I know a lot of potential buyers check out the forums prior to purchase, so I’d thought I’d give my 1,000-mile review (about 2 months) of the 2025 Santa Cruz in XRT trim. There’s lots of good info on this forum on the ’22-’24 models, so I’m just adding my thoughts on the refresh.
TL;DR: It’s a GREAT car with very minor drawbacks/annoyances (as I’ll detail below). If you are considering either a ’24 model for a discount or a new ’25 model, I would say absolutely go with the ’25. The interior refresh, tech and elimination of all that glossy black plastic and capacitive touch buttons in the center stack were worth it to me. And, frankly, I still got a decent discount on my XRT (about $1,500 off MSRP– more if you count the standard add-ons like LoJack, door protectors and pain protection that I refused to pay for). The 3.9% finance rate was also a bonus, so I feel like I still got a good deal compared to the minor savings I could’ve gotten on a ’24.
THE GOOD:
I love the look/style, especially the XRT trim in Blue Stone color. To me, it doesn’t need any mods – just some window tint and a nice ceramic/graphene coating. This is my daily driver and work vehicle (I run my own business), and I still love just looking at it whether parked out and about or simply sitting in my garage.
The utility is also pretty much perfect. I came from a 2016 Nissan Frontier, and the SC does all the truck things I need and with way more comfort. Bed size and layout, tie downs, retracting bed cover, storage compartments and bed extender (aftermarket from Amazon) all work perfectly. We’ve had a lot of rain lately, and the bed cover does allow some water into the bed near the sides and tailgate, but nothing out of the ordinary. Still plenty dry for my expectations.
The cabin is attractive, with good materials and pretty excellent fit and finish (despite a few remnants of glossy black plastic, like near the window switches). It really feels premium – but I imagine the hard plastic door cards and urethane steering wheel on the lower trims would cheapen the feel greatly. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels great, if maybe a little thin near the top (I prefer it a bit “girthier”). Seats are also comfortable with adjustable lumbar, and the faux leather feels good. Enough room in the back seat. Visibility is also fine – I’ve had no real issues with the height/size of the rear window.
The suspension & handling are surprisingly excellent, not just for a small “truck,” but for any vehicle this size. I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills and drive some sporty mountain roads almost daily, and once I get it out of the first few gears (more on the transmission later) I can push this thing pretty hard on the twisties and feel planted and secure. We also have a lot of bad road surfaces, and the ride is very compliant – even with the stock Continental TerrainContact A/T tires. **Note that I switched those tires out for Nokian WRG5 all-weather rubber to better handle seasonal ice & snow and trips to the Tahoe ski resorts. I actually think the Contis are great and will serve most drivers well (and definitely “look” the part on the XRT), but I had already felt a bit of slip on some morning ice and knew I had to upgrade the grip levels.
The tech is good and user interface is visually appealing and mostly intuitive. Good resolution, colors and black levels. **QUICK TIP – set the blue-light filter to its lowest level and to be always on, as it makes the color tone more warm and, frankly, more accurate and comfortable on the eyes. Bluetooth has been reliable, and music has played off a USB drive perfectly with correct album art & metadata. I haven’t used Android Auto much (which is actually a testament to the quality and usability of the stock system), so can’t comment on that much.
Customizable buttons are nice, but I would like more options (like a shortcut to tone settings so I can quickly adjust the bass for music vs. podcast listening). GPS works well so far, though the guidance “voice” isn’t very appealing. Controls for the HVAC are well laid out and easy to use (and definitely better than the earlier models, IMO). However… one odd issue is that when you turn the HVAC system off, air will still blow out of the vents you were previously using unless you turn on air recirculation. Maybe I missed this in other newer vehicles, but it’s kind of strange when you think you are driving with the system off and suddenly the smell of a dead skunk or diesel fumes wafts into the cabin.
The BlueLink app is pretty intuitive and functional. All remote climate starts have worked perfectly.
THE ”MEH”:
The drivetrain is both very good and below average. The 2.5T engine is very good – plenty of power and torque and predictable delivery. For the hilly terrain where I live, I wouldn’t consider the NA 4-cylinder at all. However, the 2.5T sounds rough and loud in the lower gears.
The main issue is, of course, the wet dual-clutch transmission. Overall, it’s actually been decent and better than I expected (and I believe Hyundai has further refined it in the ’25 models). In most situations and especially highway cruising it’s smooth and responsive. But, it does falter in specific situations. On cold mornings, it can be a bit clunky in low gears. And even when it’s warmed up, stop and go isn’t as smooth until you learn your own specific “brake-coast-gas” dance with your right foot. However, the main frustration is in reverse gear. Every day I back into my garage from the top of my driveway. I have to first back up a small incline and then go downhill the rest of the way. In order to back up that incline, I have to really press the gas or the car won’t move and then I’m flying down the incline towards my house. So, I have to let off the gas immediately and the transmission “clunks” in and out of gear. Not a smooth experience. On level ground, the car reverses slowly as expected by just lifting off the brakes, totally fine for parking lots & such.
**For some reason, I feel like the transmission (and drivetrain overall) behaves a bit better in the “Smart” drive mode. This might be complete placebo effect, but I’d love to hear anyone else’s experience with this. Do you notice anything different in “Smart?”
As a point of comparison, my family also owns a 2024 BMW X1, which also has a turbo 4-cylinder and DCT – a surprisingly similar drivetrain implementation. However, the Bimmer’s DCT is much smoother in every situation. That engine is also much quieter, especially in low gears. It might be unfair to compare a BMW to a Hyundai, but they cost about the same, so, at least BMW has proven you can have a smooth experience pairing a turbo-four and DCT.
Another disappointment is fuel economy. Currently, I’m averaging 20 mpg with a good amount of highway driving mixed in. I know driving up and down elevation is the biggest factor, so flat-landers are likely going to see much better numbers. But, one of the reasons to go with an automated manual transmission is an increase in MPGs over a traditional torque-converter unit. In the BMW, this is definitely the case where we average nearly 30 mpg overall (again, in hilly terrain) and well over 40 mpg on highway trips (sometimes 50 mpg when going downhill!). From what I understand, that transmission can “disconnect” from the drivetrain while coasting in order to minimize parasitic drivetrain loss. The BMW also a bit lighter than the SC, so that’s obviously a factor, but I’m still mildly disappointed in the fuel economy overall.
Highway Driving Assist is fine (as are the other safety systems), but not exceptional. I feel like the SC makes a bit more microadjustments while tracking the lane and reacts a bit too quickly to braking when other vehicles merge into your lane. This is a minor issue as overall the system is good, it’s just not quite a smooth as the BMW’s Driving Assistant Plus (basic level) system.
Last issue is the price. Frankly, even with discounts I feel it’s a touch too expensive to be considered a good value (it’s a FAIR value, meaning you aren’t feeling ripped off. But, it’s not a GOOD value, where you feel you are getting a lot for your money. Hyundias used to feel that way). It’s more pronounced on the XRT and Limited trims. I think around $38,000 (about where the current SEL w/activity sits) should be the starting point for the XRT. Even in limited trim, I could never pay nearly $45k for a Santa Cruz. Just my opinion.
HEAD SCRATCHERS (BUT NOT DEAL BREAKERS)
The LCD instrument cluster is not very configurable. And, there’s no way to show the digital speed in the very center of the cluster (only inside the left circle showing the speed gauge). Again, not a deal breaker, but it’s definitely an annoyance as my steering wheel position sometimes blocks the readout.
The infotainment and instrument displays auto-dim haphazardly and I’ve found no way to turn the auto-dim off. It is not tied to the auto-headlights.
Speaking of the auto-headlights, they also are not very good at determining when to turn on and off. Dark, raining days they have been off and then sometimes turn on when it’s brighter out. The auto-high beams do seem to work well.
The keyless entry isn’t great. Locking the car takes a longer touch of the handle than it should, and unlocking is hit-or-miss at best. Sometimes you grab it in the right spot, sometimes not. And having to let go of the handle and then grab it again to unluck all the doors is even more spotty. Frankly, a simple button would work so much better.
The key fob is not well-designed and feels a bit cheap. It also could be 20-30 percent smaller. At least the smooth shape helps it fit relatively comfortably in a pocket.
The final, and most maddening, issue for me is the shape of the rearview mirror. In every other vehicle I’ve owned (or frankly driven), the mirror is either oval or tapers and gets wider towards the bottom, thereby matching the general shape of the rear window in order to maximize visibility. In the SC, the mirror is wider at the top and therefore cuts off the bottom corners of window. I’m not sure why this bothers me as much as it does, but I’ve tried to flip the mirror around but it won’t work in that orientation. If anyone has experience/instruction on how to replace the mirror, please let me know!!! – I don’t need HomeLink and don’t want to run wires…just a simple swap out for a better shape.
Anyway, if you’ve read this far…congrats. You must be interested in purchasing a 2025 Santa Cruz. I’d say do it (and I’d say go with the XRT if budget allows). So far, it’s been the best vehicle I’ve owned as my daily driver.
But to each his own...
