NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Bike Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • Make
      • Alfa Romeo News and Reviews
      • Aston Martin News and Reviews
      • Audi News and Reviews
      • Bentley News and Reviews
      • BMW News and Reviews
      • BYD News and Reviews
      • Chevrolet News and Reviews
      • Citroen News and Reviews
      • Cupra News and Reviews
      • Ferrari News and Reviews
      • Fiat News and Reviews
      • Ford News and Reviews
      • GWM News and Reviews
      • Haval News and Reviews
      • Honda News and Reviews
      • Hyundai News and Reviews
      • INEOS News and Reviews
      • Isuzu News and Reviews
      • Jaguar News and Reviews
      • Jeep News and Reviews
      • KIA News and Reviews
      • Lamborghini News and Reviews
      • Land Rover News and Reviews
      • LDV News and Reviews
      • Lexus News and Reviews
      • Lotus News and Reviews
      • Mahindra News and Reviews
      • Maserati News and Reviews
      • Mazda News and Reviews
      • McLaren News and Reviews
      • Mercedes-Benz News and Reviews
      • MG News and Reviews
      • MINI News and Reviews
      • Mistubishi News and Reviews
      • Nissan News and Reviews
      • Omoda News and Reviews
      • Opel News and Reviews
      • Peugeot News and Reviews
      • Polestar News and Reviews
      • Porsche News and Reviews
      • RAM News and Reviews
      • Renault News and Reviews
      • Skoda News and Reviews
      • SsangYong News and Reviews
      • Subaru News and Reviews
      • Suzuki News and Reviews
      • Tesla News and Reviews
      • Toyota News and Reviews
      • Volkswagen News and Reviews
      • Volvo News and Reviews
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
Home Hyundai

Hyundai Santa Cruz ute not coming to New Zealand

by Matthew Hansen
April 16, 2021

For those in Aotearoa who smacked their lips this morning at the sight of Hyundai’s new compact Santa Cruz — a Sport Adventure Vehicle take on the ute segment — I have some sad news.

A spokesperson from Hyundai New Zealand has confirmed that the model is exclusively left-hand drive, and so will not be making its way to our shores. “The Santa Cruz is currently only available in LHD so not an option yet for our market,” they said in brief.

The use of “currently” in the short statement may get some people excited, but it’s worth reading what Hyundai Australia has said before getting your counter-attack hopes up.

In a statement to CarAdvice, the Korean firm’s Australian arm acknowledged that it thought a ute would be a compelling addition to its line-up given the success of the genre in Australia, only for the finances to not make sense for right-hand drive production.

“We expressed interest in Santa Cruz, and believe it could carve out a niche in the Australian market, but with production coming from our Alabama plant the business case for development of right hand drive wasn’t practicable,” said the Hyundai Australia statement.

The ongoing lack of a ute product in this part of the world keeps Hyundai out of the fierce double-cab ute game.

Out of the mainstream distributors offered in New Zealand (not including premium marques), Hyundai, Kia, Citroen, Seat, Cupra, Haval, Honda, MG, Peugeot, Renault, Skoda, Subaru, and Suzuki don’t sell a ute locally. It’s worth noting that Seat and Cupra’s parent company, Volkswagen, sells the Amarok, and Haval’s sister firm GWM sells the Cannon. Honda, MG, Peugeot, and Renault offer utes in other markets.

As reported earlier today, the Santa Cruz follows the Honda Ridgeline playbook in being based on a unibody platform instead of a ladder chassis. This will likely make it more ‘car-like’ from behind the wheel than other utes, a thought aided by the all-petrol engine line-up.

Two powertrains will be offered; a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four and the same 2.5-litre but with a turbocharger strapped on. The former produces 141kW/244Nm and is paired to an 8-speed auto, while the latter makes 205kW/420Nm mated to a DCT. FWD and AWD will be offered, too.

Its bed is 1323mm long, placing it surprisingly close to some larger utes. Hyundai has clearly tried to blend a smaller footprint with clever packaging to make the Santa Cruz more ‘useful’ than it appears on first glance. Two versions have been detailed thus far, capable of towing 1587kg and 2267kg, respectively.

Production (which will take place in Hyundai’s Alabama plant) is set to kick off in mid-2021, with the first examples hitting American dealerships by the third quarter.

Previous Post

Mercedes unveils sleek EQS EV with 770km of range

Next Post

Greg Murphy: NZ Govt still not listening on road safety

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Free NZ Autocar Enewsletter
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NZ Autocar is New Zealand’s leading automotive magazine. Delivering news reviews from the automotive world, including commentary from leading automotive writers and covers the scope of motoring including new cars, classic cars, EVs and motorbikes.

Our team

Publisher: Mark Petch
General Manager: Gavin Shaw
Editor: Kyle Cassidy
Senior Editor: Peter Louisson
News Editor: Harrison Wade
Art Director: Alex Schultz
Photographer: Isaac Western

To Subscribe

nzautocar.subscription.co.nz

Contact Us

Advertising:
Gavin Shaw
[email protected]
.
Editorial:
Kyle Cassidy
[email protected]
.
NZ Autocar
PO Box 44 304
Point Chevalier
Auckland 1246
New Zealand

Categories

Useful Links

Home
News
Motorsport
New Car Prices
New Bike Prices
Subscriptions
Competitions
Contact Us
Advertising
Terms and Conditions

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Bike Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • Make
      • Alfa Romeo News and Reviews
      • Aston Martin News and Reviews
      • Audi News and Reviews
      • Bentley News and Reviews
      • BMW News and Reviews
      • BYD News and Reviews
      • Chevrolet News and Reviews
      • Citroen News and Reviews
      • Cupra News and Reviews
      • Ferrari News and Reviews
      • Fiat News and Reviews
      • Ford News and Reviews
      • GWM News and Reviews
      • Haval News and Reviews
      • Honda News and Reviews
      • Hyundai News and Reviews
      • INEOS News and Reviews
      • Isuzu News and Reviews
      • Jaguar News and Reviews
      • Jeep News and Reviews
      • KIA News and Reviews
      • Lamborghini News and Reviews
      • Land Rover News and Reviews
      • LDV News and Reviews
      • Lexus News and Reviews
      • Lotus News and Reviews
      • Mahindra News and Reviews
      • Maserati News and Reviews
      • Mazda News and Reviews
      • McLaren News and Reviews
      • Mercedes-Benz News and Reviews
      • MG News and Reviews
      • MINI News and Reviews
      • Mistubishi News and Reviews
      • Nissan News and Reviews
      • Omoda News and Reviews
      • Opel News and Reviews
      • Peugeot News and Reviews
      • Polestar News and Reviews
      • Porsche News and Reviews
      • RAM News and Reviews
      • Renault News and Reviews
      • Skoda News and Reviews
      • SsangYong News and Reviews
      • Subaru News and Reviews
      • Suzuki News and Reviews
      • Tesla News and Reviews
      • Toyota News and Reviews
      • Volkswagen News and Reviews
      • Volvo News and Reviews
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Advertise

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.