It’s become received wisdom that to achieve sales stardom in Australia in this day and age, you need a) a mid-size SUV and b) a ute… and if you don’t have either, you may as well not bother trying to sell cars here.

Hyundai has long been in the top 10-selling brands in the country, and that’s despite not offering a ute to local buyers. In North America, However, the company does in fact offer a ute: the Hyundai Santa Cruz. 

Released in 2021, the Hyundai Santa Cruz uses the same unibody ‘N3’ platform as the Hyundai Tucson mid-size SUV – in fact, it shares a lot with its SUV sibling and in a lot of ways, feels like a Tucson ute. But unlike the Kia Tasman that Hyundai HQ may base its eventual ute for Australia on, the Santa Cruz competes with the Ford Maverick in the compact utility segment in North America.

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Because the Santa Cruz features independent rear suspension and not leaf springs like most other utes, it’s not a hardcore product built to tow 3500kg – instead, it’s more of a lifestyle vehicle for those who want SUV-like features combined with lighter duty ute capability. 

In North America, two petrol powertrains are offered: a naturally aspirated 142kW/245Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, or that engine but with a turbocharger added making 210kW/422Nm. Both use an eight-speed automatic transmission with either front- or all-wheel drive. Unlike its Ford Maverick arch rival, no hybrid drivetrain is yet available for the Santa Cruz. 

Pricing for the Santa Cruz lineup in the USA starts at US$29,500 (A$45,300 based on current exchange rates) for the entry-level SE and rises to around US$43,500 for the top-spec Limited, with the off-roader XRT Pro priced from US$41,100.

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Standard equipment across the Hyundai Santa Cruz range in the USA includes 18-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, automatic LED exterior lighting, self-levelling rear suspension, remote start and a full suite of active safety features such as eight airbags, auto emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Move to the top-spec Limited and you earn a Bose sound system, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, roof rails, a sunroof and a 360-degree camera.

No manufacturer yet sells a smaller ute in Australia, which we think is surprising given how well the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes used to sell. The Santa Cruz will likely never be offered locally as it’s not produced in right-hand drive, it’s only produced in the USA and because Hyundai Australia’s ute shapes as a completely different product likely produced in South Korea.

Considering how large the appetite for dual-cabs in Australia is, and the need to sell more efficient ones for NVES compatibility, we think there’s more than enough of a market to justify its existence so hopefully we’ll receive the next generation Hyundai Santa Cruz. What do you reckon, Hyundai?