Hyundai Santa Cruz — Specs, Trims, Prices & Owner Reviews
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a four-door compact pickup and the first pickup truck Hyundai has ever sold in North America. Previewed by a concept at the 2015 Detroit auto show and finally launched for the 2022 model year, it is built alongside the Tucson at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery and shares that SUV's NX4 unibody platform, dashboard architecture and multi-link rear suspension. Hyundai markets it as a "Sport Adventure Vehicle" rather than a truck, and its natural rivals are the Ford Maverick and, from further up the size ladder, the Honda Ridgeline.
Model years 2022–2026 · Independent buyer data
Fuel economy: 22 mpg city / 30 hwy (FWD); 21 / 29 (AWD)
Hyundai Santa Cruz: General Information
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a four-door compact pickup and the first pickup truck Hyundai has ever sold in North America. Previewed by a concept at the 2015 Detroit auto show and finally launched for the 2022 model year, it is built alongside the Tucson at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery and shares that SUV's NX4 unibody platform, dashboard architecture and multi-link rear suspension. Hyundai markets it as a "Sport Adventure Vehicle" rather than a truck, and its natural rivals are the Ford Maverick and, from further up the size ladder, the Honda Ridgeline.
Two 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines have carried the range throughout. The naturally aspirated Smartstream unit, sold only in the United States, makes 191 hp and 181 lb-ft through an eight-speed automatic with front-wheel drive standard and HTRAC all-wheel drive optional. The turbocharged version makes 281 hp and 311 lb-ft, comes only with all-wheel drive, and used an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic from 2022 until Hyundai swapped it for a conventional eight-speed torque-converter automatic for 2026. A facelift arrived for 2025 with new headlights, grille and daytime running lights, a curved twin 12.3-inch display, restored physical climate controls and a more serious XRT trim. The trim ladder has shifted year to year — SEL Premium in 2022-2023, a blacked-out Night model for 2023-2024, XRT from 2024 and SEL Activity from 2025 — with SE, SEL and Limited constants throughout.
The Santa Cruz's defining trade-off is its bed: at 27.0 cubic feet and roughly four feet long it is the smallest in the pickup class, but it comes with a lockable weatherproof under-bed trunk, an integrated locking tonneau cover and side steps built into the rear bumper. In exchange you get carlike handling, self-leveling rear shocks, 3,500 pounds of towing with the base engine or 5,000 with the turbo, EPA combined figures of roughly 20-25 mpg, and base prices that have run from about $24,400 to $43,500. Hyundai has been reported to be winding down Santa Cruz production.
Hyundai Santa Cruz by model year
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE
The SE launches Hyundai's first North American pickup at $24,440, undercutting almost everything with a bed except the Ford Maverick. It uses the 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four and an eight-speed automatic, seats five in a crew cab, and tows 3,500 pounds. Even at this price the 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, lane-keeping assist, driver attention monitoring and automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection are standard.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL
At $27,640 the SEL is the volume version of the launch-year Santa Cruz, keeping the 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter and eight-speed automatic but adding blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, proximity entry with push-button start and roof side rails. It still tows 3,500 pounds and returns 21/26 mpg with front-wheel drive.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium
SEL Premium is the cheapest way into the turbocharged Santa Cruz at $36,130, and the jump is dramatic: 281 hp and 311 lb-ft from the 2.5-liter turbo four, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, standard HTRAC all-wheel drive and a 5,000-pound tow rating. MotorTrend measured 0-60 mph in the low six-second range for turbocharged 2022 Santa Cruz models. It also brings the 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen, digital gauge display, leather seating and LED headlights.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
The Limited tops the launch range at $40,170 with the 281-hp turbo four, dual-clutch automatic and standard all-wheel drive, plus a Bose premium audio system, surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, heated steering wheel, wireless charging pad and Hyundai's app-based Digital Key. It tows 5,000 pounds — matching the V6 Honda Ridgeline — and MotorTrend's test team recorded 60 mph in 6.0 to 6.3 seconds.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE
The 2023 SE rises $1,260 to $25,700 but is otherwise a carryover, with the 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four, eight-speed automatic and a 3,500-pound tow rating. EPA ratings shift slightly this year to 22/26 mpg with front-wheel drive and 21/25 with HTRAC. The 27.0-cubic-foot lockable bed, integrated tonneau cover and under-bed trunk are standard on every Santa Cruz.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL
The SEL costs $28,190 for 2023, $550 more than in 2022, and remains the sensible middle of the range with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, proximity entry and roof side rails on top of the SE's equipment. Powertrain is the 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four with an eight-speed automatic and a 3,500-pound tow rating.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night
Night is new for 2023 and is the cheapest turbocharged Santa Cruz at $36,060, undercutting the SEL Premium by $1,540. It pairs the 281-hp 2.5-liter turbo four, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard HTRAC all-wheel drive with a blacked-out exterior treatment covering the grille, badging, mirror caps and wheels. Towing is the full 5,000 pounds and EPA ratings are 19/27 mpg.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium
2023 is the SEL Premium's second and final year — for 2024 Hyundai replaces it with the XRT. It lists at $37,600, up $1,470, and delivers the 281-hp turbo four, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard all-wheel drive alongside a 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen, digital gauge display, leather seating with ventilated front seats, LED projector headlights and adaptive cruise control.
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
The Limited holds the top of the 2023 range at $40,570, only $400 up on 2022, with the 281-hp turbo four, dual-clutch automatic and standard all-wheel drive. Bose premium audio, a surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, heated steering wheel, wireless charging and Hyundai's app-based Digital Key are all standard, and it still tows 5,000 pounds.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE
The 2024 SE moves to $26,900, up $1,200, and picks up standard Bi-LED headlights — the equipment that earned the Santa Cruz its IIHS Top Safety Pick — plus steering-wheel haptic feedback for the lane-keep and blind-spot systems. Mechanically it is unchanged: 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four, eight-speed automatic, 3,500-pound tow rating and the 27.0-cubic-foot lockable bed.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL
At $29,650 the SEL is $1,460 dearer than in 2023 but gains standard dual-zone automatic climate control along with the Bi-LED headlights and haptic steering wheel that spread across the range. It keeps the 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter, eight-speed automatic, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats and proximity entry, and tows 3,500 pounds.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night
2024 is the Night's second and final year. It climbs $2,400 to $38,460 and keeps the recipe intact: 281-hp 2.5-liter turbo four, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, standard HTRAC all-wheel drive and a blacked-out grille, badging, mirror caps and wheels. Towing is the full 5,000 pounds and MotorTrend timed the turbo Santa Cruz to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT
XRT is new for 2024 and takes the SEL Premium's place in the lineup at $40,100. It is mostly a look at this stage — multi-tone wheels with orange anodized center caps, 245/60R19 Kumho Crugen all-season tires, black exterior accents, wider fender cladding and trim-specific badging — but the 281-hp turbo four, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, standard all-wheel drive and 5,000-pound tow rating are all genuine.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
The Limited tops the 2024 range at $41,320, a $750 increase, and remains the best-equipped pre-facelift Santa Cruz. The 281-hp turbo four, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and HTRAC all-wheel drive are joined by Bose premium audio, a surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, heated steering wheel, wireless charging and Hyundai Digital Key, with the full 5,000-pound tow rating.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE
2025 brings the Santa Cruz's mid-cycle refresh and the SE gets all of it at $28,750, a hefty $1,850 jump. Outside there are redesigned headlights, a new grille and daytime running lights and new wheel designs; inside a curved display housing, a new steering wheel and restored physical HVAC controls. EPA highway improves sharply to 30 mpg with front-wheel drive, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus over-the-air updates are now standard on every trim.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL
The refreshed SEL lists at $30,450, $800 more than the 2024 car, and adds the facelift's Forward Attention Warning driver-focus monitor, front-seat and mirror memory, a digital key and USB-C ports. Powertrain is unchanged — 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four and an eight-speed automatic — but the new EPA ratings of 22/30 mpg front-drive make it the most efficient Santa Cruz yet.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Activity
What used to be an option package on the SEL becomes a standalone trim for 2025, listing at $33,450. It keeps the 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter and eight-speed automatic but adds the larger 10.25-inch infotainment display, wireless charging and adventure-oriented equipment including a sliding tonneau and unique alloy wheels. It is the priciest Santa Cruz that can still be had with front-wheel drive.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT
The XRT gets the most from the 2025 refresh, rising just $150 to $40,250 while gaining real capability. New XRT-specific bumper fascias improve the approach angle, front tow hooks are added, and the 19-inch all-season setup is swapped for trim-specific 18s on 245/60R18 all-terrain tires. A 360-degree camera and blind-spot view monitor become standard, and Limited and XRT turbo models add a towing drive mode. The all-terrain rubber costs a little economy: 18/26 mpg versus 19/27 for the Limited.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
The Limited tops the refreshed range at $42,750, up $1,430, and pairs the 281-hp turbo four and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic with the facelift's curved twin 12.3-inch displays, a new steering wheel, a fingerprint scanner and the new towing drive mode. Bose premium audio, a surround-view monitor and heated steering wheel are standard, and MotorTrend timed 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE
The 2026 SE is a $750 walk-up to $29,500 with no mechanical changes: the 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four, eight-speed automatic and 3,500-pound tow rating carry over, as do the facelift's 22/30 mpg EPA ratings with front-wheel drive. Every 2026 Santa Cruz now gets a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL
The SEL is $31,150 for 2026, up $700, and carries over the 2025 refresh's equipment: Forward Attention Warning, front-seat and mirror memory, digital key, USB-C ports and dual-zone climate. Powertrain remains the 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter with an eight-speed automatic and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Only the Dark Green interior colorway is dropped this year.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Activity
SEL Activity holds its place between the SEL and the turbocharged trims at $34,200, a $750 increase. It remains the most expensive Santa Cruz available with front-wheel drive and pairs the 191-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless charging and adventure-focused equipment such as a sliding tonneau cover and unique alloy wheels.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT
The XRT's headline change for 2026 is under the tunnel: the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is retired in favour of a conventional eight-speed torque-converter automatic, which smooths out the low-speed manners buyers complained about. It also gains a Terrain Mode with Mud, Snow and Sand settings. Price rises $850 to $41,100, and the all-terrain tires plus the new gearbox drop EPA figures to 18/25 mpg.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
The Limited tops the 2026 range at $43,450, up $700, and like the XRT swaps its eight-speed dual-clutch for a conventional eight-speed automatic. The 281-hp turbo four, HTRAC all-wheel drive, Bose eight-speaker audio, surround-view monitor, curved twin 12.3-inch displays, fingerprint scanner and 5,000-pound tow rating all carry over. Hyundai claims a maximum vehicle load limit of 1,411 pounds.
Hyundai Santa Cruz trim levels
| Trim | MSRP | Engine | Power | Drive | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE | $24,440 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 21 / 26 mpg |
| SEL | $27,640 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 21 / 26 mpg |
| SEL Premium | $36,130 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| Limited | $40,170 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| SE | $25,700 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 26 mpg |
| SEL | $28,190 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 26 mpg |
| Night | $36,060 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| SEL Premium | $37,600 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| Limited | $40,570 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| SE | $26,900 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 26 mpg |
| SEL | $29,650 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 26 mpg |
| Night | $38,460 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| XRT | $40,100 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| Limited | $41,320 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| SE | $28,750 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 30 mpg |
| SEL | $30,450 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 30 mpg |
| SEL Activity | $33,450 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 30 mpg |
| XRT | $40,250 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 18 / 26 mpg |
| Limited | $42,750 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 19 / 27 mpg |
| SE | $29,500 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 30 mpg |
| SEL | $31,150 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 30 mpg |
| SEL Activity | $34,200 | 2.5L GDI I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | FWD or AWD | 22 / 30 mpg |
| XRT | $41,100 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 18 / 25 mpg |
| Limited | $43,450 | 2.5L T-GDI I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | AWD | 18 / 25 mpg |
Specifications (2026)
| Fuel | Petrol |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic |
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has a typical price range of $29,500 - $43,450, spanning 24 trim levels. Actual prices vary by year, mileage and local market conditions.
What fuel economy does the Hyundai Santa Cruz get?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz achieves 22 / 30 mpg. Real-world figures depend on trim, drivetrain and driving style.
Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?
Owner-reported reliability is rated 7.8 / 10. Recall history: 3 recalls (NHTSA, 2026 model year — campaigns 25V809000, 26V047000 and 26V316000).
What years of the Hyundai Santa Cruz are available to compare?
Cars4Real covers Hyundai Santa Cruz model years 2022–2026. You can compare every year and trim side by side with live market prices and real owner reviews.