Used Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale near New Jersey

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 $26,435, and its lowest nationwide average price over the past year was $26,033. 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.

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 as recurring strengths, along with impressive fuel economy across model 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, along with some concerns about electronic feature durability and, on certain versions, cargo space and rear-seat room.

35.4% 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 coverage reinforces its strong warranty-backed ownership appeal. The model’s smooth ride and modern tech also come up often as reasons shoppers feel good about it.

• 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 focus on well-kept examples and pay attention to electronics, cargo use, and prior maintenance.

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 turbocharged engine produces 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 4,000 rpm; 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 with the standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a good starting point if you want the Santa Cruz’s core utility at the lowest price.
• SEL: adds more everyday comfort and convenience while staying with the standard engine.
• SEL Activity: the best-value trim for many shoppers, since it adds more equipment while keeping the standard engine and broad appeal.
• XRT: adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, standard all-terrain tires, an improved approach angle, and a more rugged look.
• Limited: adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the most upscale feel in the lineup, making it the trim to choose if you want the strongest mix of performance and refinement.

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 easiest places to shop because you get more inventory to compare and more chances to find the right price, color, and equipment mix. They also usually attract the broadest buyer interest, which helps explain why they remain popular used picks.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

Prices are moving lower across every model year shown, which is good news if you want to buy used. The biggest drops are in the older and mid-cycle years, while the newest model year is also easing down from its prior level. That pattern gives you more room to shop for value without waiting for a major shift in the market.

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 Santa Cruz comes standard with 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.

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 −4.64% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.59%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 35.3% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 33.9%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2023 model has the most listings at a current average price of $24,793. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a distinctive sport-truck character that blends everyday versatility with a comfortable, easygoing driving feel.

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 to return 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: starting with the XRT trim level, the Santa Cruz features 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: 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.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.