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 $26,627, and its year-round low is $26,046.37. That gives you a useful snapshot of where this model is trading right now across the years shown above.

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 model years in this data.

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

Owners consistently praise the Santa Cruz for its smooth ride, modern technology, and versatile interior space. The unique design and everyday usefulness also come through repeatedly, along with strong fuel economy impressions across the years.

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

The main trade-offs center on towing and payload expectations, plus some concerns about electronic feature durability and rear-seat space. For many shoppers, those are acceptable compromises if you want a compact truck with personality and comfort.

31.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Hyundai Santa Cruz models reliable?

Owners consistently describe the Santa Cruz as comfortable, versatile, and easy to live with, and expert commentary reinforces its smooth ride and modern feature set. Across the model years in this data, that combination points to a truck that delivers a polished ownership experience.

• 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, long-term ownership risk looks manageable if you prioritize well-kept examples and pay attention to electronics and usage history.

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

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.6% — 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: This is the entry point if you want the Santa Cruz’s core utility and the model’s standard tech and safety features at the lowest price.
• SEL: A smart value choice if you want a step up in everyday comfort and equipment while staying close to the lineup’s accessible end.
• SEL Activity: The best-value trim for many shoppers, since it adds more equipment while keeping the Santa Cruz’s practical, well-rounded character.
• XRT: This trim adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, an improved approach angle, standard all-terrain tires, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist.
• Limited: This is the most upscale choice, pairing the turbocharged engine with the Santa Cruz’s richer feature set and stronger on-pavement driving dynamics.

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 easiest places to shop because you get more inventory to compare and more chances to find the right price and equipment mix. They also usually reflect the years that have built the broadest used-market presence.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

The table shows broad downward movement across the model years listed, which can work in your favor if you're shopping used. The larger drops on some years suggest there are opportunities to find stronger value, while the smaller declines on others show that certain versions are softening more gradually.

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, with Highway Driving Assist 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 −4.84% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.63%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 31.6% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 31.1%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2023 model has the most listings at a current average price of $25,153. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a distinctive compact-truck personality with everyday versatility and a comfortable, easygoing driving character.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the SEL Activity with AWD is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined and the Limited AWD at 22 mpg.
• Tech: the latest model includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, fingerprint scanning, and a digital key system.
• Safety: the latest model adds an intersection collision-braking system, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, and adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves.
• Starting price: Prices range 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 2028 inventory to mature.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.