Spy shots of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz.

Hyundai is about to join the mid-size pickup truck segment here in the US with a production version of its 2015 Santa Cruz concept car, and we just spotted a prototype.

Although heavily camouflaged, the production version of the Santa Cruz bears a striking resemblance to the concept car. There are differences, of course, the main difference being that the concept's cab featured a rear-opening suicide-style door, while the production model will have a more orthodox four-door cab.

The prototype also reveals the Santa Cruz's grille design and independent rear suspension. One will also notice that the cargo bed is very short. This is not surprising, as Hyundai stated at the time of the concept's reveal that the vehicle is not meant to replace a traditional pickup truck. Rather, Hyundai said it wants to appeal to crossover buyers who want the added utility of a cargo bed without having to rely on an actual truck.

Last November, Hyundai announced that the Santa Cruz would be assembled at its plant in Montgomery, Alabama, allowing it to avoid the punitive chicken tax on imported pickup trucks. The plant also assembles the Santa Fe, which is believed to share an undercarriage with the Santa Cruz. Rival Honda Ridgeline also uses a car-like unibody construction, and Ford has promised to launch an automobile-based small pickup.

It is not clear what powertrains are planned, but it is almost certain that we will not see the 2.0-liter diesel engine that was featured in the concept. It is possible that the diesel will be offered outside the U.S., as Hyundai is doing with the Santa Fe, but Hyundai has remained silent on its export plans. The Santa Fe sold here is available with a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4 or a turbocharged 235-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4. Both are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Production of the Santa Cruz is scheduled to begin in 2021. This means that it will most likely appear as a 2022 model.