I drove the Hyundai Santa Cruz for a week — and it could’ve been the perfect EV

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Hyundai Santa Cruz remains one of my favorite pickups on the market. That’s thanks in part to its maneuverable size, approachable starting price, and an intriguing design that boldly sets it apart from every other truck on the road. In fact, I’m convinced it could’ve been the perfect EV.

I say that because despite my appreciation for this compact pickup, Hyundai is reportedly sunsetting the Santa Cruz due to sluggish sales. It’s a shock, especially considering how few compact trucks are available — with the Ford Maverick being essentially the only other game in town.

Even though Hyundai has plans for a larger midsize pickup, the Santa Cruz stands as a significant missed opportunity — one I hope other EV makers don’t overlook. Here’s why.

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2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Specifications

Full-size pickups are obnoxiously expensive

Every all-electric pickup truck I’ve tested to date is priced extraordinarily high, even at the entry level. As much as the Rivian R1T remains one of the best electric cars available, its $73,000 starting price is staggering. It isn't alone, either, as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV are priced so excessively that they make the $43,450 MSRP of the Santa Cruz XRT I drove look dirt cheap.

Even if the Santa Cruz were an all-electric vehicle, I suspect it would cost significantly less than these full-size behemoths. For instance, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT — the closest electric match — carries a base MSRP of $46,275. While an all-electric Santa Cruz would likely compromise on range, that’s an expected trade-off for any compact vehicle.

Long-term savings

I drove a total of 117.1 miles during my week of testing the 2026 Santa Cruz XRT, averaging 19.7 mpg. For me, that’s a disappointing average, especially given the unpredictable fluctuations in gasoline prices.

While regular unleaded has stabilized at about $3 per gallon in my area, filling the Santa Cruz’s 17.7-gallon tank costs roughly $53.10 and yields about 348 miles of range. If the Santa Cruz were an EV equipped with an 84 kWh battery — identical to the Ioniq 5 — a full charge at the rate of $0.26 per kWh would cost approximately $21.84.

To match the gas-powered Santa Cruz’s range, an electric version would require roughly 1.4 charges. That effectively brings the "refueling" cost to $30.58 — a significant savings compared to the $53 price of a gas fill-up.

The market is simply too saturated with full-size pickups

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Ford’s recent decision to discontinue the F-150 Lightning is yet another example of why automakers need to pivot toward compact pickups. Frankly, the EV market is oversaturated with high-priced, full-size trucks that most people find incredibly difficult to afford — take the F-150 Lightning Lariat I tested last year, which commanded a staggering $84,995 price.

While I understand the appeal and utility of full-size trucks, there is a clear demand for that same capability in a smaller footprint. Crossover SUVs may be the current trend, but they lack the unique utility of a flatbed like the one found on the Santa Cruz. Believe me, it’s much easier to fit a tall bedroom dresser in the back of a Santa Cruz than in any crossover SUV.

An electric Santa Cruz would have practically no equal, as every current electric pickup is a full-size model. The only vehicle remotely close is the upcoming Slate Truck, an intriguing proposition with a $20,000 starting price announced last year. However, that comes with the caveat of being a bare-bones EV that lacks even basic screens or power windows.

In a market crowded with full-size electric pickups, an all-electric Santa Cruz would have flourished. It’s truly disappointing that the plug has been pulled on such a promising platform. At the very least, you might be able to snag a generous deal on the current one as dealerships try to push out their remaining inventory.

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