A little truck can’t do that much with a tiny bed, right? Wrong! The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz was designed to make the most of its capability with a smaller space. You might be surprised by how much you can do with the compact Hyundai Santa Cruz. 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a small but versatile bed 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz now has the smallest truck bed available. Its bed is about 52.1 inches long, which comes to 4.34 feet. The Toyota Tacoma used to have the shortest bed, but it’s still about five feet or 60.5 inches long. Also, the Ford Maverick has a longer bed by about 2.3 inches, but it’s still shorter than five feet. 

But there are features that make up for its size. The Santa Cruz comes with a factory-installed lockable cover that rolls over the bed, creating quite a large trunk. It will keep your items dry and secure, so you don’t have to miss out on not having a dry cargo space like SUVs have. 

You can store more items in the underfloor storage area. It’s easy to access thanks to the swing-out Dual-Action tailgate. It can fit about two carry-on bags. Also, it has a plug and can be used as a cooler. 

Both sides of the bed feature smaller cubbies that are about the size of a truck battery. You can add a 155-volt power outlet to the one on the right. Then your truck can power something while camping or tailgating. 

Is the Santa Cruz’s bed built for work? 

Yes, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a pretty tough and capable work truck. It has a C-channel cleat bed rail system and removable tie-down points. Indepntions on the bed wall will hold 2×4 planks while creating a second deck across the bed. 

The bed is a sheet-molded composite bed, and it looks pretty durable. It includes three LED lights to enhance visibility. Also, you’ll notice that the bed contains a corner step in the bumper for easy access. 

Each trim level features a damped tailgate. This means it’s easy to lift and won’t create a loud slam while you open or close it. Higher trim levels include remote power opening. We wish it had power closing too. 

When properly equipped, the Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 lbs. The Maverick maxes out at 4,000 lbs. It can also carry a payload of up to 1,906 lbs. It’s on par with the larger and more expensive Honda Ridgeline. 

How much power does the Hyundai Santa Cruz have? 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has two engine options. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine provides 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. 

Both options are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. But with the turbo engine, you can opt for a dual-clutch system. With its unibody design and smaller footprint, the Santa Cruz is incredibly sporty and easy to maneuver in tight city areas. 

You can get started in a Hyundai Santa Cruz for about $23,990. It can be equipped with all-wheel drive too. So far, this truck is holding up as a fast and capable option without the headache of having a large truck.