Toyota Tacoma vs Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma, though newly redesigned, retained a familiar aesthetic that echoed its predecessor. The hexagonal grille added a more aggressive look, and the overall design leaned towards a blockier and more angular style, yet it unmistakably remained a Toyota truck. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels in Canada, with off-road variants on the TRD Off Road packages, complemented its rugged appearance. Inside, the Tacoma underwent a significant transformation, drawing inspiration from the Ford F-Series. The dashboard featured squared-off sections, and the gear shift knob was a bulky, geometric design. MOLLE panels throughout the cabin emphasized a functional approach, even in the Premium packages with SofTex-trimmed seats. These design choices highlighted Toyota's focus on practicality, offering ample spots for accessory attachment.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz, available in Preferred, XRT, and Ultimate trims, featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with standard AWD. Prices ranged from $44,994 to $53,494, including destination charges. The Santa Cruz's styling, while unique, received updates for 2025, including revised front styling, wheel designs, and paint colours. The XRT variant enhanced its off-road appeal with an improved approach angle and all-terrain tires. Inside, a high-tech dashboard with a panoramic curved display debuted, featuring two 12.3-inch digital screens. The Santa Cruz retained its practical storage solutions, including a shelf in front of the passenger and a solid transmission shifter. Despite some design quirks, the Santa Cruz offered a blend of style and functionality.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma introduced an all-turbo lineup with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Standard 4WD in Canada and an eight-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous six-speed auto, providing smooth and timely shifts. While turbo lag was noted from a stop, gear changes at highway speeds were seamless. A six-speed manual transmission was also available, though its high bite point posed challenges in tight manoeuvres. Toyota emphasized differentiation among packages, offering various suspensions tailored to each option. The TRD Sport featured sport-tuned shocks, while the TRD Off-Road had monotube Bilstein shocks. The Tacoma's on-road performance was satisfactory across configurations. New standard features included disc brakes and electric power steering, enhancing driver-assistance capabilities and addressing previous steering vagueness.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz, powered by a turbocharged engine, delivered 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 and 4,000 rpm. The engine ran on regular gas, offering a practical advantage. Fuel economy varied, with the XRT being the least efficient at 11.1 L/100 km combined. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) exhibited quirks, contributing to turbo lag and uneven power delivery. Switching to Sport mode mitigated these issues, but Hyundai planned to replace the DCT with a traditional automatic in 2026. The XRT's all-terrain tires affected handling on paved roads, causing a disconnected feel at speed. However, they provided comfort and grip off-road. The Santa Cruz excelled in light off-roading but faced brake heating issues during mountain descents, raising concerns for towing capabilities.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma eliminated the Access Cab, standardizing the four-door Double Cab configuration in Canada. The updated seat shape offered improved comfort, with nearly identical head- and legroom figures for 2024. The Double Cab provided 1,061 millimetres of legroom up front and 856 mm in the back, a slight shift from the previous model. Gas-powered Tacoma models boasted three times more storage capacity beneath the flat-folding rear seats. Bed options included 5-foot or 6-foot lengths, with increased bed depth raising total volume by seven percent. A 440-watt outlet was available on gas models, while hybrid versions were expected to feature a 2400-watt version. Toyota offered a range of accessories, including camp fridges, rooftop tents, and wireless trailer cameras.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz's cabin resembled a crossover SUV, offering style and quality materials. A practical shelf in front of the passenger, defined centre console compartments, and door-panel trays enhanced functionality. A sizable storage bin under the centre armrest and a deep tray beneath the back-seat cushions provided ample storage, though the latter limited larger item loading. The four-foot cargo bed featured a locking in-floor trunk, and the XRT test truck included a retractable tonneau cover. Fixed loops and adjustable cleats facilitated cargo tie-downs. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with the XRT offering an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and artificial leather upholstery. Rear-seat room was snug for taller adults, but padded front seat backs improved comfort.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma saw significant technological improvements, with an 8-inch touchscreen now standard and a 14-inch display available in Premium packages. Both screens ran Toyota's latest Audio Multimedia system, offering responsive and legible interfaces. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an optional Qi wireless charging pad and USB-C ports. The optional 10-speaker JBL sound system included a removable portable speaker, and pre-wired auxiliary switches allowed accessory operation. A trailer brake controller and Panoramic View Monitor enhanced towing capabilities, with a wireless trailer camera accessory available.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Bluelink services. Advanced features like a digital key system and fingerprint scanning were available, with over-the-air updates ensuring up-to-date technology. The user-friendly interface and native voice recognition minimized reliance on smartphone integration. Wireless charging was standard on XRT and Ultimate trims, with a status indicator for functionality. Hyundai's connected services included remote car finder, safe teen driver functions, and emergency assistance, among others.

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma introduced new safety technology with electric power steering, enhancing the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite. Features included Lane Tracing Assist, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and oncoming vehicle collision avoidance assist. Road-sign assist and an emergency stop system were new additions, while adaptive cruise control offered four following distance choices. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard. Official safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were pending, but Toyota aimed for improved recognition with the updated features.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz came standard with driver-assistance features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The XRT trim added intersection collision braking, a surround-view camera, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed adjustment. Highway Driving Assist paired adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist. While effective in light traffic, the system was less suitable for urban areas. IIHS testing revealed "Marginal" ratings for moderate overlap frontal-impact and driver assistance technologies, while NHTSA awarded five-star collision ratings and a four-star rollover resistance rating.