Used Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearBakersfield, CA

How much does the Hyundai Santa Cruz cost in today's market?

Used Hyundai Santa Cruz prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Hyundai Santa Cruz's current nationwide average price is $26,444, and its nationwide average price reached a low of $26,034 over the past year. Recently, prices have come down for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

Yes — the Hyundai Santa Cruz earns strong owner approval across its model years, and the all-generations owner rating is 4.65/5 across every model year in the data.

Owners consistently praise its smooth ride, modern technology, spacious interior, unique design, and versatile everyday utility. Expert coverage also points to its fun-to-drive character, impressive technology, and strong warranty as recurring strengths.

Expert reviews rate the 2025 and 2022 models among the highest across all years.

The main trade-offs that come up most often are a cramped back seat, limited cargo space, and handling that can feel less settled when equipped for more rugged use.

34.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Hyundai Santa Cruz models reliable?

Owners consistently praise the Santa Cruz for its smooth ride, modern technology, spacious interior, and versatile character. Expert coverage also reinforces its comfortable driving feel and strong warranty coverage.

• Owners rate the Hyundai Santa Cruz between 4.25 and 4.88 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, that combination points to a trucklet that should be a reassuring long-term ownership choice if you prioritize comfort, tech, and everyday usefulness.

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

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.4% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: SmartSense driver-assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist.
• Infotainment: a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluelink+ connected services, Hyundai Pay technology, a digital key system, and fingerprint scanning.
• Fuel efficiency: the SEL Activity with all-wheel drive (AWD) is EPA-rated to return 24 mpg in combined driving, while the Limited AWD promises 22 mpg. The XRT is the least efficient version of the Santa Cruz, at 21 mpg.

Which Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers these trims:

• SE: The entry trim gives you the Santa Cruz’s core utility and the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder setup, making it the starting point if you want the model’s basic versatility at the lowest price.
• SEL: This trim builds on the SE with a more appealing everyday balance of equipment and value, and it’s the best-value choice if you want a well-rounded Santa Cruz without moving up the range.
• SEL Activity: This version adds a more appealing mix of comfort and capability, and it’s the sweet spot if you want a stronger feature set while staying focused on everyday use.
• XRT: The off-road-themed XRT adds an improved approach angle, standard all-terrain tires, a bolder wheel design, 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.
• Limited: The Limited adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, the most upscale feel in the lineup, and Highway Driving Assist, making it the pick if you want the strongest mix of performance and premium equipment.

What Hyundai Santa Cruz do most buyers choose?

The Hyundai Santa Cruz years with the most listings are 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Those higher-volume years tend to be the most popular used picks because they give you more inventory to compare and more chances to find the right price, mileage, and condition combination. They also tend to be the easiest years to shop when you want a broad selection of trims and deal quality.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

Prices are moving lower across every model year shown, which is good news if you’re shopping used. The declines are meaningful enough to improve affordability, especially on newer examples that still carry a lot of the Santa Cruz’s latest features and appeal.

The 2025, 2023, and 2022 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

• 2025: 9/10
• 2024: 8/10
• 2022: 7/10

The 2025 Santa Cruz includes SmartSense driver-assistance features, and Highway Driving Assist is standard on the XRT and Santa Cruz Limited.

For the safest used buy, the 2025 model posts the highest confirmed score of 9/10.

Should I buy a used Hyundai Santa Cruz now or wait for the next model?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2025 model is at −4.99% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.63%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 33.7% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 34.8%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2023 model has the most listings at a current average price of $24,857. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a smooth ride, modern technology, and a spacious interior that make it easy to live with every day.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: the turbocharged engine produces 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the SEL Activity with AWD is EPA-rated at 24 mpg in combined driving and the Limited AWD promises 22 mpg.
• Tech: every 2025 Santa Cruz includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluelink+ connected services, Hyundai Pay technology, a digital key system, and fingerprint scanning.
• Safety: the latest model adds 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 the XRT and Limited.
• Starting price: the 2025 Santa Cruz ranges from $30,245 to $44,245, including destination.

If you're buying used today, the 2023 model year offers the best mix of value and availability. If you want the latest tech and features, it may be worth waiting for the next model year's inventory to build up.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 13, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.