2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Early Updates: Design, Bed Features & More

If you're an outdoor enthusiast or business owner in Columbia, South Carolina, you'll appreciate the versatility of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. This compact pickup truck is much smaller than its full-size brothers. Yet, it outshines many of them in several areas, including maneuverability, affordability, and fuel efficiency. 

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz arrives with a few updates, including a new transmission system on select trims to enhance responsiveness. What other attractive features does it bring? Our team at Stivers Hyundai is here to fill you in. 

What's New in the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz? 

While the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz sports the same exterior look as its predecessor, it introduces a couple of performance-focused features. 

For starters, the truck's XRT and Limited trims are leaving the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) behind in favor of an eight-speed automatic transmission system. With it, you can enjoy smoother shifts in stop-and-go traffic, especially at the “Malfunction Junction,” where I-20 and I-26 intersect with I-126. 

Another notable upgrade is the provision of a Terrain Mode for the XRT trim. It features sand, snow, and mud settings, which makes it ideal for exploring the mud pits and sandy patches at the Gulches ORV Park in Laurens County. 

The new Santa Cruz no longer comes with a dark green interior. However, the available medium gray and black interior shades are equally appealing. 

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Exterior Design and Styling 

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe showcases an SUV-inspired truck shape that distinguishes it from rivals like the Ford Maverick, which features a utilitarian exterior design. An aggressive grille with an intricate mesh pattern teams up with a modern front fascia and sleek LED headlights to boost the vehicle's aesthetic appeal. 

Unlike the interior, which limits you to two colors, you have up to seven options here. These range from Atlas White and Phantom Black to Sage Gray and Canyon Red.

Interior Comfort and Technology Upgrades 

The 2026 Santa Cruz's interior emphasizes comfort and convenience. There's a 12.3-inch touch screen that provides wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless hands-free calls and music streaming.

Santa Cruz's infotainment system comes integrated with its manufacturer's Blue Link services. Its features include remote start, which allows you to start the engine remotely and adjust the cabin's temperature using the MyHyundai mobile app. Blue Link can also help you locate your truck after parking it in the Lincoln St. Parking Deck or Taylor Street Deck.

The SE and SEL trims have a six-speaker audio setup, while an eight-speaker Bose premium sound system is standard on the XRT and Limited trims. The Santa Cruz comes with four USB-C charging ports in the front and rear seating rows. These are compatible with most devices, allowing all car occupants to charge their phones simultaneously. Things get even better on the Limited, XRT, and SEL Activity trim levels, which offer wireless charging.

Truck Bed Features and Storage Solutions

The Santa Cruz brings a 52.1-inch-long bed with a volume of 27.0 cubic feet. While this might not be ideal for hauling long sheets of plywood, it can help you move many other items, including patio furniture, when relocating from Shandon to Wales Garden.

Planning to kayak on the Broad River? This Hyundai truck can carry outdoor equipment like kayaks and paddles, camping gear, and other adventure supplies.

The Santa Cruz also offers more storage beneath its bed floor. If you're driving in the rain in July, which is the wettest month in Columbia, you can throw your groceries, camping gear, and other stuff in the weather-protected underbed compartment.

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Expected Performance and Engine Options

The 2026 Santa Cruz offers two engine options. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque powers the SE, SEL, and SEL Activity trims. These models are well-suited for running daily errands around Columbia since the engine delivers reliable performance for city driving.

The XRT and Limited trim levels use a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. With such power, the engine can tow up to 5,000 pounds, so you should have no trouble hauling your boat to the Congaree River to fish.

Front-wheel drive comes standard on the SE, SEL, and SEL Activity trims, while HTRAC all-wheel drive is optional. The Limited and adventure-ready XRT models have standard HTRAC all-wheel drive, making them ideal for winter driving.

The base Santa Cruz in FWD has a fuel economy of 25 mpg combined, while AWD versions have a slightly lower fuel economy of 24 mpg combined. Higher trims with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine achieve 20 mpg combined.

Santa Cruz Safety Features and Driver Assistance Updates 

The 2026 Santa Cruz comes with Hyundai SmartSense, an advanced driver-assistance suite with features that include:

• Lane following assist: Has a camera that detects lane markings and helps you keep the truck in its lane, preventing crashes.
• Surround view monitor: Provides a 360-degree view of your surroundings to make parking in small spaces safer and easier. 
• High beam assist: Increases visibility at night without blinding other drivers and pedestrians.

When Will the 2026 Santa Cruz Be Available in Columbia, South Carolina? 

The 2026 Santa Cruz is already available at Stivers Hyundai in Columbia. You can call us at 803-788-6800 or visit us at 9950 Farrow Rd, Columbia, SC 29203 to discover the models we have in stock and learn about our financing options.

Buy Your 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz at Stivers Hyundai

Ready to experience the new 2026 Santa Cruz? Contact our team at Stivers Hyundai to schedule your test drive and select the best model for your driving needs. We're an award-winning dealership with bilingual auto professionals to guide you through the buying process. After you buy your Santa Cruz, we will offer you up to three years of complimentary maintenance services to help you get the most out of this truck.

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