[JASmith]

So looking at another vehicle that has already the 2.5 and 2.5T engine options, a 2.5 liter Sonata SEL is rated 31 MPG Combined, 27 City/37 Hwy⁠. The Sonata N-Line 2.5 Liter Turbo is rated 27 MPG Combined, 23 City/33 Hwy.

Granted they aren't identical trims, but we're looking at a 4mpg loss going turbo.

The 2022 Tucson AWD (because I am thinking the 2.5T may be only on upper trims that include AWD standard in the Santa Cruz) is rated 26 combined, 24 City/29 Hwy.

Assuming the Santa Cruz drops 1 mpg on the highway due to aerodynamics, that would be 26 combined, 24 City/28 Hwy.

Drop 4mpg for turbo, and that would be 22 combined, 20 City/24 Hwy. To put that into perspective, the Honda Ridgeline AWD is rated 21 combined, 19 City/24 Hwy, so that seems about right. A fullsize Dodge Ram 1500 4WD with its 400hp Hemi is rated is rated 19 combined, 17 City/22 Hwy.

So while the Santa Cruz will be easier to get in and out of and park and what not, it doesn't seem to me it'd be much of a fuel sipper unless you go with a 2.5 naturally aspirated in FWD trim. Once you go turbo + AWD, I think you're starting to approach the fuel economy and perhaps even cost of a fullsize truck, especially if you look at offerings like the Chevy Silverado RWD turbo-diesel, which is rated 33mpg highway (granted diesel fuel costs much more than 87).

Thoughts?

 

[BeelineS82]

I'm assuming it's going to be similar to the Hyundai Santa Fe limited (2.5T) mileage.. 21city/24combined/28hwy.

 

[JASmith]

Ah, didn't realize that model also has the 2.5T, even better comparison. Yeah, I see that here, and those are AWD numbers: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD

So that's 2MPG higher than my guesstimate, and probably more accurate.

What is VERY interesting to me, is that unless I'm looking this up wrong, the 2.5 naturally aspirated FWD model on the Santa Fe gives very little fuel economy improvement over the turbo AWD: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe FWD

Turbocharged AWD:

24	Overall MPG
City MPG:21	Highway MPG:28

Naturally Aspirated FWD:

26	Overall MPG
City MPG:25	Highway MPG:28

I drive mostly highway, which if it turns out the same, the AWD turbo would be a no brainer.

 

[nojovo]

It's sickening to me that in 2021 we are still getting such abysmal mpg in trucks (and many vehicles, in general). Even more reason for them to come out with a Hybrid, PHEV, or BEV option in the Santa Cruz.

 

[JMII]

It's sickening to me that in 2021 we are still getting such abysmal mpg in trucks (and many vehicles, in general).

Pickups are heavy and as aerodynamic as a shed. Even your typical CUV is kind of boxy and heavy compared to vehicles from the 80s / 90s. If you put a modern powertrain in something like a CRX it would get 60 MPG I bet... but wouldn't pass any crash tests thus couldn't be sold today.

So in general mileage is not an engine problem its a vehicle size problem (shape and weight). For example my Corvette gets 17 city / 29 highway despite having a 460HP V8.

I'm guessing it will be within +/-2 of 19 city and 27 highway for the turbo AWD Santa Cruz. My experience with previous turbos is they get very good mileage if your not in boost constantly. AWD might be the bigger MPG sucker here.

 

[Mellow]

My experience with previous turbos is they get very good mileage if your not in boost constantly.

Which is REALLY tough to avoid... lol

 

[HSC4ME]

Moved that question to "2.5 vs 2.5T"
(moderator can delete)

 

[AndyTA]

Established facts (from Hyundai website)
santa fe 4411cw 21/28/24 mpg (awd + turbo + also the heaviest)
tucson 3700cw 26/33/29 mpg (awd + no turbo + much lighter)

My Guess using deductive reasoning from above numbers:
Cruz 4200cw 23/29/26 mpg (awd + turbo + in-between weights)

I imagine the MPG's could be slightly better than we think if they tuned the **** out of this thing.

 

[BeelineS82]

Reasonable guesstimate, IMO.

 

[JMII]

My Guess using deductive reasoning from above numbers:
Cruz 4200cw 23/29/26 mpg (awd + turbo + in-between weights)

That would be really great. I estimated slightly lower since a pickup's shape isn't as slippery aero wise as a CUV shape. The bed cover will help. Hopefully removing the CUV weight over the rear end will offset the poor aero so it could be a wash in the end.

Regarding AWD: looking at the Santa Fe manual (same engine and transmission as the SC) it appears the system is part-time, the 4WD lock releases at speeds over 37 MPH. At that point the rears are only driven if the fronts lose traction. This likely greatly improves highway mileage.

 

[JASmith]

The bed cover will help.

Probably end up the same, as on the Silverado they have a XFE fuel economy package that includes a bunch of mods to get you 1mpg extra including a lightweight tonneau cover, and the cover itself they said was like 0.1mpg difference, because the highway improvement is negated a little by the small extra bit of mass in stop-and-go. Mostly they are just really practical for securing and protecting your junk in the back.

Its a shame we won't get a hybrid version, as they could have great weight balance by putting the lithium battery in place of the spare tire way in the back, and on the Tucson it bumps it up to 38mpg city and highway on the blue trim and reviewers are saying the little electric boost off the line really makes it feel peppy with its 227hp. That said, the SC gets a turbo which the Tucson doesn't, and should be even better performance.

 

[JMII]

Its a shame we won't get a hybrid version, as they could have great weight balance by putting the lithium battery in place of the spare tire way in the back, and on the Tucson it bumps it up to 38mpg city and highway on the blue trim and reviewers are saying the little electric boost off the line really makes it feel peppy with its 227hp.

Very true... however the battery pack likely hurts the payload and towing capacity which might be why they are not offering it (yet). Maybe a hybrid will come in later models if the SC proves to be popular. As you stated in another post most truck shoppers don't care about mileage so Hyundai is likely hedging their bets knowing most would rather haul stuff then gain those last few MPG.

Since my V8 Dakota gets 14/19 and a pathetic 11 MPG while towing anything the SC offers will be a massive improvement for me. The Ranger with its turbo 4 manages 19/26, so the SC should out perform that in FWD and hopefully manage to match or even exceed it in AWD.

 

[AndyTA]

Since my V8 Dakota gets 14/19 and a pathetic 11 MPG while towing anything the SC offers will be a massive improvement for me. The Ranger with its turbo 4 manages 19/26, so the SC should out perform that in FWD and hopefully manage to match or even exceed it in AWD.

As a proud owner of a 1.6T AWD Kona - I can tell you that the HTRAC system is quite amazing in snow, at least. When you lock the AWD via a button, it's actually a challenge getting stuck in a reasonable amount of snow. It just does VERY well. Thing is a **** snow leopard. This is on all season tires that came with the car from factory.