The 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has received praise for its cushy ride, smooth handling and posh interior. But is it good enough to beat the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 HD, a truck coveted for its otherworldly strength, numerous towing assistance functions and chiseled appearance?
Design & Style
The GMC Sierra 3500 HD is built for heavy duty work. To this end, it has an incredible towing and payload capacity with numerous trailer assistance tools to make it a breeze to operate. Its tailgate is optional yet highly recommended, as it is multifunctional, and the engineers at GMC plan on further increasing its towing, torque and power capacity in the coming years.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a moderately sized pickup that is also designed for work. However, it uses the same powertrain and platform as the Hyundai Tucson SUV, which limits its capabilities. Still, buyers get the option of all or front wheeled drive, and its latest updates for this year include a ten inch touch display, GPS with adapted cruise control, and two new paint colors, which are Mojave Sand and Ice White. The truck sits on twenty inch blacked out rims.
Technology & Safety
The Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with lots of driver assistance, including lane management, emergency automatic brakes, frontal impact alerts, blind area monitoring and notifications for cross traffic in the rear. Comforts within its cabin include Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, Bose audio system with eight speakers, Amazon Alexa and remote start.
The GMC Sierra 3500 HD matches the Hyundai when it comes to driver assistance, as it has the same gear. It even has a camera which features fifteen distinct viewing modes, which includes a transparent one which enables drivers to see virtually through their connected trailer like it isn't present. Its other features include emergency automated brakes, frontal impact alerts and blind area monitoring, with cabin comforts such as satellite radio, audio system from Bose, eight inch touch display, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and 120 volt port.
Performance
The standard GMC Sierra 3500 HD comes with a V8, 6.6 liter engine that can generate 401 horsepower with a towing capacity of 35,500 pounds and payload capacity of 7,442 pounds. The most powerful Hyundai Santa Cruz has an upgraded engine which is 2.5 liters, turbocharged and capable of generating 281 horsepower with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,753 pounds.
The Bottom Line
The GMC Sierra 3500 HD costs more than the Hyundai Santa Cruz, but this is because it does more, a lot more. For those that need to tow or haul heavy equipment, or plan to do so in the future, it makes sense to spend the extra money to get the GMC Sierra 3500 HD instead of settling for the cheaper and inferior Hyundai.
Ready to Schedule a GMC Sierra 3500 HD Test Drive Today?
Test drive the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 HD today at GMC Danvers. We are serving the Boston, MA area since 1963, and we are known for our commitment to offering exceptional service to our customers. Visit us today at our dealership or you can book your test drive appointment in advance.