Saw my first Santa Cruz in the wild this morning

Hyundai is coming for Tacoma sales looks like.... But it's not even really a truck so I don't think Toyota has anything to worry about.... The joke of a bed it has....full pass for me

 

I was doing 70 mph southbound on the 5 near weed California when I saw the culprit, so it was slightly unsafe to snap a photo at that time and the guy was moving.... I think he was trying to prove something to me.... He was doing his best to avoid me overtaking him & eventually he pushed it up to like 90 and was gone

 

All the lights on the front is overkill
This is not the one I saw, but just to demonstrate....

 

Saw this one in Southern VT this am, had no idea this was in the works. Looks like a cross between a Dodge Rampage and a 1st gen Ridgeline. The lights in the grill reminded me of a PT Cruiser.

 

I like it personally. Not even close to the same category as a Tacoma. But for what it is it looks waaaay better than the competition

 

What is the competition? Maybe a Subaru Baja?

 

Honestly if you want a modern El Camino and pre 2000s compact pickup.... this isn't half bad.

 

The Maverick, Ridgeline, Bronco Sport, Crosstrek (which I also like). If they made a single cab Ute version of the Santa Cruz is consider it as a second vehicle

 

Looks like a Subaru Gen 3. Shortened the hood, lengthened the box.

 

I took a look at the Santa Cruz.

It's a nice truck for people who want a truck but don't really need a truck.

Some handy features in the bed and the turbo/AWD setup is very quick.

The main thing I didn't like was there is WAY too much piano black fingerprint-magnet plastic on the dash, and hardly any real knobs or buttons (touch sensors).

It was selling very well when it came out and dealers were adding huge markups to them, but now the Maverick is out and is spanking it in sales. So the dealers are of course marking up Mavericks.

 

Or a Brat?

 

No way this thing (built on a car chassis) competes with the Tacoma!

 

meh I might buy it for my wife

 

Ford maverick needs some competition

 

i had one of these behind me for an hour or two on the interstate a few weeks ago. It was dark and raining and I kept wondering WTF has lights like that. Mystery solved!

 

Are they selling them in the target bogan market, Australia? That’s prime ‘Ute territory.

 

I saw one the other day, same day I saw a new Frontier on the road for the first time.

The Ridgeline looks more capable, at least in the Honda commercial where it's hauling two CRs and showing how much front suspension travel the RL is capable of.

 

I saw a Dodge Rampage today, somebody was driving it. I forgot they ever made those.

 

Looks so goofy in that color
It's one weirdo Truck
Reminds me of the Subaru Baja
I bet it fails miserably