2023 Toyota Tundra vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz appeared as a nostalgic yet innovative offering within the small pickup segment. With dimensions of 195.7 inches in length, 75.0 inches in width, and 66.7 inches in height, it was more akin to a compact SUV but morphed into a truck-like form factor. The design melded features from various automotive genres, resembling the Subaru Baja or a smaller Honda Ridgeline, thanks to its unibody construction and distinctive styling.

The Santa Cruz's exterior stood out with its toothy grille, seamless headlight integration, and an overall SUV-like aesthetic. Features like the “Santa Cruz” name embossed on the tailgate, a mix of plastic cladding, and chrome accents maintained a rugged appeal. It boasted standard 20-inch wheels which filled the arches, though 18-inch wheels were also available for better performance off-road due to thicker sidewalls.

Inside, the Santa Cruz retained a more conventional design, avoiding the faux ruggedness prevalent in many truck interiors. Instead, the dashboard and air vent integration stood out as tasteful touches. The materials in the Limited trim weren’t overly luxurious but felt appropriate for the vehicle's rugged mission. Controls were laid out thoughtfully, ensuring functional usability over style.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra, by contrast, embodied the essence of a modern, full-size truck. Its massive grille, especially when outlined in chrome, gave it an imposing presence reminiscent of a classic "Sam Elliot mustache." Toyota’s design philosophy employed interlocking elements from the grille to the tailgate, making the Tundra appear tough and meticulously crafted.

The truck's sizable dimensions didn't just end with its façade. Its high-mounted headlights and bold character lines added visual length, creating a perfect balance between brute force and sleek design. The rear adopted a three-dimensional stamped look, reinforcing the Tundra's solid and purposeful build.

A new SX package introduced in 2023 offered aesthetic upgrades like dark gray metallic 18-inch wheels, body-color trims, and a blacked-out “4x4” badge, enhancing its rugged appeal. Interior accents featured practical yet stylish designs, giving off a refined ambiance.

Inside, the Tundra was expansive, offering big seats and ample room. Higher trims boasted a massive 14-inch touchscreen that dominated the dashboard, aligning with the truck’s imposing exterior. While its large grille might polarize opinions, the interior satisfaction due to its spaciousness and comfort was nearly universal.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz came equipped with two powertrain options both tied to a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The base naturally aspirated engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). An optional turbocharged version was available, pushing output to 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The standard setup included front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option for the base engine and standard with the turbocharged variant.

Driving the Santa Cruz felt more SUV-like than truck-like, with a multi-link suspension setup that offered commendable cornering performance and a self-leveling feature unique to loaded bed scenarios. Remarkably, even with 20-inch wheels, the ride quality remained plush and cabin noise low. However, it wasn't the first choice for serious off-roading due to the absence of low-range gears and locking differentials, although it had 8.6 inches of ground clearance and an optional HTRAC AWD system. Towing capacities varied from 3,500 pounds for the base engine to 5,000 pounds for the turbo engine, with payload capacities peaking at 1,906 pounds.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra evolved from its predecessor, offering improved performance while maintaining efficiency. It ditched the older V8 engines for two new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 options. The standard twin-turbo V6 delivered 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid variant, dubbed i-FORCE MAX, ramped up to 437 horsepower and an impressive 583 pound-feet of torque. This transformation significantly boosted the truck's power without compromising on fuel efficiency.

A 10-speed automatic transmission managed the Tundra's power seamlessly, with smooth and consistent throttle responses and no power drop-offs, even under turbocharged conditions. Toyota added synthetic engine noise via the optional JBL sound system to mimic a V8's roar, enhancing the driving experience.

The Tundra’s revamped multi-link rear suspension brought notable improvements in ride quality, eliminating the bouncy ride typical of older models. Towing capacity peaked at a class-leading 12,000 pounds, with a payload capacity of 1,940 pounds, although this remained slightly below some of its competition. The TRD Pro trim came geared for off-road challenges with a 1.1-inch lift, Fox shocks, BBS wheels, and 33-inch tires, complemented by advanced off-roading tech like a multi-terrain system, crawl control, and downhill assist.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz presented an impressive maximum payload capacity, but its utility was limited by the small truck bed—only 52.1 inches long. This shorter bed could not fully accommodate typical cargo like bicycles or standard-sized plywood sheets. Hyundai’s solutions included using bed extenders or carrying cargo with the tailgate down, which felt less than ideal.

However, Hyundai packed several useful features into the Santa Cruz's bed to maximize available space. It included a lockable tonneau cover, a height-adjustable tailgate, various tie-down points, in-bed lighting, and a 115-volt power outlet. Designers integrated clever storage features, including under-bed compartments and interior storage beneath the rear seats, making the most of the compact dimensions. Small corner steps made accessing the bed easier, even if it required some maneuvering.

Interior space in the Santa Cruz was somewhat tight, especially for rear-seat passengers, where legroom was limited. The front seats offered more generous space, and overall visibility benefited from the vehicle's compact hood and front end. Hyundai smartly designed additional storage compartments in the center console, and while the touchpads for radio and climate controls were harder to use while driving, they offered a modern yet practical touch.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra, as a full-size truck, delivered superior space and utility. Practical and thoughtful design was evident throughout the cabin, where Toyota combined modern technology with easy-to-use physical controls. Large knobs for volume, climate control, and seat heaters united with tech-savvy elements like the 14-inch touchscreen, blending functionality with modernity. The interior also featured practical touches such as the oversized gear shifter, cleverly positioned wireless charging pad, and a center console with a sliding door for easy access.

With ample legroom and headroom, the Tundra catered well to passengers of all sizes. The rear seats also provided additional storage by flipping up, increasing the vehicle's functional utility. Cargo capacity options varied by trim, with the SR5 trim offering flexible variations like a 6.5-foot or an 8.1-foot bed in double-cab configurations. CrewMax Tundras had a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed, while the highest trims only paired with a CrewMax cab and a 5.5-foot bed.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a standard 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto being standout features. Higher trims added a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system was fast, responsive, and visually appealing with old-fashioned vacuum tube graphics for radio stations. Wireless device charging and Hyundai’s digital key feature added modern convenience to the setup, but the latter was limited to Android phones.

The Santa Cruz came with several tech-forward features including Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics service, offering smartwatch and Google Assistant connectivity, ensuring a well-rounded arsenal of tech amenities in line with today's needs.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra similarly started with an 8-inch touchscreen in lower trims, but the star was the available 14-inch display standard on all trims from the Limited upwards. The new software delivered crisp graphics and quick responsiveness, a significant upgrade from older models. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims, but wireless charging was limited to higher trims.

Additionally, the Tundra featured a 12-speaker audio system from the Platinum trim level onwards, enhancing the acoustic experience. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, optional on higher trims, was a technological marvel with impressive resolution and user-friendly brightness.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz didn't yet have safety ratings from IIHS or NHTSA, but it was packed with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims offered additional aids such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, and a surround-view camera. Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering, providing a substantial safety net, even if it struggled with highway curves like most systems of its kind.

The 2023 Toyota Tundra also featured an impressive suite of safety features, anchored by the older generation TSS 2.5 instead of the latest TSS 3.0. It still included key functionalities like automatic emergency braking, road-sign detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-tracing assist. Each Tundra also boasted a sway warning system, particularly useful for frequent towers. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available but not standard across all trims. The IIHS awarded CrewMax models a Top Safety Pick+ in 2022, complementing Toyota’s reputation for safety.