Used 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearWashington, DC

How much does the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 6.61% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,078 listings available, which gives you a decent amount of inventory to compare.

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 experience, and impressive fuel economy. The Santa Cruz is also framed as a compact, car-like alternative for you if you want something more rugged than a sedan or crossover SUV, rather than a traditional truck.

The main trade-offs are its cramped back seat and the lack of physical buttons for audio and climate control. It also isn’t meant to match conventional trucks for capability, so it fits you best if you value everyday usability and a distinctive layout over maximum work-truck utility.

Good and great deals account for 35.6% of listings, which suggests there are still some attractive 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.

Owners also describe it as dependable in everyday use, with a reputation for a comfortable, smooth, and trouble-free driving experience. Hyundai’s strong warranty and included routine maintenance add another layer of confidence for long-term ownership.

The powertrain and warranty coverage help reduce ownership anxiety, but you should still pay close attention to maintenance history and overall condition when shopping used.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 86.5% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still run a history report, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, and focus on signs of wear in the cabin, bed, and electronics. Because this model is positioned as a compact, car-like alternative rather than a conventional truck, condition matters a lot when you’re judging whether a used example has been treated like a daily driver or a utility vehicle.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base SE trim starts with a more basic setup, while higher trims add features such as the larger touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and 20-inch wheels. If you want the most complete feature set, the upper trims are the ones to compare closely.
• Powertrain: Every Santa Cruz uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The standard engine makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged version makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft. The standard engine can be front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the turbo engine is all-wheel drive 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, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics features.
• Fuel efficiency: EPA ratings are 23 mpg combined, 21 mpg city, and 26 mpg highway with the base engine and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive adds 1 mpg highway. The 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 3 trim levels: SE, SEL Activity Package, and SEL Premium.

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, the standard safety equipment, and the basic infotainment setup, but it leaves out many of the nicer convenience and tech upgrades found higher up the range.
• SEL Activity Package: This is the trim to focus on if you want a better balance of equipment and value. It adds more of the features that make the Santa Cruz feel more upscale and useful without jumping all the way to the top of the range, so it’s the best-value choice for many shoppers.
• SEL Premium: This is the step-up choice if you want more comfort and technology and are willing to pay for it. It’s the trim to consider if you want a more fully equipped Santa Cruz for daily driving and don’t mind spending more to get there.

Higher trims also unlock the available safety and driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, the surround-view camera system, and Highway Driving Assist.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you have room to shop, but the best listings still deserve quick attention.

• Deal availability: 35.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,078 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.61% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 86.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,611, 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 $22,695 sits slightly below last year's $24,301.

That decline suggests the Santa Cruz has become more affordable for used buyers, which can help demand from shoppers who want a distinctive compact pickup without paying new-car money. For a future seller, the current pricing trend means you may need to be realistic about expectations if you plan to resell soon.

The model’s unique positioning can help it stand out in the used market, especially for buyers who want something different from a conventional truck or crossover. Strong feature content and broad appeal as a daily driver can also support interest over time.

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?

It 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 model was new, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA weren’t available in the source data. That means you should lean more heavily on the standard safety equipment and the trim you choose, especially if you want the extra driver-assistance features that are reserved for higher trims.

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:

• 35.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 86.5% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.61% 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, car-like alternative for buyers who want something more rugged than a sedan or crossover SUV.

The bottom line: The 2022 Santa Cruz makes the most sense if you want the model’s original formula at a lower used price and you value its distinctive design, strong feature content, and car-like driving feel. If you’re especially price-sensitive, shop carefully for the best deal and prioritize accident-free examples with the equipment you want, since higher trims carry much of the Santa Cruz’s appeal.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.