Hyundai Santa Cruz Baggage Check: How a lot suits within the mattress?

I usually do not baggage take a look at pickup vehicles, type of for apparent causes, however there are cases the place distinctive performance makes it seem to be a good suggestion. Take the Honda Ridgeline, as an illustration, with its trunk below the mattress. Hey, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has a type of, too! It additionally affords a nifty rolling mattress cowl I documented in my earlier mattress evaluation of the Santa Cruz. Admittedly, a few of this can be rehashing that, however not like after I did that take a look at throughout the Santa Cruz’s first drive, I’ve all my luggage this time!

Now, earlier than we get to these, I might like to debate what sort of car the Santa Cruz really is. Actually, it is a pickup, but it surely’s actually extra within the Subaru Baja/Brat or authentic Ridgeline vein than the mini pickup path adopted by the Ford Maverick. I imply, simply take a look at the factor. I’ve at all times thought-about the Santa Cruz extra of an alternative choice to compact crossovers than midsize vehicles, with its mattress offering a distinct sort of versatility that would show extra helpful than an enclosed cargo space for sure use instances. I believe it is extra doubtless that somebody can be cross-shopping a Santa Cruz and an Outback, quite than a Chevy Colorado. 

To that finish, I will be evaluating the quantity of stuff you possibly can match below that mattress cowl within the Santa Cruz with what you possibly can match within the mechanically associated SUV sibling, the Hyundai Tucson. Whereas the Santa Cruz’s 4.3-foot mattress is the smallest amongst all of right now’s pickups, its considerably longer than the Tucson’s cargo space. After all, should you persist with loading below the safety and weather-tightness of the mattress cowl, you may have so much much less top. 

Let’s examine what occurs!

Alright, right here is the mattress. Once more, it’s 4.3 toes lengthy, which makes it the shortest pickup mattress in the marketplace. 

You possibly can see the define for the mattress trunk, so let’s check out that first.

You possibly can see the label indicating the place the deal with is positioned. It is undoubtedly not as simple to entry this deal with, nor the the trunk itself, as within the Ridgeline. Each generations of Honda’s pickup have featured a novel dual-action tailgate that drops down and swings out, the latter letting you stroll proper as much as the sting of the mattress and trunk. The Santa Cruz simply has a drop-down tailgate. Think about making an attempt to load issues into your trunk with a small desk in the best way.

Hyundai doesn’t present a cubic-foot quantity for the mattress trunk, but it surely’s in all probability 30-40% of the Ridgeline’s capability. It is fairly shallow and I undoubtedly did not maintain out a lot hope for any of my luggage becoming (not like within the Ridgeline). 

However, what the hell? Cue the boilerplate. As in each Baggage Check I do, I exploit two midsize curler suitcases that will have to be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 huge, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embody my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).

Nope! That is the smallest curler, and the flamboyant bag will get smushed, too.

My folded-up Osprey Poco Lite youngster provider backpack does match, nevertheless, so yay! In the end, that is much less of a trunk and extra like a big storage bin. No drawback, that is nonetheless a neat factor, too. 

OK, now let’s get to the total mattress.

The cargo cowl has a strap hooked up to it with a carabiner on the finish to safe it to one of many bedside hooks.  

There’s a lock positioned beneath the deal with. It does take an honest quantity of effort to safe it closed with the tailgate down, so it is best to roll the quilt shut earlier than you shut the tailgate.

Based on Hyundai’s specs, the mattress’s depth is simply 19.2 inches tall. That is not so much. Let’s examine how the luggage match.

As you’d hope, all the luggage match with ease. And as you possibly can see, I added the 38-quart cooler and small blue duffel bag that additionally match within the Tucson throughout its baggage take a look at.

Though the Tucson had some area leftover, there’s undoubtedly extra within the Santa Cruz. You do must be aware of not exceeding the peak of the quilt, however then, it’s a must to be aware of an SUV’s liftgate, too.

Apparently, Hyundai lists the mattress quantity as 27.0 cubic-feet. The Tucson specs say it has 38.7 cubic-feet behind its again seat. If that is not illustrative of how one can’t examine the cargo quantity figures of various physique kinds, I do not know what’s.

It is also value noting that the Santa Cruz has a spare tire, whereas the Tucson Hybrid doesn’t. After all, the Tucson Hybrid is a hybrid, whereas the Santa Cruz doesn’t provide that. It ought to, t’would make for a aggressive crossover various. Probably one with out a spare tire, although. Hmm.

Anyway, here is the Santa Cruz’s final benefit over the Tucson and any compact crossover SUV …

Attempt that in a Tucson! 

You clearly should not drive round like this, however a pickup mattress would enable me to hold additional tall issues along with all six customary baggage take a look at luggage. I mainly simply swapped the ladder for the cooler. 

It is this performance that I determine would lead somebody to go for a Santa Cruz over a compact SUV, past aesthetics in fact.