Used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearDana Point, CA

How much does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 4.99% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,304 listings available, which suggests you have a solid amount of inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $29,876.87, 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’s 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 gets credit for being fun to drive, offering impressive technology, and backing that up with a great warranty.

The trade-offs are clear: the back seat is cramped, cargo space is limited, and all-terrain tires hurt on-pavement handling.

With 29.2% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is presented as a well-supported ownership choice, with a great warranty and three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance on new purchases through 2025. It also includes Bluelink+ for the lifetime of the vehicle if you are the original owner, which adds convenience and ownership value.

From a durability standpoint, the turbocharged version is described as fun and zippy, while the standard engine is called underpowered. The transmission in the XRT is also described as quirky, with turbo lag and uneven power delivery, and the all-terrain tires can compromise everyday driving feel.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that the truck’s strengths are tied to specific trims and equipment, so condition and maintenance history matter a lot.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage truck or one with off-road-oriented equipment. Focus on tire condition, brake feel, and how the truck drives on pavement, since those areas are called out in the expert evaluation.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup spans SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited. The first three use the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while the XRT and Limited get the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The XRT adds an off-road-themed look, improved approach angle, and standard all-terrain tires, but the Limited is the better pick if you care more about on-pavement driving dynamics.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is described as underpowered, while the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is the more satisfying choice. It makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, runs on regular gas, and is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic in the XRT.
• 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 intersection collision-braking, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with curve speed adjustment, and Highway Driving Assist.
• 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. Wireless smartphone charging is standard across the lineup.
• 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. The XRT averaged 21.1 mpg in testing.

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 if you want the Santa Cruz’s core utility and standard tech without paying for the turbo engine or extra equipment.
• SEL: This is the value-minded step up if you want a better-equipped daily driver while staying below the turbo trims.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim if you want a stronger mix of equipment and efficiency, especially with AWD.
• XRT: Choose this if you want the turbo engine plus the off-road-themed appearance, all-terrain tires, and the added driver-assistance hardware.
• Limited: This is the trim to buy if you want the turbo engine and the most polished on-pavement experience; it’s the expert-favored choice over the XRT for road manners.

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.

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

The market looks moderate for selective buyers, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,304 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.99% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 93.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,876.87, 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 $29,961 sits slightly below last year's $31,534.

That decline suggests the Santa Cruz has softened enough to create a better entry point for you as a buyer. If you plan to resell later, the current pricing trend means you should expect some depreciation pressure to continue unless demand strengthens.

The good news is that the truck’s strong tech, warranty, and distinctive positioning may help it hold appeal with the right shopper. The downside is that its niche appeal and competition from lower-priced alternatives can limit upside if you’re counting on strong resale performance.

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 comes standard and 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 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 frontal-impact result, which is worth weighing if safety is a top priority for you.

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:

• 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 4.99% compared with last year.
• The 2025 adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

Consider the 2024 if:

• At $27,403, the 2024 costs less than the current year's $29,961 average.
• It blends truck utility with a compact, quirky personality.

The bottom line: If you want the most up-to-date tech and the strongest feature set, the 2025 is the better target. If your priority is saving money, the 2024 is the smarter value play and still delivers the Santa Cruz formula you’re shopping for.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.