Hyundai Santa Cruz ute teased

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz will be unveiled in the United States on April 15, six long years after the near-production concept of the dual-cab ute was shown at the 2015 Detroit motor show.

Billed as a model that will blur the lines and “break new ground” within the SUV, pick-up truck and crossover segments in North America, Hyundai reckons the Santa Cruz provides “a new category of vehicle unlike anything else in the US market”.

That’s because it’s a light-duty, recreational ute based on the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson mid-size SUV rather than a more capable off-roader and/or workhorse underpinned by a heavier-duty body-on-frame vehicle architecture along the same lines as the top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

Despite Hyundai Australia remaining interested in the Santa Cruz, it will not be built in right-hand drive, leaving the local arm of the Korean brand to continue preparing for a bona fide HiLux/Ranger rival that is also in development.

Kia will also get a version of the long-awaited tougher 4x4 ute to sell in Australia. 

The shadowy teaser images of the Santa Cruz released overnight are similar to the original concept and are in line with various renders, a variety of spy pics and even the ute’s bare body seen over the past few years.

They do reveal more of the front-end design, showing a familiar grille that integrates LED daytime running lights – styling cues first used on the all-new Tucson – while the rear is unlike any other dual-cab on the market, with horizontal-running tail-lights and ‘SANTA CRUZ’ embossed on the lower portion of the tailgate.

Hyundai’s North American boss Jose Munoz said the Santa Cruz will feature “bold styling, powerful and efficient engines as well as superb manoeuvrability”.

“Open-bed flexibility coupled with closed-cabin security meets the changing everyday needs of its adventure-oriented buyers, while powerful and efficient engines ensure it is a pleasure to drive in urban or off-road environments,” he said.

“Our customers will wonder just how they managed before owning one.”

As we’ve previously reported, the Santa Cruz is expected to be offered with a number of four-cylinder turbo-petrol and hybrid engines.

It’s not clear if the 3.8-litre petrol V6 (217kW/355Nm) from the Hyundai Palisade would fit under the bonnet, but if it does become available it could be ripe for the Hyundai N badge, denoting high-performance capability.