Used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearDurham, NC

How much does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 6.94% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,083 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

Yes — the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a 4.64/5 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, and smooth driving experience. The Santa Cruz is also framed as a good fit if you want something more rugged than a sedan or crossover SUV without moving all the way to a traditional pickup.

The main trade-offs are a cramped back seat and the lack of physical buttons for audio and climate control. Some owners also wished for more towing capability and felt the price was higher than expected.

Good and great deals account for 34.2% of listings, which suggests there are still worthwhile opportunities if you shop carefully.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

Owners rate it 4.64/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with repeated praise for the Santa Cruz’s comfortable interior, smooth driving, and versatile day-to-day usability. The expert test-drive notes also emphasize Hyundai’s strong warranty coverage and three years or 36,000 miles of free routine maintenance, which helps reduce early ownership costs.

That said, used buyers should still pay close attention to condition and service history, especially because some shoppers have flagged towing limits and pricing as concerns.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 87% — 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 useful here because the Santa Cruz’s appeal depends heavily on how well it balances cabin condition, tech features, and overall wear. Focus on whether the truck has been used in ways that may have stressed the bed, suspension, or interior.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base SE is the least expensive entry point, but higher trims add more comfort and convenience equipment. The available 20-inch wheels give the truck a more upscale look, while 18-inch wheels are offered with thicker sidewalls for off-roading.
• Powertrain: Every Santa Cruz uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The base engine makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged version makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft. The naturally aspirated engine comes with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, while the turbo engine is AWD only.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes 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.
• 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. Blue Link telematics, smartwatch connectivity, and Google Assistant connectivity are also available.
• Fuel efficiency: The base front-wheel-drive engine is rated at 23 mpg combined, 21 mpg city, and 26 mpg highway. The AWD-only turbo engine is rated at 22 mpg combined, 19 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway.

Which 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in 4 trim levels: SE, SEL Activity Package, SEL Premium, Limited.

Here's the short version:

• SE: This is the entry point and the best fit if you want the lowest starting price and the core Santa Cruz experience. It gives you the standard engine, standard safety tech, and the basic infotainment setup, but it leaves out many of the comfort and convenience upgrades found higher up.
• SEL Activity Package: This trim is the better value if you want a more rounded daily driver without jumping all the way to the top model. It adds more equipment than the SE while staying below the luxury-leaning Limited.
• SEL Premium: This is the trim to target if you want a stronger mix of features and value. It sits above the Activity Package and should be the sweet spot for shoppers who want more equipment without paying for the full top-end setup.
• Limited: This is the most upscale choice, and it’s the one to buy if you want the turbo engine, AWD, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, the larger touchscreen, and 20-inch wheels. It’s the best fit if you care most about comfort and tech rather than starting price.

Higher trims also unlock more advanced safety equipment, including blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, 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?

The market looks selective rather than overheated, so you can shop with some leverage if you stay disciplined.

• Deal availability: 34.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,083 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.94% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 87.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,621, 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 $22,711 sits slightly below last year's $24,404.

That price movement suggests the Santa Cruz has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right price today. If you shop near the lower end of the current range, you may have a better chance of limiting your loss when it’s time to sell. The model’s unusual positioning and strong feature content can also help it stand out in the used market.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.64/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a new model, so crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA aren’t available yet.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Standard safety equipment includes 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.

One caveat is that Highway Driving Assist can handle highway driving, but it has trouble with even gentle curves, so you should treat it as a convenience feature rather than a fully confident hands-on substitute.

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:

• 34.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 87% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.94% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.64/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2022 stands out as Hyundai’s first U.S. pickup and offers a crossover-like driving feel with standard advanced safety features and a strong warranty.

The bottom line: The 2022 Santa Cruz makes the most sense if you want the model’s unique mix of truck utility and car-like livability, especially now that prices have eased. If you’re more price-sensitive, focus on listings near the low end of the range and prioritize clean history and the right trim rather than stretching for extra equipment you may not need.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.