Check out what’s new for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s back in black, looking better than before as it drives around the dark side. It got a few updates for the next model year too. Check out what’s new for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night. 

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: What’s new? 

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz might wear its sunglasses at night. This is because it’s getting a new blacked-out trim. The Hyundai Santa Cruz night will most likely sit near the top of the upper trim levels. 

The Night package builds upon the SEL trim with the more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and standard all-wheel drive. It’s paired with the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. You also get steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. 

Thanks to a black grille, gloss black mirrors, black door handles, and 20-inch wheels with a dark finish, it has a unique look. Plus, dark side steps provide easier access. The Night package is available in Black and Gray. 

You can get started with the Night AWD 2.5 Turbo for $37,105. This price includes the $1,295 destination charge. Speaking of prices, things just got more expensive. 

How much does the 2023 Santa Cruz cost? 

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz price starts at $26,745. This includes the destination fee and is a $1,010 increase from the 2022 Santa Cruz SE trim, which is the base model. Each trim has increased by $740 to $1,780 compared to 2022. 

The top-spec Santa Cruz Limited AWD 2.5 Turbo trim takes the price up to $41,615, which sounds a little high for all the bells and whistles. 

But the price includes more standard features. According to Cars.com, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning were already standard. 

Now you also get the safe exit warning, blind spot warning with collision avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

The Santa Cruz SEL Premium now has a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, voice recognition, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, speed limit assist, and navigation-based cruise control. It can detect curves to automatically adjust your speed. 

How much power does the Santa Cruz have? 

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz didn’t gain any mechanical upgrades. The standard engine is the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine for 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. 

With the turbo, the Santa Cuz can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. It can tow up to 5,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,906 lbs. It has an 8.6-inch ground clearance and can be equipped with AWD. 

There are unique features such as the 360-degree camera and the in-bed trunk that make the Santa Cruz more enticing. It has a smooth ride with responsive handling and a bit of wind noise at higher speeds. 

We could see more updates as 2023 progresses, but this truck is still brand new. It’s a little early for more power and tech. We can’t wait to see how the Night edition feels compared to the rest of the lineup.