Used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 8.13% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,044 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

Yes — the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a 4.6/5 user rating and an 8/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Look and feel, Performance, and Technology.

Owners consistently praise the unique design, versatile features, comfortable interior, smooth driving experience, and impressive fuel economy. In practical terms, that lines up well with the Santa Cruz’s role as a more rugged alternative to a sedan or crossover SUV, especially if you want something easier to park and more distinctive than a conventional truck.

The main trade-offs are the cramped back seat and the lack of physical buttons for audio and climate control. Even so, the Santa Cruz’s strong warranty and standard advanced safety features help make it a compelling choice if you value everyday usability over traditional truck capability.

The market also looks reasonably supportive, with 35.8% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

Owners rate it 4.6/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a vehicle that feels dependable in daily use, with praise for its comfortable interior, smooth driving experience, and versatile features. That kind of feedback suggests you can count on it for regular commuting and mixed-use ownership, especially if you want something that behaves more like a crossover than a traditional pickup.

Hyundai’s long warranty coverage and free routine maintenance add to the ownership appeal, reinforcing the Santa Cruz’s reputation as a vehicle that should be relatively easy to live with over time. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about basic dependability and more about whether the truck’s unconventional packaging and limited towing focus fit your needs.

What should I look for when buying a used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 84.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report on any candidate, even if the listing looks clean at first glance. A pre-purchase inspection is especially important if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one with optional equipment, since condition and maintenance history matter more than mileage alone. Focus on how the cabin, controls, and cargo area have held up, because this model’s appeal depends heavily on everyday usability.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base SE trim is the entry point, while higher trims add features such as the larger touchscreen, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and 20-inch wheels. The base trim also misses some of the more advanced driver-assistance and convenience features available higher up the range.
• Powertrain: Every Santa Cruz uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The naturally aspirated version makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the optional turbocharged version makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The base engine can be paired with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the turbo engine is all-wheel drive only.
• Safety package: Hyundai includes standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, and a driver-attention monitor. Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist are available on higher trim levels.
• Infotainment: The standard setup is an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims can add a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
• Fuel efficiency: The base naturally aspirated engine with front-wheel drive is rated at 23 mpg combined, including 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The turbo engine is rated at 22 mpg combined, including 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.

Which 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in 3 trim levels: SE, SEL Activity Package, and SEL Premium.

Here's the short version:

• SE: This is the value-focused starting point, and it gives you the core Santa Cruz formula without pushing the price up too far. It makes the most sense if you want the truck’s unique design and everyday usability at the lowest entry cost.
• SEL Activity Package: This is the trim to watch if you want a better balance of equipment and value. It adds more of the features that make the Santa Cruz feel more modern and easier to live with, so it’s the best-value choice for many shoppers.
• SEL Premium: This is the better pick if you want a more upscale experience and are willing to pay for it. It’s the trim to consider if comfort and convenience matter more than keeping the purchase price down.

Higher trims also unlock more of Hyundai’s available safety and convenience technology, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to shop carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,044 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.13% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 84.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,184, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

The current average of $22,184 sits slightly below last year's $24,147.

That decline suggests the Santa Cruz has become more affordable for used buyers, but it also means a future seller may need to price competitively to stand out. If you buy at today’s average or below, you may have less downside risk than someone who paid closer to last year’s higher market level.

The model’s distinctive positioning can help support demand, especially among shoppers who want something between a crossover and a pickup. Strong owner satisfaction also helps keep interest steady over time, which can support resale value when you decide to sell.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.6/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Hyundai includes standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-follow assist, rear-seat reminder, and a driver-attention monitor. Higher trims add blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, a surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist.

Because this was a new model, formal crash-test ratings were not available in the source material. That means you should lean more heavily on the standard safety equipment and the trim you’re considering when evaluating protection features.

Should I buy a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2022 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2022 if:

• 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 84.9% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.13% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.6/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Expert or safety highlight specific to this year from the source material: it’s Hyundai’s first U.S. pickup and uses a car-like unibody design that makes it stand apart from conventional trucks.

The bottom line: The 2022 Santa Cruz makes the most sense if you want this model’s original formula at a softened used price and you value its crossover-like driving feel. If you’re especially price-sensitive, keep shopping listings carefully and focus on accident-free examples with the equipment you want.

How does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz compare to the 2022 Ford Maverick?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz:

• Pros: Fun to drive, Standard advanced safety features, Great warranty.
• Cons: Cramped back seat, Lacking physical buttons for audio and climate control.

2022 Ford Maverick:

• Pros: Great ride quality, Excellent value for money, Standard hybrid powertrain.
• Cons: Older infotainment system.

Our experts score the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz 8/10 and the 2022 Ford Maverick 8.2/10. The Santa Cruz stands out for its fun driving character, standard safety equipment, and strong warranty, while the Maverick leans harder into value and efficiency with its standard hybrid powertrain. If you want the more distinctive and better-equipped-feeling trucklet, the Santa Cruz has the edge; if you want the better value and stronger fuel economy, the Maverick is the more compelling pick.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.