2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz To Target Honda Ridgeline, But Could It Start At $25,000?

Hyundai’s long-awaited Santa Cruz pickup continues to be tested and is expected to start reach U.S. dealerships in 2021.

In a new report, Car and Driver speculates the Santa Cruz could be priced from $25,000, but we’re not convinced. The Honda Ridgeline, which should be its main competitor, starts at $33,900 in the United States and while it’s possible Hyundai will look to undercut its Japanese rival, doing so by almost $9,000 seems a little far-fetched. The Ridgeline is also $2,250 more expensive than the Pilot upon which it’s based. Similarly, the Santa Cruz will share components with the Sante Fe that starts from $26,125. We expect prices for Hyundai’s truck to start closer to $30,000.

What we now about the Santa Cruz

It’s been more than five years since the Santa Cruz was presented as a concept and while the production model is expected to sport a similar design, modifications will be made. Most notably, the road-going Santa Cruz will be sold as a four-door crew cab as opposed to the extended cab setup of the concept.

Read Also: 2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup Spotted In Four-Door Crew Cab Configuration

Prototypes spied testing in recent months have featured camouflage and thick body cladding, making it difficult to see the fine design details. With that being said, similar sloping C-pillars to those of the concept have been spotted.

Underpinning the pickup will be the same basic platform as the current Hyundai Santa Fe, meaning it’ll be a unibody and compete directly against the Honda Ridgeline. As the Santa Cruz will be based on the Santa Fe, it will also be produced at Hyundai’s plant on Montgomery, Alabama.

See: Transforming Hyundai’s Santa Cruz Concept Into A Pickup Truck For The Masses

CarScoops’s believes that two engine options will be available. Sitting at the base of the range will be a 2.4-liter engine pumping out 185 hp and 178 lb-ft (241 Nm) of torque while slotting above it will be a turbocharged 2.0-liter churning out 235 hp and 260 lb-ft (352 Nm) of torque.

Photo Renderings Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes