--- title: "2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz revisited: 3 things we missed" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2022/03/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-revisited-3-things-i-missed/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Jill Ciminillo" published: "2022-03-17T18:45:09+00:00" modified: "2026-08-19T15:57:12+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2022-Hyundai-Santa-Cruz-11.jpg" --- # 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz revisited: 3 things we missed By Jill Ciminillo Published: 2022-03-17T18:45:09+00:00 Updated: 2026-08-19T15:57:12+00:00 ![Featured image]() Even though I attend first-drive events, I always appreciate getting a second crack at a vehicle with a longer time behind the wheel. Invariably, I find something I missed after just a few hours behind the wheel. Such was definitely the case with the all-new 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Plus, when you fit a vehicle into your own life – rather than the perfect scenario constructed by an automaker – you get a better sense of how it will be on a daily basis. [My first impression]() of the Santa Cruz was favorable – and that hasn’t changed. But here’s what I missed. ### **The lack of buttons doesn’t suck** One of the things I dinged on the 2022 Santa Cruz was the flat buttonless and dial-less center stack. Instead, there is a swath of black lacquer with flat touch points for volume, menu items, radio tuning and HVAC controls. In the video, I made a big deal of tap, tap, tapping to make any changes. Well, here’s the thing, all you have to do is touch and hold to change the volume or temperature. While I do miss the volume, tuning and HVAC dials, the press-and-hold method isn’t that much slower. It’s just a different muscle memory. Now, that doesn’t address the black lacquer fingerprint issue, but the OCD among us probably keep a cloth in the arm rest to clean it daily anyway. ![2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz]() One of the things I didn’t like on the Hyundai Santa Cruz during the first drive as the lack of dials. However, during the full-week test, I started to learn how to navigate around the issue. (Photo by Jill Ciminillo) ### **The heated seats are awesome** When we originally tested the 2022 Santa Cruz, we were in Arizona. And it was warm. So, though I used the heated seats, they didn’t really have an impact beyond the I’m-always-cold thing. Testing them in Chicago when it’s 30 degrees is a different story. They. Were. Awesome. The seats warmed up nicely before the heat kicked on and helped keep me toasty as I waited for the engine to warm up. The heated steering wheel was just as nice. ### **The fuel economy isn’t great** Both times I’ve driven the 2022 Santa Cruz, I had the up-level turbocharged engine. Which is a total blast with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This engine is only mated to the all-wheel-drive platform – and that might be part of the problem. EPA estimates you should get 22 MPG in combined driving, yet I was getting a measly 17 MPG in my mostly highway driving. I usually do a little closer to EPA ratings in Hyundai vehicles, so this was a surprise. Colder weather and the turbocharged fun factor definitely played a role. But still. ### **The bottom line on the 2022 Santa Cruz revisited** Fuel economy aside, I still really like the Santa Cruz, and I’m still impressed with all the up-level amenities and comfortable ride and handling. While a lot of comparisons are currently being made to [the Ford Maverick](), and [we’ve certainly made them](), too, I think this is a drastically different vehicle for a drastically different customer. Santa Cruz is going to be more of a statement vehicle because of its unique design and bevy of creature comforts. Can you haul some stuff? Sure. But you’ll more likely use this as a compact SUV – and look cool while doing it. **Related posts:** - [Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz pricing]() - [2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz: A darn nice pickup, car, SUV thing \[First Drive\]]() - [VIDEO: Ford Maverick vs Hyundai Santa Cruz compared in real life]() ## Related vehicle coverage - [2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2022/03/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-revisited-3-things-i-missed/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2022/03/2022-hyundai-santa-cruz-revisited-3-things-i-missed/" }, "author": { "name": "Jill Ciminillo", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/17a307b2bd8654a0efc57d38f2e79df8" }, "headline": "2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz revisited: 3 things we missed", "datePublished": "2022-03-17T18:45:09+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T15:57:12+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": 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