2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz Truck Is Testing with a Trailer (Spied in the Wild)

There is also a 2021 Kia Sorento testing with a trailer.

2021 hyundai santa cruz spied prototype towing trailer heavy
(photo: NAM)

The all-new upcoming 2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz is getting ever so close to production. Now, a Santa Cruz prototype has been caught in the wild (near Yermo, CA) towing a sizable trailer. How much will this new crossover truck be able to tow? Let’s look deeper and figure this out.

Big thanks to TFLtruck viewer (NAM) for providing these images.

2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz crossover pickup truck is expected to use on a modified Santa Fe platform and compete against the likes of the Honda Ridgeline. The Ridgeline is another crossover truck that is capable of towing a maximum of 5,000 lbs when properly equipped in AWD configuration.

Hyundai has not officially revealed the Santa Cruz yet, or announced any detailed specs. Looking at the dual-axle trailer with a large water / liquid container on it – it’s reasonable to assume that Santa Cruz prototype is towing close to 5,000 lbs. The trailer weight can be less if the water container is empty, and it could be more if the container is all the way full.

We use water containers as ballast for our Ike Gauntlet™ – world’s toughest towing test. We know too well that a water container that is not all the way full will cause the trailer to move about with the sloshing water going front and back or side to side. It’s possible that the truck is towing over 5,000 lbs.

Which engine or engines will power the Santa Cruz? We don’t know for sure. It may be one of the following: 2.0-liter turbo gas I4 with 235 hp, or a 3.8-liter gas V6 with 291 hp, or a new 2.5-liter turbo gas I4 with 277 hp. It may also offer a hybrid option, but we will have to wait and see.

There is also a 2021 Kia Sorento testing with a smaller trailer alongside the Santa Cruz prototype.

We will not know for sure what the Santa Cruz truck looks like or how much it’s rated to tow until it’s officially unveiled.