Used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale near California

How much does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 3.63% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,314 listings available, which suggests solid inventory for shoppers comparing trims and prices.

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 sport truck for weekend DIY projects, big-box runs, and day-trip gear hauling rather than heavy towing or serious off-road use. The 2025 updates add tech, styling changes, and off-roading enhancements, and the turbocharged version is the one to seek if you want the most enjoyable driving experience. Trade-offs include a cramped back seat and limited cargo space, and the all-terrain tires can hurt on-pavement handling. 32.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so there is some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is positioned as a practical, everyday-use sport truck with a strong warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance through 2025. Its turbocharged version is described as fun and zippy, and the truck’s tech and ownership perks help support its appeal for long-term use.

The performance notes also point to some durability-minded strengths, including regular-gas operation for the turbo engine and a comfortable ride over bumps and cracks. At the same time, the dual-clutch transmission can feel quirky, and the brakes showed heat-related rumble during mountain driving, which is worth keeping in mind if you plan to use the truck hard.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that this is still a compact truck with some compromises, so condition and maintenance history matter more than mileage alone.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 92.9% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you are considering a truck that has seen regular commuting, mountain driving, or light off-road use. Pay close attention to tire wear, brake condition, and how the transmission behaves on a test drive. If you are shopping an XRT, make sure the truck’s road manners and tire condition match your expectations.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The first three trims use the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine, while the XRT and Limited get the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine. The XRT adds an off-road-themed look, improved approach angle, and standard all-terrain tires, while the Limited is the better choice if you want stronger on-pavement driving dynamics.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is described as underpowered, while the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque on regular gas. The turbo setup is more satisfying, but it is also less fuel-efficient and paired with a quirky eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
• 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.
• Infotainment: Every trim gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA updates, Bluelink+ connected services, Hyundai Pay, a digital key system, fingerprint scanning, and wireless smartphone charging.
• Fuel efficiency: The SEL Activity with AWD is rated at 24 mpg combined, the Limited AWD at 22 mpg, and the XRT at 21 mpg combined. The XRT test truck averaged 21.1 mpg on evaluation.

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:

• SE: This is the entry point, and it gives you the Santa Cruz formula at the lowest price, but it uses the underpowered naturally aspirated engine. It makes sense if you want the truck’s basic utility and standard tech without paying for the stronger powertrain.
• SEL: This is the next step up if you want a more balanced everyday setup while staying below the turbo trims. It still uses the base engine, so it is best for shoppers who care more about price than performance.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds more capability and is the trim specifically called out with 24 mpg combined in AWD form. If you want a practical middle ground, this is the one to focus on.
• XRT: This is the trim to choose if you want the turbocharged engine, the off-road-themed appearance, improved approach angle, all-terrain tires, and the extra driver-assistance hardware. It is the most adventurous version, but the tires can hurt paved-road handling.
• Limited: This is the most polished choice if you want the turbo engine with better on-pavement driving dynamics than the XRT. It is the trim to buy if you want the strongest mix of comfort, tech, and everyday livability.

Starting with the XRT trim level, the Santa Cruz adds the more advanced safety and driver-assistance features, including Highway Driving Assist.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 32.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,314 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 3.63% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 92.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,800, 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 $29,800 sits slightly below last year's $30,921.

That price movement suggests the Santa Cruz has softened enough to give used buyers some leverage. If you are planning to resell later, the current market is not especially strong for sellers, so buying well matters.

The good news is that the truck’s pricing has already adjusted downward, which can help you avoid paying peak-market money. If demand stays steady, a well-kept example should still be easier to move than one with visible wear or a rough history.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns Marginal ratings in the latest IIHS moderate overlap frontal-impact assessment and for SmartSense crash-prevention effectiveness, and it earns five-star ratings in each NHTSA collision evaluation with a four-star rollover resistance rating.

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

SmartSense comes standard with 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 intersection collision-braking, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with curve speed adjustment, and Highway Driving Assist.

The main caveat is the IIHS Marginal result, which is worth weighing if safety is a top priority for you. Even so, the Santa Cruz still brings a broad standard safety suite and strong NHTSA results.

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:

• 32.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 92.9% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Prices have softened 3.63% compared with last year.
• The 2025 adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

Consider the 2024 if:

• At $27,111, the 2024 costs less than the current year's $29,800 average.
• It blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality.

The bottom line: If you want the newer tech, updated styling, and stronger feature set, the 2025 is the better all-around pick. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2024 is the smarter value play.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.