Everything That Drove Me Nuts During My Week With The 2026 Hyundai Santa CruzAutoblogChase BierenkovenTue, September 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.There's a lot to like about the new Hyundai Santa Cruz. Hot off a styling refresh for 2025, the 2026 model year truck is just as competent. Its new XRT trim adds a dash of off-road capability, its smart interior feels ahead of rivals, and its funky styling is among the more appealing looks at this price point. But it's not all a (truck) bed of roses. There are some thorns, especially for buyers looking to really maximize the space available in the Hyundai.Flat Seats Make The Santa Cruz A Little Less ComfortableThese seats may look like they have a bit of contour to them, but they sure don't feel it. The Santa Cruz's seats are flat to a fault, and even when driving normally, you'll find yourself sliding around some. Put the truck through some off-road obstacles, and the issue only becomes more apparent. The lack of bolstering means you're getting tossed around like cargo, and the sensation isn't exactly confidence-inspiring.Small Back Seats Make The Santa Cruz A Tough Call For FamiliesChase BierenkovenThere's not a lot of room in the back of the Santa Cruz, or any compact truck for that matter. The lack of legroom in particular makes this truck a tough deal for families. I can't imagine fitting a large car seat in there is going to be easy, given just how close the seatback is to the end of the rear seat. Tall adults will struggle a bit in the back as well, given the limited headroom, and even worse, the high seat backs and tight rear cabin also bind up visibility for the driver.A Small Bed Is A Tradeoff Buyers Will Have To AcceptChase BierenkovenView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Santa Cruz features a 4.5-foot bed. Within the compact truck segment, that number is pretty common. It's also smaller than some truck buyers may be willing to accept. Moreover, there is also a very large cargo cover installed in most Santa Cruz trucks that, while removable, does eat up some bed space. However, it's not down compared to competitors like the Maverick, which features an identically-sized bed. There's still plenty of utility – you can fit a standard sheet of plywood in back, for example, but longer items will require dropping the gate and securing the load.The Santa Cruz's Upper Trims Get Pricey FastChase BierenkovenValue is a bit of a pain point in the Santa Cruz's upper trims. The SUV is, on the whole, more expensive than the Maverick, but its big argument in that regard is the greater array of standard tech features. However, upper trims fail to ratchet up the value proposition. This XRT model cleared $42,000 and is the only way to introduce true off-road utility into the truck. Meanwhile, the Maverick's off-road-capable FX4 package is available across the trim range. To boot, the better, more powerful turbocharged engine is also bound to these pricier trim levels.Poor Fuel Economy Is The Santa Cruz's Biggest WeaknessChase BierenkovenThe Santa Cruz's fuel economy is brutal. The optional turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive sap efficiency away from the truck like a leech, and the EPA's 20 mpg estimate for this combo is woefully low. That's even more apparent considering the Ford Maverick gets up to 25 mpg combined with its turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive. Ford also offers an even more efficient front-drive hybrid version, making the Santa Cruz a tough choice for those with long commutes.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.