How much does the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 8.11% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,643 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $27,459.67, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

Generally — 4.25/5 from users and 7.83/10 from experts — the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a strong fit if you want truck utility in a compact, distinctive package.

The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

It blends truck utility with a compact footprint, and the design is intentionally different from a conventional pickup. The overview also points to plenty of utility for its size, a peppy powertrain, and Hyundai’s great warranty as major draws.

The main trade-offs are poor fuel economy and a cramped back seat, and the expert notes also call out limited rear-seat practicality. That makes it better suited to you if you value character, usefulness, and easy city maneuverability more than maximum efficiency or passenger space.

31.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there is still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

Owners rate it 4.25/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The overview emphasizes Hyundai’s great warranty, and the expert notes reinforce that this model is built to be a practical, everyday runabout with strong on-road manners. The powertrain is described as peppy, and the truck’s compact size helps it feel easy to live with in daily use.

The ownership package is also helped by three years or 36,000 miles of free maintenance and five years and unlimited miles of roadside assistance. That kind of coverage can reduce early ownership stress and make the first stretch of used-car ownership easier to budget.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that the Santa Cruz’s efficiency and rear-seat limitations are baked into the design, so those compromises will still matter after purchase.

What should I look for when buying a used 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you plan to use the truck for commuting, road trips, or light adventure. Focus on overall condition, tire wear, and whether the features you want are present on the specific trim you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SE and SEL use an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while upper trims get a larger 10.25-inch display but wired smartphone compatibility. The base SE also misses wireless charging.
• Powertrain: Lower trims use a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while turbocharged versions raise output to 282 hp and 311 lb-ft. The non-turbo setup may feel underpowered, while the turbo model is described as surprisingly peppy.
• Safety package: Hyundai’s suite includes forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. XRT and above add adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian-, cyclist- and junction-turning detection.
• Infotainment: SE and SEL get an 8-inch touchscreen with Hyundai’s BlueLink system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and quick, intuitive operation. Upper trims move to a 10.25-inch screen, but smartphone mirroring is wired.
• Fuel efficiency: The AWD tester is rated at 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, and the weeklong test average was 23.3 mpg over 589 miles.

Which 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in 4 trim levels: SE, SEL, Night, XRT.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The SE is the most stripped-down choice, and it misses wireless charging. It also lacks the larger upper-trim touchscreen and the added convenience features that come with the pricier versions.
• Sweet-spot trim: The SEL is the best value if you want the 8-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the core Santa Cruz experience without moving too far up the price ladder.
• Premium/top trim: The Limited is the most fully equipped version, with the larger 10.25-inch display, the most complete comfort and tech setup, and the most advanced driver-assistance features.
• Off-road trim: The XRT is the trim to consider if you want the added driver-assistance upgrades and a more adventurous setup, but the expert notes still suggest keeping expectations realistic for serious off-road use.

Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist and blind-spot view monitor are part of the upper-trim safety story, and those features make the higher trims especially appealing if you spend a lot of time commuting.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting a deep bargain on every listing.

• Deal availability: 31.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,643 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.11% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 90.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $27,459.67, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

The current average of $27,519 sits slightly below last year's $29,947.

That price movement suggests the market has cooled a bit, which can help you buy more confidently now if you plan to keep the truck for several years. If demand stays steady, a used Santa Cruz bought at today’s average price may have less room to depreciate sharply from here than it did during the earlier, higher-priced period.

The model’s distinctive personality, utility, and strong warranty help keep it appealing to shoppers who want something different from a conventional pickup. That kind of appeal can support resale demand when it’s time for you to sell.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.25/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

It earns five-star ratings in front crash and four-star ratings in rollover from NHTSA.

It earns a 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Hyundai’s standard safety suite includes forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. XRT and above add adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian-, cyclist- and junction-turning detection.

The Limited trim gets the most complete setup, including Highway Drive Assist and the blind-spot view monitor. The expert notes also point out that Highway Drive Assist is a hands-on, eyes-up system, so you still need to stay engaged behind the wheel.

Should I buy a 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2024 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2024 if:

• 31.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.11% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.25/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It blends truck utility with a compact footprint and a peppy powertrain.

Consider the 2025 if:

• At $30,021, the 2025 costs more than the current year's $27,519 average.
• It adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

The bottom line: if you want the better value today, the 2024 is the smarter buy. If you’re willing to pay more for newer updates and a slightly more developed feature set, the 2025 is the better path. For price-sensitive buyers, the 2024’s softer pricing and strong inventory make it the easier model year to shop.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.