Used 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearWashington, DC

How much does the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 8.34% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,622 listings available, which suggests you should have a reasonable amount of inventory to compare.

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 blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality, and the overview highlights plenty of utility for its size, a peppy powertrain, and a stylish design. The expert notes reinforce that it’s a small trucklet with useful packaging and a distinctive look, while the interior comes across as well put together for the price point.

The main trade-offs are a cramped back seat and poor fuel economy, and the expert notes also point to limited practicality if you want serious off-road use without extra modifications. If you want something that feels different from a conventional compact SUV but still works well for everyday tasks, that balance is the Santa Cruz’s appeal.

32.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which gives you 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 overview points to a strong warranty as part of the Santa Cruz’s appeal, and the expert write-up backs that up with a powertrain that feels peppy and a ride that handles rough pavement well. The performance notes also describe smooth shifting and easy maneuverability, which are the kinds of traits that usually make daily ownership feel less stressful.

The cost-effectiveness section adds that Hyundai includes three years or 36,000 miles of free maintenance, which helps reduce early ownership costs. For used buyers, the bigger long-term risk is less about basic durability and more about whether the truck has been maintained well enough to offset its fuel-economy and packaging compromises.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one that may have seen rough use. Focus on overall condition, because the Santa Cruz’s appeal depends heavily on how well it has been kept up inside and out.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Limited trims differ meaningfully in appearance and equipment, and the base trims are the ones most likely to feel sparse on convenience features. The upper trims bring a more upscale cabin presentation and more equipment, while the Limited tester is described as the tippy-top version.
• 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 of torque. The non-turbo engine may feel underpowered, so test-drive the version you’re considering.
• Safety package: Hyundai 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 trim and above add adaptive cruise control and forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian-, cyclist-, and junction-turning detection, while the Limited adds Highway Drive Assist and a blind-spot view monitor.
• Infotainment: SE and SEL trims get an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while upper trims move to a 10.25-inch display with wired smartphone compatibility. Wireless charging is standard on the top three trims and available on the SEL, but absent on the base SE.
• Fuel efficiency: The AWD tester returned 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, and the weeklong average was 23.3 miles per gallon over 589 miles. The expert also describes the Santa Cruz as having poor fuel economy overall.

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:

• SE: This is the entry point, and it gives you the basic Santa Cruz formula with the standard engine and the smaller 8-inch touchscreen. It makes sense if you want the lowest starting price, but it’s also the trim most likely to feel stripped down compared with the others.
• SEL: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it keeps the useful 8-inch infotainment setup with wireless smartphone integration and adds more everyday convenience. If you want the sweet spot between price and equipment, this is the one to start with.
• Night: This trim is for you if you want a darker, more distinctive look without moving all the way up the range. It builds on the Santa Cruz’s style-first personality and should appeal if appearance matters as much as utility.
• XRT: This is the trim to consider if you want the more adventure-oriented setup, since it adds adaptive cruise control and more advanced forward-collision avoidance features. It’s the right pick if you want the most rugged-leaning version before stepping into the top trim.

Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist and blind-spot view monitor are reserved for the Limited tester, so if those features matter to you, you’ll want to shop higher in the range.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but still move quickly on a strong listing.

• Deal availability: 32.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,622 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.34% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 90.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $27,184, 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 $27,184 sits slightly below last year's $29,657.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. If prices continue to soften, future sellers may need to be more competitive on condition, mileage, and equipment to stand out.

The Santa Cruz’s distinctive styling and strong utility help it maintain a clear identity in the market, which can support demand among shoppers who want 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 gives every trim a broad set of driver-assistance features, including 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, while the Limited adds Highway Drive Assist and a blind-spot view monitor.

The main caveat is that the 2024 model has not yet been rated by IIHS, so you’re leaning more on equipment and the available NHTSA results than on a full crash-test picture.

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:

• 32.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.34% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.25/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• It blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality and adds a few new features for 2024.

Consider the 2025 if:

• At $29,828, the 2025 costs more than the current year's $27,184 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 starting point because pricing has eased and inventory is healthy. If you’re willing to pay more for the newer model’s updates, the 2025 is the better fit; price-sensitive buyers should focus on the 2024 and shop for a clean, well-equipped example.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.