2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
$24,440MSRP
Overview
Overview
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2022 GMC Sierra 1500
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
$35,400MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
$24,440MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
$35,400MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$24,440
$35,400
Average price
$34,201
$54,673
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.6
4.7
Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Read full review

7.7 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Summary

Being a newbie in a given field means having to catch up to established leaders, but it can also bring a different perspective. Hyundai has never sold a pickup truck in the United States, and its first effort is unlike anything else on the market.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is the first truly compact pickup to be sold in the U.S. in over a decade, and unlike conventional body-on-frame pickups, it features car-like unibody construction. This packaging sacrifices some capability, but that’s beside the point. Hyundai didn’t design the Santa Cruz to compete directly with conventional trucks. It doesn’t even call the Santa Cruz a pickup; it prefers the term “sport adventure vehicle.”

While it may win over some truck buyers who want a pickup that’s easier to park, the new Santa Cruz will appeal mainly to new-car buyers who want to replace a sedan or crossover SUV with something a bit more rugged.

To figure out where the Santa Cruz fits into the current automotive landscape, we spent a day driving it around on roads in and around its namesake California city. The test units were in U.S. specification. In Canada, Hyundai also offers Preferred, Preferred with the Trend Package, and Ultimate trim levels. We sampled the U.S. equivalent of the range-topping Santa Cruz Ultimate model for this test drive.

The GMC Sierra 1500 light-duty pickup truck has been around since 1999 but has seemingly lived in the shadow of its identical twin, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, ever since. This is despite the fact that GMC is marketed as the premium alternative. Sales tell a different story, though, with the everyman Silverado moving twice as many units last year as the Sierra.

The GMC Sierra receives a significant makeover for 2022. With a bolder exterior design, a more lavish interior, standard high-end technology, and increased utility, the new Sierra also further elevates the GMC brand with its new high-grade Denali Ultimate and off-road-tuned AT4X models.

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Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.5L 191 hp I4
2.7L 310 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
4X2
Seating Capacity
5
3
Horsepower
191 hp @ 6100 rpm
310 hp @ 5600 rpm
MPG City
21
19
MPG Highway
26
22
Look and feel
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
9/10
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
9/10

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, with its compact dimensions, evoked memories of the mini trucks from the 1970s to 1990s. However, its unibody construction and unique styling positioned it more as a modern reinterpretation akin to the Subaru Baja or a smaller Honda Ridgeline. Measuring 4,970 mm in length, 1,905 mm in width, and 1,695 mm in height, the Santa Cruz was notably shorter than the Toyota Tacoma, yet nearly as wide. Its wheelbase of 3,005 mm was also shorter, but it was larger than the Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV. The Santa Cruz's design leaned more towards an SUV with a bed, featuring a distinctive grille and integrated headlights, setting it apart from traditional small pickups. The interior, while conventional, was honest in its design, with materials that matched its price range and purpose as a rugged adventure vehicle.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced new Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, expanding its premium and purpose-built lineup. Despite unchanged dimensions, the Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design. The Denali's grille transitioned to a "tri-linear" theme, while the Denali Ultimate featured dark-coloured "Vader bars." The Sierra's exterior design remained largely unchanged, offering various cab and bed configurations, including a CarbonPro cargo bed and MultiPro tailgate. Inside, the Sierra's cabin felt more spacious due to a redesign, with premium materials elevating the AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims. The AT4X, designed for off-road driving, boasted luxury features like premium leather and genuine wood trim, while the Denali Ultimate showcased full-grain leather and open-pore wood, with topographical maps of Mount Denali embossed within.

Performance
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
9/10
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
8/10

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz in Canada came equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Its multi-link suspension provided a fun driving experience, with a self-levelling feature for a loaded bed. The ride quality was impressive, even on 20-inch wheels, with low cabin noise. The Santa Cruz offered a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kg and a payload capacity of 864 kg, aligning more with midsize SUVs than traditional pickups. However, its off-road capabilities were limited, lacking low range and locking differentials.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options, including a 2.7L turbo four-cylinder with 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.8-litre Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine's towing capacity reached up to 5,987 kg with the Max Trailering Package. Other engine options included a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and a 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 with 420 hp. The Sierra's ride was smooth and comfortable, with the Denali Ultimate offering a quiet and compliant experience. The AT4X, designed for off-road adventures, featured Multimatic DSSV dampers, e-locking differentials, and a chassis calibrated for off-road readiness. Its off-road test showcased its capabilities, although the test conditions were not overly challenging.

Form and function
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
6/10
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
6/10

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz offered a maximum payload capacity of 864 kg, but its 1,323 mm long truck bed limited utility. Hyundai included features like a lockable tonneau cover, adjustable tailgate, tie-down points, and in-bed lighting to maximize space. The Santa Cruz was available only in a four-door crew-cab configuration, with tight rear-seat legroom but decent front-seat space. Storage was ample, with a centre console and under-seat compartments, although touch pads for controls were less user-friendly while driving.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 excelled in roominess and utility, with best-in-class cargo capacity even in its short bed. Front headroom was 1,093 mm, with rear-seat headroom averaging over 1 metre. Front legroom was 1,131 mm, while rear legroom varied by cab type. The Sierra's cabin offered numerous storage options, though gloveboxes were small. Ergonomics were a bit perplexing, with low-positioned screens and an abundance of knobs and buttons. The AT4X's off-road controls were split between the steering wheel and centre console.

Technology
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
9/10
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
9/10

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster available on higher trims. The digital cluster displayed blind spot images from the surround-view camera system, and Hyundai's Blue Link telematics offered smartwatch and Google Assistant connectivity. The touchscreen was responsive, with clear graphics and quick boot-up times.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and 13.4-inch touchscreen on most trims. The infotainment system included Google built-in, Bluetooth, OnStar, and wireless smartphone connectivity. The Denali models featured an interactive start-up screen, while the infotainment screen allowed for personalization and dual modes. Wireless charging, a head-up display, and a Bose audio system were available options.

Safety
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
7/10
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
7/10

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. A surround-view camera system and Highway Driving Assist were available on higher trims. The NHTSA ratings were not yet available.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, as a standard feature on the Denali Ultimate. The Sierra offered up to 14 camera views, a GCW Alert feature, and Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert. GMC Pro Safety included features like forward collision alert and lane-keep assist. The Sierra received mostly "Good" crash safety ratings from the IIHS but had a "Marginal" grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a "Poor" grade for headlights. NHTSA ratings for 4WD variants were not yet available.

Cost Effectiveness
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
undefined/10
2022 GMC Sierra 1500
undefined/10
N/A

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 8.0 out of 10, while the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 scores 7.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the recommended choice for those seeking a unique, compact vehicle with a balance of utility and recreation.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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