Hyundai pulled ahead in the reemerging compact pickup segment after releasing sketches of its Santa Cruz Sport Adventure Vehicle.
Ford has yet to acknowledge its compact pickup—the only other small pickup in the segment—which has been photographed in Michigan and widely reported on including here.
Hyundai reported that the pickup is not, in fact, a pickup but rather a sport adventure vehicle.Hyundai
[Related: Ford Maverick may really break from the pack]
This new category of vehicle, of course, is the Sport Adventure Vehicle, or SAV.
“Santa Cruz, with its bold styling, breaks open all-new segment territory, both for Hyundai and the industry as a whole,” said Jose Munoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America.
“Open-bed flexibility coupled with closed-cabin security meets the changing everyday needs of its adventure-oriented buyers, while powerful and efficient engines and superb maneuverability ensure it is a pleasure to drive in urban or off-road environments. Our customers will wonder just how they managed before owning one,” Munoz continued.
The Santa Cruz will be unveiled online April 15 at noon EST at www.hyundaiusa.com.
