Used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearRaleigh, NC

How much does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 6.02% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,424 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns an expert rating of 8.2/10.

The standout strength is Technology at 10/10.

It is aimed at you if you want pickup versatility in a smaller, lifestyle-focused package for weekend DIY projects, big-box runs, and day-trip gear hauling. The 2025 updates add new tech, styling changes, and off-roading enhancements, and the truck is described as fun to drive with impressive technology and a great warranty.

The trade-offs are clear: the back seat is cramped, cargo space is limited, and the all-terrain tires hurt on-pavement handling. It also is not the right fit if you need maximum towing, the largest payload, or true off-the-grid capability.

With 35.8% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have a decent chance of finding a competitive price.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The 2025 Santa Cruz is positioned as a practical, warranty-backed choice, and the overview emphasizes that it is better suited to everyday lifestyle use than hard-duty work. The expert review also points to strong technology, a useful feature set, and a powertrain that is enjoyable when you choose the turbocharged version.

The performance notes say the turbocharged engine is fun, makes its power on regular gas, and delivers a more satisfying driving experience than the standard engine. The cost-effectiveness notes also highlight three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance with a new purchase, along with Hyundai’s excellent warranty and roadside assistance plans.

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 chasing the newest features.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 92.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the truck has been used for hauling, commuting, or light off-road driving. Pay close attention to tire wear, brake condition, and signs of hard use, since the Santa Cruz’s compact packaging and lifestyle focus make condition especially important.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes 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 improved approach angle and standard all-terrain tires, but those tires can hurt paved-road handling.
• Powertrain: The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and it runs on regular gas. The standard engine is described as underpowered, while the turbo version is more satisfying but less efficient.
• 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, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist on 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 software updates.
• 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 test truck averaged 21.1 mpg in 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 if you want the Santa Cruz formula at the lowest price, but it uses the standard engine and skips the more desirable turbocharged setup.
• SEL: This is the value-oriented choice if you want a better-equipped Santa Cruz without jumping to the pricier turbo trims.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim if you want a stronger mix of equipment and capability, especially if you want the available AWD efficiency figures noted in the review.
• XRT: Choose this if you want the off-road-themed look, the improved approach angle, and the extra safety and driver-assistance features that start here.
• Limited: This is the trim to buy if you want the turbocharged engine with the best on-pavement driving dynamics mentioned in the review.

Starting with the XRT, 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 XRT and Limited.

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

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to shop carefully without waiting forever.

• Deal availability: 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,424 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.02% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 92.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $28,800, 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 $28,800 sits slightly below last year's $30,645.

That softer pricing suggests the Santa Cruz is currently more buyer-friendly than it was a year ago. If you plan to sell later, you should expect the market to reward well-kept examples with desirable equipment more than average-condition trucks.

Because the model has softened, your future resale will likely depend heavily on trim, mileage, and condition. A clean, well-optioned Santa Cruz should hold up better than one with heavy wear or a rough service history.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a Marginal rating in the latest moderate overlap frontal-impact assessment from IIHS, and the SmartSense technologies receive the same rating for front-crash prevention. It earns five-star ratings in each NHTSA collision evaluation, coupled 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 intersection collision braking, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with curve speed adjustment, and Highway Driving Assist on XRT and Limited.

The main caveat is the IIHS Marginal result, so you should not treat the Santa Cruz as a class leader in crash-avoidance performance even though its NHTSA results are strong.

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:

• 35.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 92.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.02% compared with last year.
• The 2025 adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

Consider the 2024 if:

• At $26,403, the 2024 costs less than the current year's $28,800 average.
• It blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality.

The bottom line: If you want the most up-to-date Santa Cruz with stronger tech and the latest updates, the 2025 is the better target. If your priority is saving money and you still want the core Santa Cruz formula, the 2024 is the more budget-friendly path.

How does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz compare to the 2025 Ford Maverick?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz:

• Pros: Fun to drive, Impressive technology, Great warranty.
• Cons: On-pavement handling with all-terrain tires, Cramped back seat, Not much cargo space.

2025 Ford Maverick:

• Pros: Standard hybrid powertrain, Charming and functional interior, Fun-to-drive Lobo model.
• Cons: Price has crept up, Advanced safety features are not standard, Excessive touchscreen controls.

Our experts score the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz 8.2/10 and the 2025 Ford Maverick 7.8/10. The Santa Cruz is the better pick if you value tech and a more engaging drive, while the Maverick stands out for its standard hybrid powertrain and stronger fuel economy. The Maverick also offers more listings and a lower starting MSRP, but the Santa Cruz counters with a better warranty and more standard safety tech.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.