2000+ miles into my new limited Santa Cruz and I have to say, THIS THING IS AWESOME! I spent about 20 hours in research before purchasing mine in Somersworth, NH and its still more car/truck/SUV than I had expected. It’s a very luxurious sports car with tons of power... has the interior space and convenience of an SUV... as well as a super functional truck bed for most of your home, yard, work and play/hobbie/activity needs and tasks. Hyundai nailed it on this one. Everywhere I go this thing is snapping heads around. Great overall value. I highly recommend checking this thing out if your even moderately interested or even curious... you won’t be disappointed.
I just woke up one morning, decided that I needed a small truck . Call up the dealership, they had one is stock. I purchased it and have no regrets. I'm in love with this vehicle.
@@tweetdaone4450 the stick has a manual option as well as the steering wheel having paddle shifters. So you can manually shift two ways as well as have it in automatic if need be.
I saw this beauty in white 3 wks. ago. I almost had whip lash as it passed & I had to find it. I dreamed about this vehicle for a week, had my nephew look at up online, made an appt. to test drive it & the rest is history. My truck is "stone blue" & now I'm turning heads. Its perfect❣️
I have a 2024 XRT and just love it. Already do 3 things you've discussed. But I'm always looking for a good, reputable source for aftermarket accessories. If anyone has companies, would love to hear about them. Starting in January I plan on adding anything I can. I Def need those floor mats!!!
Yeah, I agree with that. When I first saw this vehicle, it really impressed me how well it was set up for the things that I like to do. Even little things like having a roof rack on a pickup truck design which allows me to put my kayak centred on my vehicle, instead of hanging off the back. That makes a difference when trailer towing, or when parking in a parking spot. So many details that make it a better option for me than a traditional SUV, or pickup truck.
Hi, Peter! You are unbelievable! Last thing I expected today was to see a new video! Like I've said before, your commitment is unwavering and unsurpassed!!! Thank you so much for your dedication. It is crystal clear that you thoroughly enjoy what you do! Please allow me to wish a very prosperous, healthy, and joyous 2022 to you and your family!!! ✨
Your first three sentences sound like what I expected my wife to say... but with less enthusiasm! (Just kidding! She was fine with this) I've wanted to make this video for a while, so why not today! Happy New Year to you and your family as well! Thanks for watching and supporting what I do! I really appreciate it!
@@BrantfordKia It is my pleasure to watch your videos, having been a Hyundai owner for the past 10 years. Sonatas before, and now, the magnificent 2022 Tucson! By the way, I think you will get a kick out of this. I got my Tucson over Labor Day weekend. The following week, I stopped by the dealership's service department to show it to my service advisor of 10 years. His exact words were: "Where did you get this? Nobody can get them! I never considered getting a Tucson before, but I will certainly consider getting one now! I look forward to learning much more from your videos in the years ahead! Have a wonderful 2022! 🙂
Great recommendations!! I just took delivery of my Santa Cruz. It's a beautiful vehicle. I love the spaces....and with the 2.5 L turbo, it is one pocket rocket!!
My Santa Cruz came with a bed extender that does come in handy. The groceries from my Walmart pickup fit there nicely. I just purchased a Forest River R-Pod that I tow with mine. Curt hitch and Curt Bluetooth Brake Controller too. Smartliner floor mats (lower priced and work as well as WeatherTech) front and rear. Kept the 20” stock tires and wheels, dealer warranty for both. Much needed since I live in WV where our state mascot is the dreaded deep pothole.
Nice video! I like what you said about packing light in a kayak when you go on trips and same compromise with the space on the santa cruz, you just have to pack smarter. This convinced me to step down from full size to a santa cruz thanks again for a great video
I bought my Santa Cruz during the height of the vehicle shortage in January of 2022 so I had limited choices. That being said, the SE package satisfied the majority of my needs at a respectable price. The only thing I really miss with this model is the push-button start/keyless entry that I had on my Kia Optima, which I traded in for the Santa Cruz. I didn't like the garage door-type bed cover because it takes up a large amount of bed space to accommodate the cover when it is retracted. The Santa Cruz was brand new when I got mine so there weren't a lot of third-party accessories available, like tonneau covers and floor mats. Now that the vehicle has been around for a bit I can finally start to accessorize mine. I have added a soft tonneau top to my bed, which rolls back but doesn't take away space in the bed. I also added a tailgate cover for my bikes. I prefer this to the trailer hitch carrier. If I'm not hauling bikes I can remove it quickly and just store it in the bed. It's small and takes up very little room as opposed to a tailgate carrier, which is always in the way if left on the truck and can be large and heavy and take up a lot of space to store when not being used. Now that WeatherTech has floor mats available I will probably add them to mine. They weren't available yet in early 2022. The one thing I would really like to have in the bed is more tie-down locations. I like the sliding tie-downs in your truck but that isn't an option on the SE model. I still don't know why they didn't add an upper tie-down to the section of the bed near the cab like there is in the front but I'm sure I'll find an add-on solution someday.
I've been SUPER pleased with my 2010 Hyundai Accent and have been strongly considering the Santa Cruz ever since I saw the concept - really wish it had a Mid-Gate that would fold down between the bed and the back seat.
A midgate would be cool, but I've found ways to fit just about everything I need in and on the Santa Cruz. It's, without a doubt, one of the very best vehicles I've ever owned.
Peter, Thank you for this video.I just purchased my Cruz last night. My salesman went over nothing and just pointed me to the owners manual QR code on the Navi. I totally agree that this vehicle is really cool like a Wrangler. In fact I looked at Wranglers first and felt this one met my family’s need since we already own a 2022 Tucson limited.
I recommend keeping a detail spray with your microfiber to clean the screens. A couple quick sprays on the microfiber before wiping dust and finger prints will help not add scratches to the screens and piano black surfaces
I'm always nervous about any chemicals. I think you want to make sure you have the right chemical, but yeah, my system works great for me only because I keep that cloth very clean. You don't want to have any debris in the cloth that will scratch anything.
Thanks for the hitch info - everyone on the forums keeps asking about this because Hyundai is totally clueless about towing with these things. Lack of an official towing package with a brake controller has left owners scrambling. To me its pretty straight forward and everything can be solved in the aftermarket from well established companies like Curt. Just need the Kia 7 pin harness since the "official" Hyundai one isn't out yet, no big deal. The lack of tow points on the front was a mistake especially on an "adventure vehicle", I understand they wanted the front design to remain clean and sleek but no aux light mounts or recovery locations was an oversight. An idea when the factory fender flare accessory will become available? The factory mud flaps are a joke I'd like to see more side protection. Your wheels look great BTW and Happy New Year! Looking forward to more SC content.
Feel free to link this video in the forums. I'm not on them, because it's just easier for me to post and respond to comments here, (which I'm happy to do) The Curt Trailer brake controller is going to be perfect for my needs, and to be honest, I know that some people have had issues with it, but at least SOME of those people (not all) just didn't understand how the system works. So I think it's a good option. I expect that Hyundai won't have an official 7 pin wiring solution in Canada, so I'll probably get it done. When I bought the vehicle, I made the deal that the selling dealer (Brantford Hyundai) would be responsible for putting on 7 pin wiring by the Spring when I need to tow my trailer. If we do it at the aftermarket trailer shop that I'm familiar with, it's $230.00 Canadian, so it's not an impossible thing to do, and the hitch comes with a solid place to mount the wiring and a bracket to hold the 7 pin wiring. I don't have information on the factory fender flare, I'll have to look into that when I return to work in the new year. As far as the mud flaps, if you look at my Santa Cruz videos, the videos using the black Santa Crus have larger factory mud flaps. I'm not sure if you'll be interested in those, but that's one option. Thanks for watching!
I bought the base model SEL AWD to save money and did the option upgrades, too. I bought a soft tonneau cover for $400 and the tow hitch for $275. I went with 18" Blizzak DVM-2's for the U.P. winters and have to buy new wheels for the summer tires to install in May, but want a more aggressive tire over the stock 18" Hankook all season tires. Might go with the Falken Wilderness or Firestone destination AT/2's...Bought a rubber backed 4'x5' area rug to go in the back of the bed over the weatherTech bed mat. The rug is longer than the bed, so it overlaps the tailgate. I stuffed the rug down into the bottom of the tailgate gap a few inches, and now it seals between the bed and gate, stopping most of the dust and water from coming in from the road.
Nice! Thanks for sharing! I think I'll have to do another Santa Cruz video soon. We have one that our store GM is driving that we put 17" All Terrain tires on. He's happy with it like that.
I’ve had my Santa Cruz Limited for 5 days now and I love it! One big caveat to the (otherwise excellent) retractable tonneau cover: it can be very difficult to operate in icy/snowy conditions! I live in Maine, USA so this is a big deal. A recent ice storm rendered the cover unopenable until I thawed it out. Maybe being designed in California isn’t such a great idea, after all!
Yeah, that's something to be aware of. If you're parking your vehicle outside, or are regularly dealing with ice on the vehicle, the tailgate can be difficult to work in the winter. Not a huge issue for me as I don't usually carry much in the winter, and what I do carry, I want under the cargo cover, but yeah, it's not perfect in the ice. Not a deal-breaker for me at all, but could definitely be a deal-breaker for others.
Same deal for me out in Utah. Luckily the bed isn’t too deep, so I just opened the tailgate and crawled under the cover back a little to grab what I needed during a little storm. It does bother me, though, when the handle locks up and the cover won’t move even if I could operate the handle.
@@isaacwutkee11 , yup, I’ve done the same! I’ve had a chance to dry it out and completely coat the tracks, gaskets, latch handle and top surface with a food grade silicone spray. Big storm coming today so I’ll let you know how it worked!
@@isaacwutkee11 definitely better. Hard to compare since the temperature got to 40° and rain so it melted off any snow. I’ll keep you posted on the next one Isaac.
I've put a 1000 on my 2022, bought it 6 months ago, 280 horse 😊 can't slap the smile off my face, it's getting better city milage than it claimed it wood, I checked it the old, fashioned way .. My udder vehicle is a 2011 wrangler, Buckboard vrs smooth flying.. Met a couple who pulled a 18 ft trailer from Canada to TX Border.. NO PROBLEMS 😳..WOW
Peter, I appreciate your helpful videos and this one in particular about accessories. [re.] the Roof Rails, please show a 'close-up' of how the Thule cross bars attach to it. [re.] the canoe secured on top, close-ups of how it was tied-down would be helpful. (A picture is worth a thousand words.) Keep up the good work!
Hood loops are a great idea in general, awesome suggestion... Can you suggest a rack system across the bed? I have a roof top tent and was wondering about having it across the truck bed rather than having to block the sun roof. Thank you for making this video.
I’ve really enjoyed your Santa Cruz videos. Glad I stumbled upon your channel. The wheels and tires you put on look great! So much better than stock. I’m wondering, are your children comfortable in the back seats? I have concerns about mine “outgrowing” the Santa Cruz as I tend to keep vehicles for a long time.
My kids are comfortable now. I think it depends on how tall you are. If you're over 6 feet tall, the back seat will get small for rear seat passengers. I'm 6 feet tall and I can comfortably sit behind myself on a long trip, it's not as spacious as something like the Tucson's rear seat, but it's not uncomfortable at all. If you're 6'4" then the back seat will be very small once you have the driver's seat adjusted for yourself. So my thing is, I wish it was a few inches of more knee room, but practically that just means that there would be MORE room between my rear seat passenger's knees and the seats. It's not like they're having to sit in an uncomfortable position to be comfortable.
I would also add bed rails from Putco. I have also replaced the reverse lights and headlight with good LED bulbs. Get any adjustable bed gate and it would work. I have one from an F-150 that fits and I strap it to the bed hooks.
Hey peter love your videos, just ordered a Santa Cruz, was humming and hahing whether to get that or the Maverick but decided to pay a bit more for the better ride. Dealer says maybe I'll get it in 5-6 months lol yikes! One question about hauling bikes, we have 2 ebikes which as you know are quite heavy and rather not put these on the roof lol I would like to DIY a fork mount rack on the bed with the bed door open, it should be enough length for that if the front wheel is off. Is there something like a 2x4 or 2x6 slot at the front of the bed? or is it possible pop off the front Drings and mount a 2x4 with the fork clip?
Just got my 2022 Santa Cruz SEL Premium in Phantom Black and I am loving it! I am a huge biker and kayaker as well and this is the review I was looking for. Thanks so much for making this video. I subbed and hit the bell.
Awesome! I will have a LOT more on this vehicle, especially as we get into Spring and throughout the summer. You may not want to hit the bell, as not every video will apply to you, but I think you'll like some of what's coming for the Santa Cruz.
Thanks for sharing, Planning to switch in Hyundai, since my car was stolen 2x crv 2020 model and 2021 evey 7 months they are stolen. God bless and keep safe everyone.
One of your best videos ever ! Keep up the great work. Can't wait to see the new Sportage...( looks like they put the rear signal lights back up where they belong )..... Happy New Year !!! :)
Volume knobs are probably the best way to adjust the volume. They're in almost every car, because they're the best option for that feature. Having said that, it's not the only option, and you do get used to what this vehicle offers you. It always bothers me that you have a fantastic vehicle, but people spend 1/3 of the review complaining about a feature that an actual owner will get used to in no time.
The only problem I have is that sometimes the button will mute instead of turning up or lowering the volume from the steering wheel. It catches the channel changing tab. It's not really a big deal, but maybe the engineers could shave off a couple of mm's between the two tabs so they don'tcontact eack other?
Great video. I've had my 2022 SC since they first came out. Great accessories. What straps did you use for under the hood for the kayak? Also, did the Thule eye bolts work for you?
Hello Peter! Thank you for your series of videos about the Santa Cruz, they are very informative! One thing I would like to ask, it's about the trailer connection. You were showing us the Curt wireless brake controller that connects to the SC and to the trailer as well, but I see that your Santa Cruz has a 4-pin connector next to your tow hitch. Have you replaced it? What harness brand and model did you use? I just picked up my vehicle from the dealer, after specifically talking about the 7-pin connector (Hyundai has a part # for it - K5F61AU400) that I wanted, and they delivered it with the 4-pin harness. Hyundai says that is not available yet??? Now I have a brand-new vehicle and a brand-new trailer, and I can't travel due to this 7-pin connection issue. Any help or pointer about how you resolved it will be extremely appreciated! Thanks again!
A couple of things... We film in Canada, and things are different with the 7 pin wiring in the U.S. models. In Canada, when I bought mine, the 7 pin wiring wasn't available. I made a deal with Brantford Hyundai that they would take care of my 7 pin wiring by the Spring, either by a factory component, or by an aftermarket company. (we have a company that we use locally that does a great job, so I have no issues using them) So at this point, I haven't checked, but I'm assuming there still isn't a factory 7 pin harness in Canada. I'll switch it to a 7 pin system by the Spring so that I can pull my trailer, but I took delivery of my Santa Cruz in November, and I wasn't going to pull my trailer until the spring anyway. I'll make an updated video when I update my wiring.
Thanks again Peter! Great update on the WeatherTech floor liners - I'll be ordering my rear mat here in a bit. Also, if you can let us know the specifics of those t-bolt rail accessories I would be very interested in hearing how they work. I'd like to add either a basket or cross rails to my bed cover (admittedly mostly for looks) but some extra carrying capacity for gear or bikes, etc. Happy New Year!
For sure! I haven't looked in to them yet, but by the Spring I expect to have done some research on them, and see how they work. If they work, I'll have another video up with part numbers etc.
Nice video! Expecting delivery of my Santa Cruz in March. The first accessory I looked for online was a bull bar because I want it to look more truck-like and rugged. Unfortunately I couldn't find any bull bars. The only 2 reasons I could think off is that 1. the vehicle is still brand new and 3rd party manufactures still have to catch up or 2. a bull bar would interfere with the radar cruise system located in the grill? An interesting find was wireless cab lights. There's a company called Cab Over America which sells wireless solar panel cab light kits in different configurations. No wires, no drilling through the roof and no hassle. I like the dark wheel setup on your Cruz.
I wouldn't go too crazy with cab lights though because the Cruz will look like a Christmas tree with all those LED running lights and cab lights. I was thinking of 2 amber cab lights on the roof on either side.
You're correct that, because this car is new, many aftermarket accessory makers haven't had enough time with it to fit their potential products to it. A couple of other things may play into this. The manufacturers have to see enough of a market for their products, and they'll have to decide if a bull bar will sell in volume. Lastly, there are actually pedestrian crash safety standards in some parts of the world, and bull bars are illegal in some areas because they don't push pedestrians over the vehicle, but instead can push people under it. Even low speed collisions can be dangerous if that's the case.
Great segment. Those wheels are sweet. Did you get the vehicle lifted? The stance looks taller for some reason. Valuable info on the many accessories that work with the Santa Cruz. Try working in some other adjectives besides super. Strange to hear that word so much. Thanks for sharing your opinions and what is working for you with the Santa Cruz .
I just got my tie-down loops yesterday. Ordered a 10 pack ... they shipped me 20. LOL No idea what I'll do with all the extras. Going to wait until spring to set them up ... or at least until it isn't -30 outside. Have some stainless steel eyelets for the T-slots on the way too. They were supposed to show up today, but I'm guessing it'll be Monday now, since they were 'delayed' locally. The Thule crossbars are great though. Easy to get on and off, and awesome that they lock too. I'm looking forward to being able to sling my kayak up on them in the spring! Hopefully we don't have to wait TOO long for the 7 pin harness to come along. Not that I have a trailer that needs it, but I'd like to have the Cruz equipped to do what it's capable of should the need arise.
I've just assumed that I'll be putting an aftermarket 7 pin wiring system on. When I bought the Santa Cruz, I made a deal with Branford Hyundai that they would be responsible for the 7 pin wiring by the Spring when I need it. So I'll either get a Hyundai solution, or I'll get a good solution from a local hitch shop that we use. They quoted me $230 for the wiring. They do really good clean work.
@@BrantfordKia the 7 pin harness for the Telluride is supposed to be a direct perfect fit. A few people have already done it and confirmed it's plug and play.
@@ChrisPollard I don’t believe that’s true in Canada. I could be wrong about this, but the rumour is that the Turbo engined models are equipped with pre-wiring for the 7 pin in the U.S. but NOT in Canada. If that’s true, there’s no 7 pin direct plug and play accessory that would be able to be pulled from the parts bin here. I also believe that the U.S. uses a different accessory hitch than Canadian dealers use.
@@BrantfordKia the part should connect to the same wiring harness the factory 4 pin connects to. I don't see why the wiring would be different for Canada vs the US. That seems like massive engineering effort to do the same thing differently, no?
Send me an email at peter@brantfordkia.ca and I'll share my thoughts. I LOVE my Santa Cruz but I've recommended the Maverick to friends and family due to Canadian trim lines. There are good reasons to have either. The big benefit to the Santa Cruz is that it's just a nicer vehicle in almost every way when you move to the upper trim lines, but there is no true base trim in Canada and that opens the door for the Maverick in my mind if you want or need something less expensive.
Well I think the tonneau cover has affected you a bit. I've seen other people say how it makes it hard to get bikes and stuff in. And the fact that you had to get a trailer hitch to carry your bikes kind of makes me believe it... 😅😉
Trying to decide on which model to buy. Any issues with your DCT?? I've seen a ton of chatter on the recalls and how hard it has been to deal with Hyundai for the warranty.
can you guide me to any instructions on removing the tonneau cover? I found one but I have to help the owner take it off and then get it installed in my Santa Cruz. Any assistance would be appreciated - a video link would be wonderful. Thanks, David
I need someone to make a bull bar and light bar. I just finished with the Ready Lift 2" lift, Motegi 17" wheels, and Nitto Nomad Grappler tires. I still need more though... this may become an addiction.
Have you thought of using cadaver body bags while kayaking? A friend of mine does a lot of kayaking...she uses them to pack clothing, some food, etc...they are leakproof.
Haha, I don't call them that, but I do have dry bags. They best thing about them is that I can they work great in the boat, and in the truck bed. This vehicle really is perfect for the things that I like to do. Thanks for watching.
Your front straps will eventually damage the paint. The simplest and 0 cost option is just to run your front tie-down strap to the rear cross bar and your rear tie down the the front cross bar. Nothing touches your paint and nothing will move. We use cross strapping to hold down big off-road vehicles onto trailers, it will definitely work on a kayak. The rear bed will perfectly carry 3 full sets of scuba gear and 6 tanks and allow the tonneau to close and lock. It will NOT do the same with 4, fortunately my wife doesn't dive with me and the kids.
weathertech mat is perfect for all season but you are missing vend-shade for your windows which is a must item for me to keep the air circulating when parking outside or driving around town with little window cracked open without worrying about rain coming inside.
Yeah, I'm actually not a big fan of those vent shades. I know they're popular with other people for all the reasons that you say, but I won't be adding those to my car. I like to vent the sunroof to get a little air in.
Thank you for the video on accessories, I have ordered my Santa Cruz and waiting for it to come in, this is great and you have good ideas what can all be done and I have a motorcycle to add and was wondering what different ways I can tow it, question; will the tough handle 400lbs on it for a rack, there is towing which will work, or how about U channel steel tied down in the bed and it will stick out the back a little to mount the bike on the bed, just thinking how many ways it can be done. I know the bed is short but there is always a workaround...
I think you could probably find a way to put the front in the bed, and the back on a rack. The issue with putting a motorcycle on a hitch rack is that you're placing that weight AND the rack weight all behind the vehicle, and that just isn't the best way to load weight.
How well does the bed cover keep out water? I might want to carry passengers and my guitars and amps...most often just me and a front seat passenger, but on occasion people in the backseat as well.
Hi Peter, I have mine on Oder for March and will tow with it. My dealer will install the Oem hitch and I will find the Kia 7 pin. My question for you is about weight distribution hitch, etrailer says no but one other site said yes, I used one on my grand Cherokee. I will be installing a brake controller
I don't have any official information on that, but my internal documents showing the pre-production car (in full camouflage) show the vehicle being used with a weight distribution hitch. If it were me, I think I'd use one, but that's just my personal opinion, I don't haven't read any internal documents from Hyundai pointing me one way or the other. There may be a document that specifies, but I haven't seen it.
Really considering this or the the Maverick. You're videos of this have really made me rethink that I might want this over the Maverick... now if Hyundai made and announcement that they would be doing a Hybrid next year I would stop looking and put my order in now. It's also a shame that you are in Ontario since I'm in North Carolina, because you'd have my business if I go this way.
I actually quite like the concept of the Maverick, but for me, the Santa Cruz is a better vehicle. I like the style, I really missed having a "trunk" when I owned my previous truck, and this one gives me just the right amount of space in that trunk, and the interior on this is easily a class or two above the Maverick. Thanks for watching! We'll have a lot more videos on this vehicle in the future.
@@BrantfordKia Not disagreeing, but the gas mileage of the hybrid compared to the Santa Cruz is my hesitation... I currently have an Outlander with the previous vehicle of my F150 Supercrew I understand the desire for inside/protected storage. As well as the gas efficiency (14-16 MPG when I traded it to 30-32 MPG now). My Outlander is only 4 years old so I really don't need something right now, but I really do muss the utility of the open bed from my 14 year ownership of the F150, LOL. I'm sure I'll be OK with what every I wind up with but it's something I'm considering with the next purchase. I'm currently waiting for a couple Santa Cruz to arrive at my local dealer to go see one in person, so who knows... I'll let you know if I do wind up with one!
Nice Peter-Great video. Any thoughts on a bed liner? Either the factory one or a McGiver’d one? Whats the durability when using the bed for material (moving etc. Will the plastic bed look like Swiss cheese after a few years? I know the Ridgeline has the same type of bed material. Many thanks. Keep these going.
I'm from the school of thought that a bed can get some scratches and marks over time, and it's not the end of the world. Having said that, I think there are a couple of things that you could do. You could go to your local hardware or auto parts store and look for rubber mat on a roll. When I owned the two door Jeep Wrangler, I had a 4 foot rubber mat from the back door, right under the rear seat, into the rear seat footwell. It was about 4 feet wide, and I just cut out the areas where the seat mounted and the footwell area to work. In this vehicle, a 4 foot wide thin rubber mat would protect the bed, and still allow the trunk to be opened. I guess if you were really concerned, you could still get an aftermarket bedliner sprayed in. I'm not sure that it needs that, but the composite bed material in the Santa Cruz can allow some things to slide more easily than a traditional spray in bedliner. One thing I do appreciate, is you aren't going to scuff your knees or elbows up like the rougher surface of the spray in bedliner can do. It's up to you. For me, it's perfect as is, and feels plenty durable for what I plan to do.
Peter, I notice that you have yet to install seat covers on this video. I know I'll be purchasing seat covers before any other accessory. Have you purchased seat covers? Do you have a suggestion? I'll do front & back. me, wife and dog LOL
Hey Peter, not sure if you'll see this comment, but man, I'm having a hard time finding those sliding d- rings in the bed. Do you happen to know where to get some extra? I went to Hyundai and they said they don't sell it!?
Great video. Has anyone found rain guards for the Cruz that don't cost a mint and work well? ❤ 💕 my Cruz but want to be able to open the windows when it rains. Also inline or not? Which is better?
I am looking at a 2024 SEL AWD, if i purchase it i am looking to change the wheels, what offset do you have? I know the stock 18 width is 7.5 and offset is 51
I’d like to install the wiring for a dash cam in my new Santa Cruz, but I’m nervous about getting into the weather stripping and popping off the panel of the front pillar. Could you demonstrate how someone could safely do those kinds of things without damaging the car or blocking an air bag?
Haha! Nope! Not me! They don't let me play with tools here for a reason! You could always ask your local Hyundai dealer if they could help you install it. That would ensure that it's done correctly.
I haven't seen one in person, but I've seen pictures of that online. I'm not sure exactly how they were mounted, but people are starting to do that. I think this would be great with a rooftop tent over the bed!
Peter. I have been watching all your Santa Cruz videos waiting for mine to show up. The video from back in August of the pre production model you talked about the 7 pin wiring. Any update with harness from Hyundai or whether the Telluride harness will work. Thanks
I think the "Telluride harness will work" conversation is U.S. based, so that may be true if you're American. I'll double check today about Hyundai Canada having a solution, but I think I'm just going to do an aftermarket solution. It's not that expensive (and I told Brantford Hyundai that they had to pay for my solution, whether it be Factory or Aftermarket) so I'll likely go aftermarket. To be fair the shop that we use does excellent work, so it'll look as factory as possible.
@@BrantfordKia I'm in Ontario but don't know if the Telluride harness will ship to Canada. Was hoping for a Hyundai solution. Also wonder if US cars are different as KIA Canada does not offer a 7-pin harness. Are you able to order this part through your dealership S9F67AC500
Hello Peter. Just received my Santa Cruz 2 days ago and having fun exploring. I plan to tow a 3500 lb camper trainler using a weight distribution/sway bar syste. Any thoughts on how the low hitch receiver access might work?
I had to get a riser hitch, I think I went up a full 6 inches, but I now have an 1800 lb trailer, so I just hitch and go. You may need to talk to an experienced dealer to get your setup the way you need it.
Any Santa Cruz is a good one. I liked the "Ultimate" trim here in Canada, but when you factor in the exchange rate, it's actually less expensive to buy here in Canada, and I had a trade in that was worth good money on trade value, which helped make the decision easy for me. Thanks for watching!
If you can work the extra into your budget, I'd still recommend the Limited (Ultimate up here) - mainly for the 360 degree cameras. When I get into one of the lower trims without them, I immediately miss them. (IE: when I'm in for service and the dealer loans me the demo, one trim level below, if you're wondering how I'm driving two different Cruz's. lol) There are a few other little things that are nice (like ventilated seats in summer), but the 360 cameras are the most notable and consistently useful of the bunch. The headlight upgrade is good too, if you do a lot of driving at night.
now you did it my husband was watching me watch your video's long story short we now have a Santa cruz have to admit its very nice
Haha! You didn't realize how expensive it would be to watch my channel, did you!
Congratulations 🙏🏼
2000+ miles into my new limited Santa Cruz and I have to say, THIS THING IS AWESOME! I spent about 20 hours in research before purchasing mine in Somersworth, NH and its still more car/truck/SUV than I had expected. It’s a very luxurious sports car with tons of power... has the interior space and convenience of an SUV... as well as a super functional truck bed for most of your home, yard, work and play/hobbie/activity needs and tasks. Hyundai nailed it on this one. Everywhere I go this thing is snapping heads around. Great overall value. I highly recommend checking this thing out if your even moderately interested or even curious... you won’t be disappointed.
I just woke up one morning, decided that I needed a small truck . Call up the dealership, they had one is stock. I purchased it and have no regrets. I'm in love with this vehicle.
@@mikeldietrich2870 does it come manual?
@@tweetdaone4450 the stick has a manual option as well as the steering wheel having paddle shifters. So you can manually shift two ways as well as have it in automatic if need be.
Test drove one last week (a blue SEL premium) absolutely loved it, picking up my 2023 Limited next month in Atlas White !
I saw this beauty in white 3 wks. ago. I almost had whip lash as it passed & I had to find it. I dreamed about this vehicle for a week, had my nephew look at up online, made an appt. to test drive it & the rest is history. My truck is "stone blue" & now I'm turning heads. Its perfect❣️
I have a 2024 XRT and just love it. Already do 3 things you've discussed. But I'm always looking for a good, reputable source for aftermarket accessories. If anyone has companies, would love to hear about them. Starting in January I plan on adding anything I can. I Def need those floor mats!!!
Great video Peter! I have to say, I don’t think people understand how versatile this vehicle is until someone shows them
Yeah, I agree with that. When I first saw this vehicle, it really impressed me how well it was set up for the things that I like to do. Even little things like having a roof rack on a pickup truck design which allows me to put my kayak centred on my vehicle, instead of hanging off the back. That makes a difference when trailer towing, or when parking in a parking spot. So many details that make it a better option for me than a traditional SUV, or pickup truck.
Hi, Peter! You are unbelievable! Last thing I expected today was to see a new video! Like I've said before, your commitment is unwavering and unsurpassed!!! Thank you so much for your dedication. It is crystal clear that you thoroughly enjoy what you do! Please allow me to wish a very prosperous, healthy, and joyous 2022 to you and your family!!! ✨
Your first three sentences sound like what I expected my wife to say... but with less enthusiasm! (Just kidding! She was fine with this) I've wanted to make this video for a while, so why not today! Happy New Year to you and your family as well! Thanks for watching and supporting what I do! I really appreciate it!
@@BrantfordKia It is my pleasure to watch your videos, having been a Hyundai owner for the past 10 years. Sonatas before, and now, the magnificent 2022 Tucson! By the way, I think you will get a kick out of this. I got my Tucson over Labor Day weekend. The following week, I stopped by the dealership's service department to show it to my service advisor of 10 years. His exact words were: "Where did you get this? Nobody can get them! I never considered getting a Tucson before, but I will certainly consider getting one now! I look forward to learning much more from your videos in the years ahead! Have a wonderful 2022! 🙂
Great recommendations!! I just took delivery of my Santa Cruz. It's a beautiful vehicle. I love the spaces....and with the 2.5 L turbo, it is one pocket rocket!!
Right on!
My Santa Cruz came with a bed extender that does come in handy. The groceries from my Walmart pickup fit there nicely.
I just purchased a Forest River R-Pod that I tow with mine. Curt hitch and Curt Bluetooth Brake Controller too. Smartliner floor mats (lower priced and work as well as WeatherTech) front and rear. Kept the 20” stock tires and wheels, dealer warranty for both. Much needed since I live in WV where our state mascot is the dreaded deep pothole.
Nice video! I like what you said about packing light in a kayak when you go on trips and same compromise with the space on the santa cruz, you just have to pack smarter. This convinced me to step down from full size to a santa cruz thanks again for a great video
I bought my Santa Cruz during the height of the vehicle shortage in January of 2022 so I had limited choices. That being said, the SE package satisfied the majority of my needs at a respectable price. The only thing I really miss with this model is the push-button start/keyless entry that I had on my Kia Optima, which I traded in for the Santa Cruz. I didn't like the garage door-type bed cover because it takes up a large amount of bed space to accommodate the cover when it is retracted. The Santa Cruz was brand new when I got mine so there weren't a lot of third-party accessories available, like tonneau covers and floor mats. Now that the vehicle has been around for a bit I can finally start to accessorize mine. I have added a soft tonneau top to my bed, which rolls back but doesn't take away space in the bed. I also added a tailgate cover for my bikes. I prefer this to the trailer hitch carrier. If I'm not hauling bikes I can remove it quickly and just store it in the bed. It's small and takes up very little room as opposed to a tailgate carrier, which is always in the way if left on the truck and can be large and heavy and take up a lot of space to store when not being used. Now that WeatherTech has floor mats available I will probably add them to mine. They weren't available yet in early 2022. The one thing I would really like to have in the bed is more tie-down locations. I like the sliding tie-downs in your truck but that isn't an option on the SE model. I still don't know why they didn't add an upper tie-down to the section of the bed near the cab like there is in the front but I'm sure I'll find an add-on solution someday.
I've been SUPER pleased with my 2010 Hyundai Accent and have been strongly considering the Santa Cruz ever since I saw the concept - really wish it had a Mid-Gate that would fold down between the bed and the back seat.
A midgate would be cool, but I've found ways to fit just about everything I need in and on the Santa Cruz. It's, without a doubt, one of the very best vehicles I've ever owned.
Peter, Thank you for this video.I just purchased my Cruz last night. My salesman went over nothing and just pointed me to the owners manual QR code on the Navi. I totally agree that this vehicle is really cool like a Wrangler. In fact I looked at Wranglers first and felt this one met my family’s need since we already own a 2022 Tucson limited.
I recommend keeping a detail spray with your microfiber to clean the screens. A couple quick sprays on the microfiber before wiping dust and finger prints will help not add scratches to the screens and piano black surfaces
I'm always nervous about any chemicals. I think you want to make sure you have the right chemical, but yeah, my system works great for me only because I keep that cloth very clean. You don't want to have any debris in the cloth that will scratch anything.
AWESOME! I love it santa cruz!
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Thank you for this video , just purchased 2023 about to pick it up next week and was looking for accessories so thank you for your help in my search.
Thanks for the hitch info - everyone on the forums keeps asking about this because Hyundai is totally clueless about towing with these things. Lack of an official towing package with a brake controller has left owners scrambling. To me its pretty straight forward and everything can be solved in the aftermarket from well established companies like Curt. Just need the Kia 7 pin harness since the "official" Hyundai one isn't out yet, no big deal.
The lack of tow points on the front was a mistake especially on an "adventure vehicle", I understand they wanted the front design to remain clean and sleek but no aux light mounts or recovery locations was an oversight.
An idea when the factory fender flare accessory will become available? The factory mud flaps are a joke I'd like to see more side protection. Your wheels look great BTW and Happy New Year! Looking forward to more SC content.
Feel free to link this video in the forums. I'm not on them, because it's just easier for me to post and respond to comments here, (which I'm happy to do) The Curt Trailer brake controller is going to be perfect for my needs, and to be honest, I know that some people have had issues with it, but at least SOME of those people (not all) just didn't understand how the system works. So I think it's a good option. I expect that Hyundai won't have an official 7 pin wiring solution in Canada, so I'll probably get it done. When I bought the vehicle, I made the deal that the selling dealer (Brantford Hyundai) would be responsible for putting on 7 pin wiring by the Spring when I need to tow my trailer. If we do it at the aftermarket trailer shop that I'm familiar with, it's $230.00 Canadian, so it's not an impossible thing to do, and the hitch comes with a solid place to mount the wiring and a bracket to hold the 7 pin wiring.
I don't have information on the factory fender flare, I'll have to look into that when I return to work in the new year. As far as the mud flaps, if you look at my Santa Cruz videos, the videos using the black Santa Crus have larger factory mud flaps. I'm not sure if you'll be interested in those, but that's one option. Thanks for watching!
I bought the base model SEL AWD to save money and did the option upgrades, too. I bought a soft tonneau cover for $400 and the tow hitch for $275. I went with 18" Blizzak DVM-2's for the U.P. winters and have to buy new wheels for the summer tires to install in May, but want a more aggressive tire over the stock 18" Hankook all season tires. Might go with the Falken Wilderness or Firestone destination AT/2's...Bought a rubber backed 4'x5' area rug to go in the back of the bed over the weatherTech bed mat. The rug is longer than the bed, so it overlaps the tailgate. I stuffed the rug down into the bottom of the tailgate gap a few inches, and now it seals between the bed and gate, stopping most of the dust and water from coming in from the road.
Nice! Thanks for sharing! I think I'll have to do another Santa Cruz video soon. We have one that our store GM is driving that we put 17" All Terrain tires on. He's happy with it like that.
I LOVE...... my Santa Cruz!! I've had her right at 9 months. I just had running boards and a cross roof rack put on.
I’ve had my Santa Cruz Limited for 5 days now and I love it! One big caveat to the (otherwise excellent) retractable tonneau cover: it can be very difficult to operate in icy/snowy conditions! I live in Maine, USA so this is a big deal. A recent ice storm rendered the cover unopenable until I thawed it out. Maybe being designed in California isn’t such a great idea, after all!
Yeah, that's something to be aware of. If you're parking your vehicle outside, or are regularly dealing with ice on the vehicle, the tailgate can be difficult to work in the winter. Not a huge issue for me as I don't usually carry much in the winter, and what I do carry, I want under the cargo cover, but yeah, it's not perfect in the ice. Not a deal-breaker for me at all, but could definitely be a deal-breaker for others.
Same deal for me out in Utah. Luckily the bed isn’t too deep, so I just opened the tailgate and crawled under the cover back a little to grab what I needed during a little storm. It does bother me, though, when the handle locks up and the cover won’t move even if I could operate the handle.
@@isaacwutkee11 , yup, I’ve done the same! I’ve had a chance to dry it out and completely coat the tracks, gaskets, latch handle and top surface with a food grade silicone spray. Big storm coming today so I’ll let you know how it worked!
@@forestweston5055 how did that experiment handle the storm?
@@isaacwutkee11 definitely better. Hard to compare since the temperature got to 40° and rain so it melted off any snow. I’ll keep you posted on the next one Isaac.
I've put a 1000 on my 2022, bought it 6 months ago, 280 horse 😊 can't slap the smile off my face, it's getting better city milage than it claimed it wood, I checked it the old,
fashioned way .. My udder vehicle is a 2011 wrangler,
Buckboard vrs smooth flying..
Met a couple who pulled a 18 ft trailer from Canada to TX Border.. NO PROBLEMS 😳..WOW
Great video. I plan on getting a Santa Cruz in order to carry my kayak and small camper so your accessories were great to know about.
🎉Great to find your feature again. Hope you ate still involved with motor journalism. Good luck! You are missed..please let us know! Louis Paxton
Nice video and suggestions. I'm getting tired of waiting on my Maverick. I wish the Sant Cruz came in a hybrid model.
Peter, I appreciate your helpful videos and this one in particular about accessories.
[re.] the Roof Rails, please show a 'close-up' of how the Thule cross bars attach to it.
[re.] the canoe secured on top, close-ups of how it was tied-down would be helpful.
(A picture is worth a thousand words.)
Keep up the good work!
Great vid makes me want a Santa Cruz even more !
Every day that I have it, I love it even more. I'm really enjoying this vehicle!
That white is CLEAN, Im looking at getting the sage gray.
Hood loops are a great idea in general, awesome suggestion... Can you suggest a rack system across the bed? I have a roof top tent and was wondering about having it across the truck bed rather than having to block the sun roof.
Thank you for making this video.
I have such a love/hate with the tonneau cover.. so helpful for everything other than when you have to haul something.. and then it kills you
Well done and edited. thanks
Thanks for watching!
I’ve really enjoyed your Santa Cruz videos. Glad I stumbled upon your channel.
The wheels and tires you put on look great! So much better than stock.
I’m wondering, are your children comfortable in the back seats? I have concerns about mine “outgrowing” the Santa Cruz as I tend to keep vehicles for a long time.
My kids are comfortable now. I think it depends on how tall you are. If you're over 6 feet tall, the back seat will get small for rear seat passengers. I'm 6 feet tall and I can comfortably sit behind myself on a long trip, it's not as spacious as something like the Tucson's rear seat, but it's not uncomfortable at all. If you're 6'4" then the back seat will be very small once you have the driver's seat adjusted for yourself. So my thing is, I wish it was a few inches of more knee room, but practically that just means that there would be MORE room between my rear seat passenger's knees and the seats. It's not like they're having to sit in an uncomfortable position to be comfortable.
I would also add bed rails from Putco. I have also replaced the reverse lights and headlight with good LED bulbs. Get any adjustable bed gate and it would work. I have one from an F-150 that fits and I strap it to the bed hooks.
Hey peter love your videos, just ordered a Santa Cruz, was humming and hahing whether to get that or the Maverick but decided to pay a bit more for the better ride. Dealer says maybe I'll get it in 5-6 months lol yikes! One question about hauling bikes, we have 2 ebikes which as you know are quite heavy and rather not put these on the roof lol I would like to DIY a fork mount rack on the bed with the bed door open, it should be enough length for that if the front wheel is off. Is there something like a 2x4 or 2x6 slot at the front of the bed? or is it possible pop off the front Drings and mount a 2x4 with the fork clip?
Just got my 2022 Santa Cruz SEL Premium in Phantom Black and I am loving it! I am a huge biker and kayaker as well and this is the review I was looking for. Thanks so much for making this video. I subbed and hit the bell.
Awesome! I will have a LOT more on this vehicle, especially as we get into Spring and throughout the summer.
Awesome! I will have a LOT more on this vehicle, especially as we get into Spring and throughout the summer. You may not want to hit the bell, as not every video will apply to you, but I think you'll like some of what's coming for the Santa Cruz.
Just curious, how do you load your bike in the Santa Cruz? What size bike if you don't mind me asking. Thanks!
I just bought my wife a 24 love it it is awsome to drive
Thanks for sharing, Planning to switch in Hyundai, since my car was stolen 2x crv 2020 model and 2021 evey 7 months they are stolen. God bless and keep safe everyone.
Oh man! That's rough! I think you'll love the Santa Cruz if you're switching from a CR-V.
Fantastic information. You have become one of my favorites to follow.
I missed this comment earlier! Thanks so much for watching!
One of your best videos ever ! Keep up the great work. Can't wait to see the new Sportage...( looks like they put the rear signal lights back up where they belong )..... Happy New Year !!! :)
Thanks for watching! I really appreciate it! Happy New Year to you as well!
Great video! I’m super pumped to get mine and I’m loving the white with black rims look! 🤙🏼🕺🏼🙏🏼
I dont get the volume knob issue for some people. Its much easier to access on the steering wheel and more user friendly.
Volume knobs are probably the best way to adjust the volume. They're in almost every car, because they're the best option for that feature. Having said that, it's not the only option, and you do get used to what this vehicle offers you. It always bothers me that you have a fantastic vehicle, but people spend 1/3 of the review complaining about a feature that an actual owner will get used to in no time.
The only problem I have is that sometimes the button will mute instead of turning up or lowering the volume from the steering wheel. It catches the channel changing tab. It's not really a big deal, but maybe the engineers could shave off a couple of mm's between the two tabs so they don'tcontact eack other?
Awesome video man. So much helpful information
This was an Excellent video. Well thought out and informative!! Thanks!!
Great video. I've had my 2022 SC since they first came out. Great accessories. What straps did you use for under the hood for the kayak? Also, did the Thule eye bolts work for you?
Hello Peter! Thank you for your series of videos about the Santa Cruz, they are very informative! One thing I would like to ask, it's about the trailer connection. You were showing us the Curt wireless brake controller that connects to the SC and to the trailer as well, but I see that your Santa Cruz has a 4-pin connector next to your tow hitch. Have you replaced it? What harness brand and model did you use? I just picked up my vehicle from the dealer, after specifically talking about the 7-pin connector (Hyundai has a part # for it - K5F61AU400) that I wanted, and they delivered it with the 4-pin harness. Hyundai says that is not available yet??? Now I have a brand-new vehicle and a brand-new trailer, and I can't travel due to this 7-pin connection issue. Any help or pointer about how you resolved it will be extremely appreciated! Thanks again!
A couple of things... We film in Canada, and things are different with the 7 pin wiring in the U.S. models. In Canada, when I bought mine, the 7 pin wiring wasn't available. I made a deal with Brantford Hyundai that they would take care of my 7 pin wiring by the Spring, either by a factory component, or by an aftermarket company. (we have a company that we use locally that does a great job, so I have no issues using them) So at this point, I haven't checked, but I'm assuming there still isn't a factory 7 pin harness in Canada. I'll switch it to a 7 pin system by the Spring so that I can pull my trailer, but I took delivery of my Santa Cruz in November, and I wasn't going to pull my trailer until the spring anyway. I'll make an updated video when I update my wiring.
Thanks again Peter! Great update on the WeatherTech floor liners - I'll be ordering my rear mat here in a bit. Also, if you can let us know the specifics of those t-bolt rail accessories I would be very interested in hearing how they work. I'd like to add either a basket or cross rails to my bed cover (admittedly mostly for looks) but some extra carrying capacity for gear or bikes, etc. Happy New Year!
For sure! I haven't looked in to them yet, but by the Spring I expect to have done some research on them, and see how they work. If they work, I'll have another video up with part numbers etc.
Nice video! Expecting delivery of my Santa Cruz in March. The first accessory I looked for online was a bull bar because I want it to look more truck-like and rugged. Unfortunately I couldn't find any bull bars. The only 2 reasons I could think off is that 1. the vehicle is still brand new and 3rd party manufactures still have to catch up or 2. a bull bar would interfere with the radar cruise system located in the grill? An interesting find was wireless cab lights. There's a company called Cab Over America which sells wireless solar panel cab light kits in different configurations. No wires, no drilling through the roof and no hassle. I like the dark wheel setup on your Cruz.
I wouldn't go too crazy with cab lights though because the Cruz will look like a Christmas tree with all those LED running lights and cab lights. I was thinking of 2 amber cab lights on the roof on either side.
You're correct that, because this car is new, many aftermarket accessory makers haven't had enough time with it to fit their potential products to it. A couple of other things may play into this. The manufacturers have to see enough of a market for their products, and they'll have to decide if a bull bar will sell in volume. Lastly, there are actually pedestrian crash safety standards in some parts of the world, and bull bars are illegal in some areas because they don't push pedestrians over the vehicle, but instead can push people under it. Even low speed collisions can be dangerous if that's the case.
LOVE my Santa Cruz!!!!!!!
The best review I ever seen 👍
Wow! That's high praise! Thanks! I do plan a lot more videos with this vehicle (and many others) feel free to subscribe!
I bought my 2023 Santa Cruz. Do you have a video explaining how to use the gear settings?
Do you have a link to those folding chairs? They look really great.
Thanks Peter for the info! Love mine.
Great segment. Those wheels are sweet. Did you get the vehicle lifted? The stance looks taller for some reason. Valuable info on the many accessories that work with the Santa Cruz. Try working in some other adjectives besides super. Strange to hear that word so much. Thanks for sharing your opinions and what is working for you with the Santa Cruz .
Looks nice, I think the Santa Cruz can be a good daily driver with the capabilities to take my surfboards and kiteboarding gear.
I think the Santa Cruz is perfect for that type of thing.
Thank you for a very useful video!
I get it with your tires account snow capable..but they take away from the look of it..but sometimes practicality over looks..thanks for the share
I added locks to the bed storage. Keeps my tie downs secured and keeps the doors from walking off.
Great review, sharp truck. 👍🏽
I just got my tie-down loops yesterday. Ordered a 10 pack ... they shipped me 20. LOL No idea what I'll do with all the extras. Going to wait until spring to set them up ... or at least until it isn't -30 outside. Have some stainless steel eyelets for the T-slots on the way too. They were supposed to show up today, but I'm guessing it'll be Monday now, since they were 'delayed' locally.
The Thule crossbars are great though. Easy to get on and off, and awesome that they lock too. I'm looking forward to being able to sling my kayak up on them in the spring!
Hopefully we don't have to wait TOO long for the 7 pin harness to come along. Not that I have a trailer that needs it, but I'd like to have the Cruz equipped to do what it's capable of should the need arise.
I've just assumed that I'll be putting an aftermarket 7 pin wiring system on. When I bought the Santa Cruz, I made a deal with Branford Hyundai that they would be responsible for the 7 pin wiring by the Spring when I need it. So I'll either get a Hyundai solution, or I'll get a good solution from a local hitch shop that we use. They quoted me $230 for the wiring. They do really good clean work.
@@BrantfordKia the 7 pin harness for the Telluride is supposed to be a direct perfect fit. A few people have already done it and confirmed it's plug and play.
@@ChrisPollard I don’t believe that’s true in Canada. I could be wrong about this, but the rumour is that the Turbo engined models are equipped with pre-wiring for the 7 pin in the U.S. but NOT in Canada. If that’s true, there’s no 7 pin direct plug and play accessory that would be able to be pulled from the parts bin here. I also believe that the U.S. uses a different accessory hitch than Canadian dealers use.
@@BrantfordKia the part should connect to the same wiring harness the factory 4 pin connects to. I don't see why the wiring would be different for Canada vs the US. That seems like massive engineering effort to do the same thing differently, no?
Good info 👍
Trying to choose now between the Ford Mav and SC so this was helpful.
Cheers
Send me an email at peter@brantfordkia.ca and I'll share my thoughts. I LOVE my Santa Cruz but I've recommended the Maverick to friends and family due to Canadian trim lines. There are good reasons to have either. The big benefit to the Santa Cruz is that it's just a nicer vehicle in almost every way when you move to the upper trim lines, but there is no true base trim in Canada and that opens the door for the Maverick in my mind if you want or need something less expensive.
It reminds me of my 1978 Subaru Brat.
Well I think the tonneau cover has affected you a bit. I've seen other people say how it makes it hard to get bikes and stuff in. And the fact that you had to get a trailer hitch to carry your bikes kind of makes me believe it... 😅😉
Ayeeeeee Peter, i love this guy😊
KIA has an OEM front steel skidplate available for the Sportage. I wonder if it would work on the Santa Cruz.
Trying to decide on which model to buy. Any issues with your DCT?? I've seen a ton of chatter on the recalls and how hard it has been to deal with Hyundai for the warranty.
Love the SC. How dark is your front window tint? Looks good!
Great video. Good ideas. Looking forward to getting one later in the year. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! We'll have a lot more video on the Santa Cruz in the future! Including road-tripping with it.
can you guide me to any instructions on removing the tonneau cover? I found one but I have to help the owner take it off and then get it installed in my Santa Cruz. Any assistance would be appreciated - a video link would be wonderful. Thanks, David
I need someone to make a bull bar and light bar. I just finished with the Ready Lift 2" lift, Motegi 17" wheels, and Nitto Nomad Grappler tires. I still need more though... this may become an addiction.
I just watched this video..love your rims.do you know if i can buy it with the bed cover delete and are there after market bed cover that you know of
Have you thought of using cadaver body bags while kayaking? A friend of mine does a lot of kayaking...she uses them to pack clothing, some food, etc...they are leakproof.
Haha, I don't call them that, but I do have dry bags. They best thing about them is that I can they work great in the boat, and in the truck bed. This vehicle really is perfect for the things that I like to do. Thanks for watching.
Your front straps will eventually damage the paint. The simplest and 0 cost option is just to run your front tie-down strap to the rear cross bar and your rear tie down the the front cross bar. Nothing touches your paint and nothing will move. We use cross strapping to hold down big off-road vehicles onto trailers, it will definitely work on a kayak. The rear bed will perfectly carry 3 full sets of scuba gear and 6 tanks and allow the tonneau to close and lock. It will NOT do the same with 4, fortunately my wife doesn't dive with me and the kids.
Awesome video, thanks! Happy New Year!
Thanks for watching! Happy New Year to you as well!
weathertech mat is perfect for all season but you are missing vend-shade for your windows which is a must item for me to keep the air circulating when parking outside or driving around town with little window cracked open without worrying about rain coming inside.
Yeah, I'm actually not a big fan of those vent shades. I know they're popular with other people for all the reasons that you say, but I won't be adding those to my car. I like to vent the sunroof to get a little air in.
Hi. You mentioned the roof rack (rails) don’t make much noise. So not much whistling??
Cool Video Sir! Take care,
If you want a unique look, try a side decal or half wrap.
Thank you for the video on accessories, I have ordered my Santa Cruz and waiting for it to come in, this is great and you have good ideas what can all be done and I have a motorcycle to add and was wondering what different ways I can tow it, question; will the tough handle 400lbs on it for a rack, there is towing which will work, or how about U channel steel tied down in the bed and it will stick out the back a little to mount the bike on the bed, just thinking how many ways it can be done. I know the bed is short but there is always a workaround...
I think you could probably find a way to put the front in the bed, and the back on a rack. The issue with putting a motorcycle on a hitch rack is that you're placing that weight AND the rack weight all behind the vehicle, and that just isn't the best way to load weight.
I love my Santa Cruz
How well does the bed cover keep out water? I might want to carry passengers and my guitars and amps...most often just me and a front seat passenger, but on occasion people in the backseat as well.
Hi Peter, I have mine on Oder for March and will tow with it. My dealer will install the Oem hitch and I will find the Kia 7 pin. My question for you is about weight distribution hitch, etrailer says no but one other site said yes, I used one on my grand Cherokee. I will be installing a brake controller
I don't have any official information on that, but my internal documents showing the pre-production car (in full camouflage) show the vehicle being used with a weight distribution hitch. If it were me, I think I'd use one, but that's just my personal opinion, I don't haven't read any internal documents from Hyundai pointing me one way or the other. There may be a document that specifies, but I haven't seen it.
Really considering this or the the Maverick. You're videos of this have really made me rethink that I might want this over the Maverick... now if Hyundai made and announcement that they would be doing a Hybrid next year I would stop looking and put my order in now. It's also a shame that you are in Ontario since I'm in North Carolina, because you'd have my business if I go this way.
I actually quite like the concept of the Maverick, but for me, the Santa Cruz is a better vehicle. I like the style, I really missed having a "trunk" when I owned my previous truck, and this one gives me just the right amount of space in that trunk, and the interior on this is easily a class or two above the Maverick. Thanks for watching! We'll have a lot more videos on this vehicle in the future.
@@BrantfordKia Not disagreeing, but the gas mileage of the hybrid compared to the Santa Cruz is my hesitation... I currently have an Outlander with the previous vehicle of my F150 Supercrew I understand the desire for inside/protected storage. As well as the gas efficiency (14-16 MPG when I traded it to 30-32 MPG now). My Outlander is only 4 years old so I really don't need something right now, but I really do muss the utility of the open bed from my 14 year ownership of the F150, LOL. I'm sure I'll be OK with what every I wind up with but it's something I'm considering with the next purchase. I'm currently waiting for a couple Santa Cruz to arrive at my local dealer to go see one in person, so who knows... I'll let you know if I do wind up with one!
Also I just found my Local dealer added a $3k (US) market adjustment to the price... I won't be buying there unless they wave that!
@@bubblehead650 Yeah, I'm not a fan of that. We don't do that here.
@@BrantfordKia Wish I was close enough to buy form you...
Nice Peter-Great video. Any thoughts on a bed liner? Either the factory one or a McGiver’d one? Whats the durability when using the bed for material (moving etc. Will the plastic bed look like Swiss cheese after a few years? I know the Ridgeline has the same type of bed material. Many thanks. Keep these going.
I'm from the school of thought that a bed can get some scratches and marks over time, and it's not the end of the world. Having said that, I think there are a couple of things that you could do. You could go to your local hardware or auto parts store and look for rubber mat on a roll. When I owned the two door Jeep Wrangler, I had a 4 foot rubber mat from the back door, right under the rear seat, into the rear seat footwell. It was about 4 feet wide, and I just cut out the areas where the seat mounted and the footwell area to work. In this vehicle, a 4 foot wide thin rubber mat would protect the bed, and still allow the trunk to be opened. I guess if you were really concerned, you could still get an aftermarket bedliner sprayed in. I'm not sure that it needs that, but the composite bed material in the Santa Cruz can allow some things to slide more easily than a traditional spray in bedliner. One thing I do appreciate, is you aren't going to scuff your knees or elbows up like the rougher surface of the spray in bedliner can do. It's up to you. For me, it's perfect as is, and feels plenty durable for what I plan to do.
Peter, I notice that you have yet to install seat covers on this video. I know I'll be purchasing seat covers before any other accessory. Have you purchased seat covers? Do you have a suggestion? I'll do front & back. me, wife and dog LOL
Hey Peter, not sure if you'll see this comment, but man, I'm having a hard time finding those sliding d- rings in the bed. Do you happen to know where to get some extra?
I went to Hyundai and they said they don't sell it!?
Nice informative video
Great video. Has anyone found rain guards for the Cruz that don't cost a mint and work well? ❤ 💕 my Cruz but want to be able to open the windows when it rains. Also inline or not? Which is better?
vend shade
Did you install a 7 way to plug the brake controller into? Or did you use a 4 pin to 7 way adapter to plug it in?
Any idea how the Hyundai roof cross bars compare to after-market bars?
The cross bars are actually THULE brand bars. They're top quality, and that's how I bought mine, through the dealers.
Where did you get the roof rails? The ones on roof attached to roof? Not the crossbars
How much does the trailer hitch run?
Does the Hyundai cross bars from factory come with a T-track for mounting different accessories/carriers?
I am looking at a 2024 SEL AWD, if i purchase it i am looking to change the wheels, what offset do you have? I know the stock 18 width is 7.5 and offset is 51
Peter,can u tell me what rim size example (18x9) ,oddset of rim & tire size u put on your Santa Cruz
I’d like to install the wiring for a dash cam in my new Santa Cruz, but I’m nervous about getting into the weather stripping and popping off the panel of the front pillar. Could you demonstrate how someone could safely do those kinds of things without damaging the car or blocking an air bag?
Haha! Nope! Not me! They don't let me play with tools here for a reason! You could always ask your local Hyundai dealer if they could help you install it. That would ensure that it's done correctly.
Where did you get the Weather Tech mats ? Their website says they are not available yet.
Great info!! Thank you!!
Thanks for watching!
Hi Peter, Have you seen a rooftop tent mounted on a Santa Cruz? Or a rack system to mount over the bed? Thank you.
I haven't seen one in person, but I've seen pictures of that online. I'm not sure exactly how they were mounted, but people are starting to do that. I think this would be great with a rooftop tent over the bed!
Peter. I have been watching all your Santa Cruz videos waiting for mine to show up. The video from back in August of the pre production model you talked about the 7 pin wiring. Any update with harness from Hyundai or whether the Telluride harness will work. Thanks
I think the "Telluride harness will work" conversation is U.S. based, so that may be true if you're American. I'll double check today about Hyundai Canada having a solution, but I think I'm just going to do an aftermarket solution. It's not that expensive (and I told Brantford Hyundai that they had to pay for my solution, whether it be Factory or Aftermarket) so I'll likely go aftermarket. To be fair the shop that we use does excellent work, so it'll look as factory as possible.
@@BrantfordKia I'm in Ontario but don't know if the Telluride harness will ship to Canada. Was hoping for a Hyundai solution. Also wonder if US cars are different as KIA Canada does not offer a 7-pin harness. Are you able to order this part through your dealership S9F67AC500
Hello Peter. Just received my Santa Cruz 2 days ago and having fun exploring. I plan to tow a 3500 lb camper trainler using a weight distribution/sway bar syste. Any thoughts on how the low hitch receiver access might work?
I had to get a riser hitch, I think I went up a full 6 inches, but I now have an 1800 lb trailer, so I just hitch and go. You may need to talk to an experienced dealer to get your setup the way you need it.
Do they have window visors for the Cruz yet
looking @ the santa cruz for this coming year. still undecided which trim i should go for. love the limited trim but a bit pricey.
Any Santa Cruz is a good one. I liked the "Ultimate" trim here in Canada, but when you factor in the exchange rate, it's actually less expensive to buy here in Canada, and I had a trade in that was worth good money on trade value, which helped make the decision easy for me. Thanks for watching!
If you can work the extra into your budget, I'd still recommend the Limited (Ultimate up here) - mainly for the 360 degree cameras. When I get into one of the lower trims without them, I immediately miss them. (IE: when I'm in for service and the dealer loans me the demo, one trim level below, if you're wondering how I'm driving two different Cruz's. lol) There are a few other little things that are nice (like ventilated seats in summer), but the 360 cameras are the most notable and consistently useful of the bunch. The headlight upgrade is good too, if you do a lot of driving at night.
I think if it had a longer bed (may be 5 foot) it would make it look better. It just looks weird with that tiny bed..