2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. 2025 Honda Ridgeline

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. 2025 Honda Ridgeline

Vehicle Comparison

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz 2025 Honda Ridgeline
Powertrain Warranty 10 years / 100,000 miles 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain All-Wheel Drive All-Wheel Drive
Ground Clearance 8.6 inches 7.6 inches
Engine Displacement 2.5 L 3.5 L
Transmission 8-speed automated manual 9-speed shiftable automatic
Engine Power 281 hp @ 5,800 rpm 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Engine Torque 311 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined) 19 / 27 / 22 MPG 18 / 24 / 21 MPG
Seating Capacity Up to 5 Up to 5
Starting at $29,895 $42,750

Drive anywhere in the country and there's one thing that will be immediately apparent: trucks rule all. They sell better than any other type of vehicle and it's not even close. The thing is, while they do supply their owners with an unparalleled level of practicality and comfort they aren't the best if you live in the city due to their enormous size. That's where a new generation of midsize trucks comes in. Two of the most compelling are the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the 2025 Honda Ridgeline. Read about both below and browse our online inventory before setting up a test drive with the fantastic sales staff at Hyundai of Bedford.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2025 Honda Ridgeline

Hyundai has been on a tear lately with sedans and SUVs and the 2025 Santa Cruz is their first entry into the most popular segment in the country. It's a similar story with the Ridgeline as Honda always stuck to sedans and SUVs before bringing it out in 2005. Does this experience mean it's the better choice or has Hyundai managed to beat them at their own game? Read on to find out!

Performance

Both the 2025 Santa Cruz and the 2025 Ridgeline have similar power and performance however they produce it in different ways. The Santa Cruz has 2 available powertrain options to suit any buyer's preference. The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine perfect for efficiency junkies. With 191 horsepower on tap, it's capable of up to 30 miles per gallon. For more performance-oriented drivers the available 2.5 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder produces 281 pulse-pounding horsepower mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 2025 Ridgeline's only available powertrain is a 3.5 liter V6 mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. While it produces an impressive 291 horsepower it only manages to match the Hyundai's 0 to 60 mph sprint of 6.0 seconds. What's more, the Honda's larger engine size and increased mass mean fuel economy suffers. The Ridgeline manages 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, trailing the Santa Cruz by 4 mpg and 6 mpg, respectively.miles per gallon. For more performance-oriented drivers the available 2.5 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder produces 281 pulse-pounding horsepower mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Safety

Both the 2025 Santa Cruz and 2025 Ridgeline managed to score 5 out of 5 stars in testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration so you can't go wrong with either one when it comes to safety. It's also no surprise they both come standard with the same safety tech including:

  • Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic assist
  • Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
  • Collision avoidance braking system

While it's tough to break these two apart in the safety category we were shocked to find out how big of a difference there is in starting price.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz | 2025 Honda Ridgeline

Starting at $29,895 | Starting at $41,545

Interior

The 2025 Santa Cruz is yet more proof of Hyundai's ability to manufacture an interior that feels way more expensive than any of its rivals, despite costing thousands less than the Ridgeline. The interior has an abundance of soft-touch materials and wows drivers with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen. Hardcore truck enthusiasts will be pleased by the existence of a traditional shifter as opposed to the knobs and buttons becoming more commonplace nowadays. Worried about the freezing Bedford winters? Use Hyundai's BlueLink app to start your Santa Cruz remotely and warm up the cabin before you brave the cold.

The 2025 Ridgeline on the other hand has an interior that's a bit more spartan. It's comfortable enough and offers good sightlines but has an abundance of hard plastics sure to remind drivers of its practical nature. Like the Santa Cruz, it comes standard with wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto but drivers may struggle to see navigation prompts and song titles on the Honda's comparatively smaller 9-inch screen. Finally, drivers must use buttons to change gears in the Ridgeline which may annoy truck drivers who tend to favor more straightforward controls.

Bottom Line

The 2025 Ridgeline is proof that being the first entrant into the market doesn't necessarily mean you'll be the best. Hyundai has proven with the 2025 Santa Cruz they're able to produce a truck that's just as safe, better equipped, more upscale, and way less expensive than the 2025 Ridgeline.

Take the 2025 Santa Cruz for a test drive!

Browse your local Hyundai of Bedford inventory online and find the perfect fit then set an appointment for a test drive!

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  1. Hyundai of Bedford

    18300 Rockside Rd
    Bedford, OH 44146

    • Sales: 440-745-7469
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