Used 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearSanta Barbara, CA

How much does the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 8.59% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,679 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable range of choices.

Is the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

Generally — the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a 4.25/5 user rating and a 7.83/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

It stands out because it blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality, and it pairs that with a stylish design and a powerful engine. The Santa Cruz also has broad appeal thanks to its great warranty and its easy-to-live-with city manners.

The main trade-offs are poor fuel economy and a cramped back seat. That means you should like the truck’s style and usefulness enough to accept some limits in efficiency and rear-passenger space.

33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there is still some 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 Santa Cruz also benefits from Hyundai’s strong warranty coverage, which supports confidence in ownership. Its powertrain is described as peppy, smooth-shifting, and easy to live with, and the ride quality is called excellent.

You also get three years or 36,000 miles of free maintenance, which helps reduce early ownership costs. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that a truck with this much personality still asks you to accept some compromises in efficiency and rear-seat space.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.5% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you are considering a higher-mileage example or one that has been used like a truck. Focus on overall condition, because the Santa Cruz’s appeal depends heavily on how well it has been maintained inside and out.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Limited trims differ most in equipment and presentation. The base SE is the most stripped-down, while the upper trims add more comfort, tech, and convenience features.
• Powertrain: Lower trims use a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged setup raises output to 282 hp and 311 lb-ft. The standard engine may feel underpowered, while the turbo version is described as peppy and smooth.
• Safety package: All trims get 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 trims use an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upper trims get a 10.25-inch display, but smartphone compatibility is wired only.
• Fuel efficiency: The AWD tester is rated at 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, and it averaged 23.3 miles per gallon over 589 miles.

Which 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in 5 trim levels: SE, SEL, Night, XRT, Limited.

Here's the short version:

• SE: This is the entry point, and it makes the Santa Cruz’s core idea accessible, but it is the most basic version of the lineup. It suits you if you want the lowest starting price and can live without the richer tech and convenience features found higher up.
• SEL: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds more everyday usability while keeping the Santa Cruz’s core personality intact. It also gets the 8-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, which is a meaningful upgrade over the upper trims’ wired-only setup.
• Night: This trim is for you if you want a more distinctive appearance without moving all the way to the top of the range. It builds on the Santa Cruz’s stylish design and gives you a more expressive look.
• XRT: This is the trim to consider if you want the more adventure-oriented setup, since it adds adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian-, cyclist-, and junction-turning detection. It is the first trim where the safety package expands beyond the standard set.
• Limited: This is the most fully equipped version, and it is the one to choose if you want the strongest mix of comfort, tech, and driver-assistance features. It gets everything Hyundai offers here, including Highway Drive Assist and the blind-spot view monitor.

The safety package expands on XRT and above, so if those added driver-assistance features matter to you, shop at least that high.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop with some leverage if you are patient.

• Deal availability: 33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,679 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.59% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 90.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $26,817, 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 $26,817 sits slightly below last year's $29,336.

That decline suggests the market has softened, which can help you as a buyer today but may temper near-term resale upside if you plan to sell soon. For a future seller, the key is to buy well and keep the truck in strong condition so you are not fighting both depreciation and a niche body style.

The Santa Cruz still has appeal because it combines utility, style, and a strong warranty, which helps keep it relevant with shoppers looking for something different. 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?

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns five-star ratings in front crash and four-star ratings in rollover from NHTSA.

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

Hyundai offers a pretty comprehensive set of advanced driver-assistance systems. All trims get 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 trim and above add adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian-, cyclist-, and junction-turning detection.

The Limited trim goes further with Highway Drive Assist, which pairs adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, plus a blind-spot view monitor that shows a side-view video in the gauge cluster. The main caveat is that Highway Drive Assist is a hands-on, eyes-up system, so you still need to stay engaged.

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:

• 33.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.5% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.59% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.25/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It keeps the same quirky, utility-first formula while adding a few new features for the year.

Consider the 2025 if:

• At $29,568, the 2025 costs more than the current year's $26,817 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 because pricing has softened and inventory is healthy. If you are willing to pay more for the newer model’s updates, the 2025 is the better path; otherwise, the 2024 gives you the core Santa Cruz experience for less.

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