Hyundai just unveiled the refreshed 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz at the New York International Auto Show, pulling the sheets on a new exterior design, updated cabin, new tech, and tweaks to the off-road-oriented XRT. At present, GM does not offer a direct rival to the Santa Cruz in the U.S. market. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz will be available in dealers this Summer.
The refresh includes a new exterior design with a revised front end and wide stance, which is visually enhanced thanks to horizontal styling elements and lighting. The new front grille and fascia are complemented by new daytime running lights and new wheel designs.
As for the cabin, the refreshed 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz incorporates a panoramic curved display with an optional 12.3-inch driver information cluster and available 12.3-inch audio-video navigation system. The center stack controls were updated to be more ergonomic, while the steering wheel, air vents, and rear seat center armrest were also updated.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included across the range. Further tech features include USB-C ports, Bluelink+ Connected Car tech, in-car payment, fingerprint scanner, and a new towing mode when equipped with the turbocharged powertrain on Limited and XRT models.
Speaking of the engine, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers two powertrain options. Standard spec includes a 2.5L I4 gasoline engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, mating with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the optional turbocharged 2.5L I4 gasoline engine doles out 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and connects to an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifting. Both powerplants offer HTRAC all-wheel drive.
With regard to the off-road XRT model, standout features include all-terrain tires sized at 245/60, as well as front tow hooks and enhanced off-road capability thanks to an increased approach angle. The XRT also rides on unique “wrench-inspired” 18-inch alloy wheels. As for technology, the XRT trim level features Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor, while there is XRT logo debossing in the front upper seatbacks.
Pricing info for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz has yet to be revealed, but is expected to start under $30,000.
To note, the closest GM rival to the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, which are very different trucks compared to the Santa Cruz. GM also offers the unibody Chevy Montana outside the U.S., but the Montana is unlikely to be sold stateside.
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Comments
It doesn’t look bad and has a reasonable price point
Chevrolet and GMC with Mary Barrah’s leadership has a lot of product holes in the United States line up.
With 4 brands, 5 if you count the Hummer Sub-brand, there is no excuse for the situation.
1. No Wrangler or Bronco alternative
2. No Cavalier/Cruze
3. No Merverick Alternative
4. No Impala/Crown alternative
5. No S Class Alternative
6. No Land Cruiser alternative
Geographically GM is nonexistent in
1. English Speaking Africa- A huge and fastest-growing market
2. India
3. Europe
4. Gives non-patent parties access to profitability in China, despite China laws changing
5. No significant presence in Australia
6. Huge Swaths of South America
The holes are in unprofitable products or saturated with another entry…
1. No Wrangler or Bronco alternative (saturated with another entry)
2. No Cavalier/Cruze (no market for it, have moved to CUV’s)
3. No Merverick Alternative (probably come eventually, currently assessing)
4. No Impala/Crown alternative (no market)
5. No S Class Alternative (Cadillac is coming for that with an EV which S class will head eventually)
6. No Land Cruiser alternative (small unprofitable market)
What they are in they are mostly competitive or towards to the top or top half in and it shows with their ASP’s and revenue. So it is good she doesn’t listen to keyboard warriors who don’t know they are doing, because while they would maybe have a short run of a few fun vehicles, they would be be driven to bankruptcy with unprofitable vehicles.
I guess what I am saying is stay in your lane…
The real reason is not keyboard warriors; it’s GM’s absence in markets where they can make for volume based on scale.
Unlike Hyundai, Ford, and Toyota, they cannot figure out how to sell vehicles outside North America. Hence while they might not be able to move these categories in large quantities in North America, there is still a market for them outside of North America.
I guess I am saying that they can grow their business between those segments and the global market.
The stock has been very stagnant since the current leadership took the reins. I held it for years then dumped it.
Their lane is not yielding anything for anyone.
Because the problem with GM is they have become even more short term thinking. They have the vehicles now to compete in those markets, but are extremely risk averse and focusing on quick profits.
Not quick profits but the greatest return on investment.
Hyundai sold 36,675 in the US last year, who cares if GM has no US “rivals” to it?
How about this headline?
“GM Colorado/Canyon, Silverado/Sierra LD, Silverado/Sierra HD, Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban/Yukon XL Unveiled With No Hyundai US Rivals (or anywhere in the world for that matter)
The situation is, GM leadership is not able to do business outside of North America. This is reflected in their stagnant stock.
It’s a shame, really. They have to share IP with the Chinese to survive over there and have effectively watered down the Buick Brand chasing volume while they have Chevrolet and Wuling.
I used to hold their stock, but I dumped it for a loss after years of waiting; the last straw was poor union negotiations, keeping their balance sheet in a chokehold by labor thugs. You can pay workers will without letting your bolls be permanently held by union thugs.
GM is a welfare business.
GM should really bring back the El Camino. Even if its a but more truck-like like the Ford Maverick.
GM sells a compact truck in South America the Chevy Montana – https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/12/here-is-the-all-new-2023-chevy-montana-pickup/. I don’t know enough about US specs vs foreign specs and adapting them to meet US standards. But it seems like a no-brainer to either bring the Montana to the USA or use it as a base.
One thing missing in the conversation here is the likelihood of a compact model cannibilizing sales from the Colorado/Canyon as we seen with Ranger sales nosediving (that could be more to do with supply issues). But the midsize market was handed over to Toyota when GM and Ford pulled out of that segments (only to return and play catch up). GM needs to get ahead of the curve in the burgeoning compact truck market, it’s being reported that Toyota is readying a compact truck.
Gm has focused and invested in models that sell in higher volumes and offer more return on a investment.
You can builds a car to challenge ever slot and still go bankrupt as GM did.
Even with the Maverick and the Bronco Ford stock is still tanking and they are struggling financially.
Over at Jeep and Chrysler they are laying off people in large numbers even with 1000 HP cars and all the jeeps and rams they sell.
GM for years filled every slot they could and it ended up they lost money on them and the money sent could and should have been put into models that made more profits and sold in better volumes.
Times and economics have changed. Adding a extra 35K units is not going to pay the bills.
How does Toyota manage to check almost every box, and now Kia/Hyundai/Genesis seem to be headed in that direction. GM doesn’t not need to fill every slot, but the compact truck market is a place to have something. Just as Ford is missing out on the hot compact SUV market. And if there is one thing GM (and Ford) does well it’s trucks.
Toyota sticks around and doesnt dump products on a whim. Think Bolts, ELR, volts, Ct6
Their small electric SUV is a poor product but most Toyotas are profitable. And they don’t waste money constantly changing things that aren’t broke.
Impala was a fine car for many years and just needed the tiniest bit of advertising but got none. Seems like they are trying to kill off Malibu but people Stubbornly keep buying them.
Buicks are just okay, but an upscale nameplate needs more than Korean and Chinese station wagons.
I don’t know how long they keep the sole American Made Buick.
Toyota hardly profits on the new Full Size Tundra at all, and the Seqouia sells very little as well.
I would be shocked if the new twin turbo Tundra or the Seqouia would be discontinued by 2030 given how the reliability of the V35 A is at the moment.
Saw a dark gray one today and it looked good.
I totally agree with the comments on Mary B. GM was an international brand. Now, they only care about soaking the truck segment here and the woke feds pushing EVs because they get our money for everyone they sell.
Fire her and get a real car person who puts us international again.
Or maybe it is the STUPID Government that is behind all of this?
GM should make an electric version of this with a 250+ range.
Was hoping for nicer looking wheels and some toning down of the ugly black plastic around the wheel wells and front end treatment. They did make the dash larger and look to have brought back controls instead of touch capacitive buttons. The steering wheel is odd with no Hyundai logo. Are they embarrassed by it? Also hope they figured out how to get better than 25 highway MPG with the base 2.5 and AWD and better reliability with the 8 speed as used on the turbo 2.5