Hyundai is launching a new trim for the 2024 Santa Cruz. The automaker is replacing the SEL Premium grade with the rugged and stylish XRT trim. This trim has already been added to other Hyundai models such as the Palisade, Santa Fe, and Tucson.
The 2024 Santa Cruz XRT comes with several distinctive upgrades, including fender flares, side steps, bed rails, and lower door garnishes. It also features orange wheel center caps, black door handles, black mirror caps, and an XRT tailgate emblem. Additionally, it has a dark chrome grille and tailgate handle trim, matte black “Santa Cruz” tailgate lettering, and dark front and rear fascias, all of which enhance its visual appeal.
The new Santa Cruz XRT will be positioned below the Santa Cruz Limited in the lineup and builds upon the SEL with Activity Package. The interior boasts black H-Tex seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Under the hood, the Santa Cruz XRT features a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters and Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system. This powertrain delivers 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.
In terms of color options, the 2024 Santa Cruz will offer the same palette as the 2023 model, including Sage Gray, Phantom Black, Blue Stone, Atlas White, Hampton Gray, and California Sand. LED projector headlights will come standard on all 2024 Santa Cruz models, while dual-zone automatic temperature control and auto defogger will be included on the SEL trim level and higher.
Every trim level of the Santa Cruz will also come equipped with steering wheel haptic feedback for the lane-keep assist and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist systems. Navigation will be available on the SEL with Activity Package grade and above.
Pricing details for the 2024 Santa Cruz have not been released yet. However, it is expected to have a slight increase compared to the SEL Premium trim it replaces, which starts at $38,935 (including the $1,335 destination charge). The Santa Cruz Limited trim currently costs $41,905. The XRT trim is also available on other Hyundai models, such as the Palisade.
The Santa Cruz has been performing well in sales, with a 10 percent increase in the first six months of 2023. Hyundai sold 20,050 Santa Cruz trucks so far this year. Ford’s sales figures for Q2 2023 have not been released, but the company reported 21,478 Maverick sales in the first three months of the year, and Q2 sales are expected to add to that number.