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 $26,520, and its nationwide average price reached a low of $26,043 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 the lineup, anchored by an all-generations user rating of 4.65/5. Owners consistently praise its smooth ride, modern technology, spacious interior, unique design, and versatility.

The all-generations owner rating is 4.65/5 across every model year in the data.

Expert reviews also highlight the Santa Cruz’s fun-to-drive character, impressive technology, and 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.

32.5% 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 character. Expert feedback also points to a comfortable ride and a strong warranty, which helps reinforce its appeal for long-term ownership.

• 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, the Santa Cruz looks like a solid long-term ownership choice if you value 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 90.5% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: SmartSense with 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 starts the lineup with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and gives you the Santa Cruz’s core utility and everyday usability.
• SEL: This trim keeps the standard engine and adds a step up in comfort and convenience for shoppers who want a well-rounded value pick.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim for many buyers because it adds more equipment while staying in the mainstream of the lineup.
• XRT: This trim adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 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: This trim adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the most upscale equipment in the lineup, making it the top choice if you want the most premium Santa Cruz experience.

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 popular because they give you more inventory to compare and more chances to find the right price and equipment mix. They also line up with the model years that many shoppers focus on when balancing value, features, and availability.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

Used Santa Cruz prices are moving lower across the model years shown, which can work in your favor if you're shopping for value. The biggest drops are concentrated in the older and mid-cycle years, while the newest model year is also easing down from its prior level. That pattern gives you several opportunities to find a recent truck at a more approachable price.

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

SmartSense driver assistance is standard on the 2025 Santa Cruz, 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 −3.63% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.37%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 32.5% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 33.1%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2023 model has the most listings at a current average price of $25,049. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a smooth ride, modern technology, and a spacious interior.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: the turbocharged engine produces 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 4,000 rpm, 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, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.
• Starting price: Prices range from $30,245 to $44,245, including the $1,450 destination charge.

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 September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.