Rumors circulating within the automotive community suggest that Hyundai is gearing up to reveal the next generation of its flagship SUV, the Palisade, in the American market for the 2026 model year. Anticipation builds around its speculated boxier design and expanded interior space. However, before the Palisade steals the spotlight, Hyundai is set to introduce updates to two of its smaller models.
Scheduled for debut at the 2024 New York Auto Show on March 27, Hyundai will reveal the facelifted versions of the Tucson SUV and the Santa Cruz compact pickup truck. Both models are built on the same Hyundai-Kia N3 platform, indicating a strategic move by the South Korean automaker to reveal them together.
The Santa Cruz, being Hyundai’s only pickup truck in the American market, has garnered significant attention despite its sales not yet rivaling its competitors, such as the 2024 Ford Maverick. The anticipation surrounding these models has even sparked the imagination of digital content creators, with the AutoYa info channel on YouTube envisioning the upcoming 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz through CGI renderings.
While details about the interior remain scarce, it is widely speculated that the 2025 Santa Cruz will draw inspiration from the refreshed 2025 Tucson, indicating potential similarities in their cockpit designs. On the exterior, expectations are high for a seamless integration of the facelifted 2025 Tucson’s features into the design of the Santa Cruz.
Hyundai is anticipated to introduce a new rugged XRT grade for the Santa Cruz, enhancing its off-road capabilities with bold aesthetic elements. Despite no anticipated changes to the powertrain lineup, the Santa Cruz is expected to continue offering the 191 hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine and its turbocharged variant producing 281 hp.