How much does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 6.15% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,313 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare across trims and conditions.

If you find a listing below $29,871.19, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns an 8.17/10 expert rating.

The standout strength is Technology at 10/10.

It is aimed at you if you want a small truck for weekend DIY projects, big-box runs, and carrying adventure gear on day trips. The Santa Cruz also brings fun-to-drive character, strong tech, and a great warranty, which helps offset its more niche mission.

The main trade-offs are a cramped back seat and limited cargo space, and the all-terrain tires can hurt on-pavement handling. If you value personality and everyday versatility more than maximum practicality, those compromises may be easy to live with.

33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so you still have room to shop selectively.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The 2025 Santa Cruz leans on Hyundai’s strong warranty coverage, and through 2025 it also includes three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance with a new-vehicle purchase. It is described as a good little sport truck if you want zippy, enjoyable driving with tech you won’t find in many rivals.

The turbocharged version is the more satisfying choice, but the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic can feel quirky, with some turbo lag and uneven power delivery. The all-terrain tires on the XRT also trade away some on-road polish.

For used buyers, the long-term ownership risk is less about basic appeal and more about whether the truck has been driven and maintained in a way that avoids wear from its more specialized setup.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report, because a clean market average does not guarantee the individual truck in front of you is problem-free. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you are considering a turbo model or one with all-terrain tires. Focus on cabin condition, rear-seat usability, and how the truck drives on pavement, since those are the areas where this model’s compromises show up most clearly.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The first three trims use the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while the XRT and Limited get the more satisfying turbocharged engine. The XRT also adds an off-road theme with an improved approach angle and standard all-terrain tires, but those tires can hurt on-road behavior.
• Powertrain: The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, runs on regular gas, and is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. The base engine is less satisfying, and the turbo setup gets slightly lower mpg.
• Safety package: SmartSense includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. Starting with the XRT, you also get an intersection collision-braking system, surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.
• Infotainment: Every trim gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluelink+ connected services, Hyundai Pay, a digital key system, fingerprint scanning, and over-the-air updates.
• Fuel efficiency: The SEL Activity with AWD is rated at 24 mpg combined, the Limited AWD at 22 mpg combined, and the XRT at 21 mpg combined. The XRT test truck averaged 21.1 mpg in evaluation driving.

Which 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in 5 trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The SE is the most basic path, and it uses the less powerful naturally aspirated engine rather than the turbocharged one. It still gets the standard safety and tech foundation, but it misses the more satisfying powertrain and the extra hardware that comes with the higher trims.
• Sweet-spot trim: The SEL Activity is the best value if you want a more balanced setup, because it sits above the base trims without jumping all the way to the off-road-focused XRT or the pricier Limited. It also posts the better combined fuel economy figure among the AWD trims mentioned.
• Premium/top trim: The Limited is the most appealing upscale choice because it pairs the turbocharged engine with the more refined on-pavement driving setup. It also gets Highway Driving Assist and the broader tech-and-comfort feel you’d expect at the top of the range.
• Off-road trim: The XRT is the one to choose if you want the off-road styling and hardware, but its all-terrain tires can compromise everyday handling and make it less appealing for typical daily driving.

Starting with the XRT trim level, the Santa Cruz adds the intersection collision-braking system, surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with curve speed adjustment, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

The market looks moderate and selective, so you can shop carefully without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,313 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.15% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 93.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,871.19, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

The current average of $30,021 sits slightly below last year's $31,989.

That price movement suggests the Santa Cruz has softened enough to help you buy more selectively today. If you plan to sell later, you should expect resale value to depend heavily on trim, mileage, and condition rather than broad market momentum alone.

Because the model is still relatively niche, the strongest resale prospects will likely come from well-kept examples with desirable equipment and clean history. A lower entry price now can help offset future depreciation, but you should still buy with an eye toward how easy your specific trim will be to move later.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The Santa Cruz earns a Marginal rating in the latest IIHS moderate overlap frontal-impact assessment, and its SmartSense technologies receive the same Marginal rating for front-crash prevention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives it five-star ratings in each collision evaluation, along with a four-star rollover resistance rating.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

SmartSense includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. Starting with the XRT, you also get an intersection collision-braking system, surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.

The main caveat is that the IIHS results point to a weakness in frontal-impact performance and in the effectiveness of the front-crash prevention tech. If safety is a top priority, you should pay close attention to trim content and driver-assistance behavior during your test drive.

Should I buy a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.15% compared with last year.
• The 2025 adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

Consider the 2024 if:

• At $27,519, the 2024 costs less than the current year's $30,021 average.
• It blends truck utility with a compact, quirky personality.

The bottom line: choose the 2025 if you want the newer tech, updated styling, and stronger feature set, especially if you value the turbocharged versions. If your priority is saving money, the 2024 is the better value path and still delivers the Santa Cruz’s core appeal.

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