America's mid-size truck segment just got a lot more interesting, and a lot harder to shop. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Honda Ridgeline are two of the best American-built lifestyle pickups on the market, and after putting both through their paces, we can't hand either a clean knockout. Both trucks are that good. But good in very different ways. Here's exactly what separates them, and which one deserves your money will be up to you.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Price
Price is where this comparison gets interesting. We tested trims within $1,800 of each other, making this a genuinely fair fight:
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD = $45,685
2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD = $47,490
The Santa Cruz does offer cheaper front-wheel-drive trims if budget is your priority, but fair warning: those base models don't come with the torque-heavy engine we've been raving about. The Ridgeline keeps it simple: every trim is AWD, every trim gets the same powerful engine. No entry-level compromise, no version you'll regret buying.
One advantage the Hyundai has in terms of value is a much longer warranty. It’s 10 years, 100K miles for the first owner. Honda’s is just 6/36. One advantage that the Honda Ridgeline TrailSport offers is a standard tow package. That tightens up the price disparity if you add one to the Santa Cruz.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Size
Size matters, and the Ridgeline wins this round decisively. It's bigger than the Santa Cruz in nearly every measurable way, yet still compact enough to slide into a standard parking space without drama. Here's how the numbers stack up:
Passenger Volume
Ridgeline: 110 cu ft
Santa Cruz: 102 cu ft
Cargo Bed
Ridgeline: 64 inches / 33 cu ft
Santa Cruz: 52 inches / 27 cu ft
Under-Bed Trunk
Ridgeline: 7.3 cu ft
Santa Cruz: Noticeably smaller. No published spec, but the difference is visible in person
That 12-inch bed advantage is real-world significant. It's the difference between fitting a full sheet of plywood or having it hang out of the bed. If hauling capacity drives your buying decision, the Ridgeline pulls ahead here without argument.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Powertrain
On paper, these powertrains look nearly identical. In the real world, they feel completely different. Both trucks match each other on fuel economy with an EPA-estimated 20 MPG combined on regular gas. Both make virtually the same horsepower. But that's where the similarities end.
2026 Honda Ridgeline
3.5L V6 - 280 hp
9-speed automatic
Smooth, refined, effortlessly capable
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2.5L Turbocharged 4-cylinder - 281 hp
8-speed automatic
Harder-hitting torque, delivered much lower in the powerband
The peak horsepower is identical, but the torque gap is something you feel the moment you merge onto a highway or pass a slow-moving vehicle. The Santa Cruz pulls harder, faster, and earlier than the Ridgeline. For drivers who love that surge of power on demand, the Santa Cruz wins this round convincingly. The Ridgeline counters with a V6 so smooth it borders on luxurious. It’s never exciting, but always satisfying.
Edge: Hyundai Santa Cruz
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Features
The Ridgeline has the better tailgate. It swings out or down, and the trunk is bigger. Its spare is also protected and is in that same space. The Santa Cruz has downhill brake assist, a feature we use often, and wish the Ridgeline had. Both had heated seats and steering wheel, a moonroof, and multiple drive modes. The Ridgeline we tested had General Grabber A/T tires, and the Santa Cruz had touring tires. The XRT trim of the Santa Cruz is the better comparison to the TrailSport Ridgeline. It is the off-pavement trim. One small detail we appreciated was the cargo area corner step that the Santa Cruz has. I've fallen off the back of a pickup - twice. I'll take that sort of safety feature any day.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Driving Enjoyment
Two trucks. Two completely different driving philosophies. The Ridgeline drives like a luxury sedan wearing a truck costume. It’s smooth, planted, unhurried. Its seats are among the most comfortable in the segment, and at 75 mph, it feels rock solid. This is the truck that makes a 400-mile road trip feel shorter than it is.
The Santa Cruz drives like it has something to prove. Tighter in corners, punchier off the line, and more responsive in ways that make everyday driving genuinely enjoyable. It feels smaller and more agile than its size suggests, which is a rare and desirable quality in any pickup. Long highway trip? Take the Ridgeline. Saturday morning canyon run? The Santa Cruz wins that argument every time.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - American Made
The Honda has 75% US/Canadian parts content, is built in Alabama, and its engine and transmission are built in Ohio. The Santa Cruz is also built in Alabama, and its engine and transmission are also built in the USA. It has 54% US/Canadian parts content. By contrast, the two top-sellers in this segment, the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Maverick, are both imported from Mexico.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Safety
Both of these trucks have each earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation for various years of this current generation truck. The Santa Cruz in a 2025 test and the Ridgeline in its 2020 test. However, the Ridgeline seems bigger, and thus, may have a slight safety advantage in some types of crashes.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Towing
Each of the two trucks can tow up to 5,000 pounds in these trims. We did not see a tow hitch on the Santa Cruz Limited. The Ridgeline TrailSport has one standard. In our humble opinion, every pickup truck should have a trailer tow package standard.
2026 Honda Ridgeline vs. Hyundai Santa Cruz - Which Is Your Pick?
Here's the honest truth: there's no bad choice between these two. The Ridgeline gives you more truck for the money. It is bigger, more practical, and better equipped. The Santa Cruz gives you something the Ridgeline simply can't match: a grin every time you hit the gas. Your decision really comes down to one question: Do you want the smarter truck, or the more exciting one? One deciding factor between these two would be any other vehicle you also own. If you have a second vehicle that is fun to drive, choose the Ridgeline for sure. If you can only own just one vehicle, and it needs a cargo bed, the Santa Cruz is hard to beat. Whichever you choose, you’ll be buying a great American-made pickup.
About The Author
John Goreham is a 14-year veteran of Torque News. An accomplished writer and a long-time expert in vehicle testing, Goreham also serves as the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and has a growing social media presence. He’s also a 10-year staff writer and community moderator for Car Talk. Goreham holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an undergraduate Certificate in Marketing. In addition to vehicle and tire content, he offers deep dives into market trends and opinion pieces. You can follow John Goreham on X and TikTok, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
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Comments
Hyundai's are junk and…
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Hyundai's are junk and therefore require that long warranty. There is no real comparison with a Ridgeline or any vehicle in the foreign line up. Overall reliability is at the top of the list, and as a former Hyundai tech, I say they aren't even close.
Mid sized? Beds that are…
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Mid sized? Beds that are just over 4 feet to a tad over 5. Can't even get an A.R.E. camper shell long enough to sleep on the road in the bed. Rather have an old Mazda B4000 4x4 DS with a long bed. The ARE lift back gives you another 3" overhanging the bed once the factory gate is removed.
I need a mid sized truck that knows what a truck is all about, not a glorified SUV with limited outdoor storage.