Ford’s F-Series maintained its position as the most popular and top-selling truck in America for the 47th consecutive year. Following closely behind are Chevrolet’s Silverado and Ram’s trucks. The GMC Sierra, Toyota Tacoma, and Tundra also enjoy significant popularity. However, it is worth noting that Ford dominates both the full-size and compact pickup truck markets, with its unibody Maverick rapidly approaching 100,000 deliveries.
This dual success for Ford highlights two important points. Firstly, other car manufacturers may have underestimated the potential of the compact pickup truck segment in recent years. Secondly, Hyundai’s Santa Cruz, the only other unibody compact pickup truck available in the American market, faces significant challenges. In fact, Hyundai sold just under 37,000 Santa Cruz units last year, compared to Ford’s impressive 94,000 sales. If Hyundai fails to take prompt action, the situation could worsen.
However, there is no need to worry as Hyundai is not sitting idle. Our reliable spy photographers have captured images of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz during testing alongside its 2024 model year counterpart. It is evident that the South Korean automaker plans to commence production of a facelifted Santa Cruz later this year at HMMA in Montgomery, Alabama.
The unibody compact pickup truck is built on the same Hyundai-Kia N3 platform as the 2024 Hyundai Tucson (NX4). One potential issue with the Santa Cruz may have been its design, which closely resembled that of a crossover like the Tucson. In contrast, the rugged Maverick shares similarities with the Ranger and F-150, rather than the Escape and Bronco Sport, which are built on the Ford C2 architecture.
Additionally, the Maverick has the advantage of being available as a hybrid, with its electrified option outselling the Ford F-150 PowerBoost last year. Therefore, Hyundai should consider offering a hybrid version of the 2025 Santa Cruz, alongside the updated exterior and interior. Soon, all the details will be revealed, as the official unveiling is expected to take place in the near future.
While we await the official information, digital car content creators have been using recent spy shots to speculate on the styling of the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. For instance, the Halo oto YouTube channel provides fresh automotive insights, accompanied by virtual designs. New computer-generated imagery (CGI) concepts for the upcoming Santa Cruz have emerged.
So, what are your thoughts? Will Hyundai opt for a subtle update to bridge the gap between its unibody compact pickup truck and Ford’s best-selling Maverick? Or is the company planning a more significant refresh in an attempt to claim the top spot next year?