid engine) is priced at $26,860, which isn't that much more than a base Santa Cruz.