Used Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale near Illinois

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 $26,138, and its nationwide average price reached a low of $26,031 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 marks from owners for its smooth ride, modern technology, spacious interior, unique design, versatility, and impressive fuel economy. The all-generations owner rating is 4.6/5 across every model year in the data.

Expert reviews also point to a fun-to-drive character, impressive technology, and a great warranty. The main trade-offs center on on-pavement handling with all-terrain tires, a cramped back seat, and limited cargo space.

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

35.3% 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, unique design, and versatile feel. Expert reviews also reinforce its comfortable driving character and strong warranty coverage.

• Owners rate the Hyundai Santa Cruz between 4.3 and 4.9 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, the Santa Cruz looks like a solid long-term ownership choice if you want a compact truck with strong owner satisfaction and a well-regarded warranty.

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

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is solid at 88.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.

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 turbocharged engine produces 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, the SEL Activity with AWD is EPA-rated to return 24 mpg in combined driving, the Limited AWD promises 22 mpg, and the XRT is the least efficient version at 21 mpg.

Which Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers these trims:

• SE: The entry trim starts the lineup with the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder and gives you the Santa Cruz’s core utility and tech.
• SEL: This trim adds a step up in everyday comfort and convenience while staying in the value-focused part of the lineup.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds more equipment while keeping the Santa Cruz’s practical, lifestyle-focused character.
• XRT: The off-road-themed XRT adds an improved approach angle, standard all-terrain tires, blind-spot cameras, a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist.
• Limited: The Limited adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine and the most upscale feel in the lineup, and it suits you if you want the strongest mix of performance and features.

What Hyundai Santa Cruz do most buyers choose?

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

These higher-volume years tend to be the most popular used picks because you have more inventory to compare, which can make it easier to find the right price, mileage, and equipment mix. They also give you a broader set of choices within the model’s most familiar recent updates.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

Most of these model years are moving lower year over year, which can work in your favor if you’re shopping used. The declines are strongest in the 2024 and 2022 model years, while the 2025 and 2023 model years show smaller drops.

The 2023, 2025, 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

SmartSense driver-assistance features come standard, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist.

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 −5.57% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.4%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 34.6% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 34.4%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2023 model has the most listings at a current average price of $24,668. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a distinctive, comfortable, and versatile small-truck character that makes it appealing if you want utility with a more lifestyle-focused feel.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: the turbocharged engine produces 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, the SEL Activity with AWD is EPA-rated to return 24 mpg in combined driving, and the XRT is the least efficient version at 21 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: starting with the XRT trim level, the Santa Cruz features 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.
• Starting price: the 2025 Santa Cruz lineup 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.

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 brings stronger technology and a great warranty, while the Maverick counters with a standard hybrid powertrain and better fuel economy. The Santa Cruz also has the lower average used price, while the Maverick offers more listings and a more efficient city rating.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.