We’ve got a new compact truck option battling one of the mid-size kings. See why the Hyundai Santa Cruz might help you save thousands compared to the incredibly popular Honda Ridgeline. Seriously, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has cost-saving advantages. 

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. 2022 Honda Ridgeline 

You can get started with a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz for about $24,440. It may not match the 2022 Ford Maverick’s price, but that’s fine. It has smooth-riding and sporty characteristics to tackle the Honda Ridgeline.  

On that note, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline starts at about $37,640. Wow, that’s a difference of about $13,200. Plus, these prices are the MSRPs! They do not include destination fees or dealership markups. 

The Ridgeline may have a few advantages to consider, such as standard all-wheel drive. But the Santa Cruz is looking attractive with the ability to save thousands. AWD is standard with higher trim levels of the Hyundai Santa Cruz too. 

Does the Hyundai Santa Cruz or Honda Ridgeline have a better performance? 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with a standard 2.5-liter inline-four engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter inline-four turbo for 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. 

With the 2022 Honda Ridgeline, you get a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Santa Cruz uses an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

When properly equipped, the Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,906 lbs. With the Honda Ridgeline, you can tow up to 5,000 lbs and carry up to 1,583 lbs. 

The Santa Cruz can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. According to Edmunds, the Honda Ridgeline can reach 60 mph in about 7.2 seconds. 

For off-roading, the Ridgeline has 7.6-inch ground clearance, and the Santa Cruz has an 8.3-inch ground clearance. Both options can handle slippery surfaces and dirt roads just fine. 

The Santa Cruz gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and up to 27 mpg on the highway. The Ridgeline gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway. 

Does the Ridgeline or Santa Cruz have better features? 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a four-foot bed, while the 2022 Honda Ridgeline has a 5.3-foot long bed. Both have in-bed trunks and lockable tonneau covers. However, the Ridgeline also offers built-in Bluetooth speakers. 

An 8.0-inch infotianment screen comes with the Santa Cruz, but you can upgrade to the 10.3-inch unit. The Ridgeline features an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Both trucks come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the Santa Cruz offers wireless connectivity. 

Both trucks come with forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Ridgeline also provides standard adaptive cruise control. 

While the Ridgeline is slightly larger and has a few more standard features, the Santa Cruz is better equipped for off-roading, can carry more weight, and offers more advanced tech at a fraction of the cost.