Used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearRaleigh, NC

How much does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 6.75% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,102 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, smooth driving, and impressive fuel economy. That lines up well with the Santa Cruz’s use case as a more rugged alternative to a sedan or crossover SUV, rather than a traditional work-focused pickup.

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 safety equipment help offset those compromises, especially if you want something easy to live with that still feels different from a typical crossover.

Only 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so the best examples may move quickly.

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 praise for the Santa Cruz’s comfortable interior, smooth driving, and versatile design. The expert evaluation also highlights Hyundai’s strong warranty coverage and three years or 36,000 miles of free routine maintenance, which adds peace of mind for long-term ownership.

For used buyers, the biggest risk is less about outright durability and more about choosing a well-kept example that hasn’t been used harder than its compact-truck packaging suggests.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 87.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because a clean title alone does not tell you how the truck was maintained or used. Prioritize an inspection of the back seat, infotainment controls, and any signs of wear from hauling or towing. It also makes sense to focus on overall condition, since the Santa Cruz’s appeal depends heavily on how well it balances comfort, utility, and everyday livability.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base SE trim is the starting point, while higher trims add more comfort and convenience equipment. The Limited trim brings leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, the larger touchscreen, 20-inch wheels, AWD, and the turbo engine, so it’s the best-value choice if you want the most complete version of the Santa Cruz.
• 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 base engine can be paired with FWD or AWD, and 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. 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, plus Blue Link telematics and available digital-key functionality.
• Fuel efficiency: The base FWD engine is rated at 23 mpg combined, 21 mpg city, and 26 mpg highway, while the AWD-only turbo engine is rated at 22 mpg combined, 19 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway. AWD adds 1 mpg highway to the base engine.

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 entry point, and it makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and are comfortable with the standard equipment level. It gives you the Santa Cruz’s core design and utility without the added cost of the higher trims.
• SEL Activity Package: This trim is the middle step and is the one to consider if you want more everyday usability and a better equipment mix without jumping all the way to the top model. It should suit you if you want a more balanced version of the Santa Cruz.
• SEL Premium: This is the trim to target if you want the most upscale feel short of the Limited. It’s the best fit if you want more comfort and convenience features while staying below the range-topping model.

Higher trims also unlock the available safety and driver-assistance features, 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 market for selective buyers, so it pays to compare listings carefully and move quickly on the right truck.

• Deal availability: 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,102 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.75% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 87.2% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,617, 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 $22,777 sits slightly below last year's $24,425.

That decline suggests the Santa Cruz has already moved into a more buyer-friendly pricing zone, which can help future resale by making today’s purchase less exposed to peak pricing. If you buy well now, you may have a better chance of limiting depreciation compared with shoppers who paid closer to last year’s average.

The model’s unique positioning also helps it stand out in the used market, especially for buyers who want something between a crossover and a pickup. 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 safety 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 can 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.

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:

• 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 87.2% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.75% 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 a compact, unibody alternative to a conventional truck.

The bottom line: If you want the Santa Cruz’s distinctive mix of crossover-like drivability and pickup utility, the 2022 is the right year to target. If you’re especially price-sensitive, focus on listings near the low end of the range and compare condition closely, since the best deals are present but not abundant.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.