Hyundai Tucson vs Hyundai Santa Cruz

What's the difference?

For the first time in Australia, the mid-sized Hyundai Tucson is being offered with a hybrid powertrain – which combines its spritely turbo-powered engine with a fuel efficiency-improving electric motor. And it might be enough to swing you to becoming a hybrid fan.

The new powertrain makes the Tucson a proper competitor against Australia’s darling, the Toyota RAV4 but the Nissan X-Trail e-Power and Kia Sportage remain strong rivals.

This week I’m family-testing the mid-spec Elite Hybrid with the N Line option pack to see how the newly updated Tucson handles family life.

Hyundai is leading the charge. And not just in electric vehicles.

Not yet known in Australia for utes, the brand’s Santa Cruz is part of a new wave of car-based dual-cab “pick-ups” that is sweeping North America.

We’re talking monocoque-bodied utes here, not body-on-frame light trucks like a Toyota HiLux.

Recently, we learned that Hyundai is planning to release the Santa Cruz in Australia in the not-too-distant future, giving us the excuse to get behind the wheel of one right now.

What’s it like? How’s the driving experience? Is the tray 'ute' enough? And would it work in Australia?

Let’s find out!