Used Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearPalatine, IL

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 $26,584, and its lowest point over the past year was $26,046. 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.

The Santa Cruz gets recurring praise for its smooth ride, modern technology, and spacious interior. Owners also consistently value its unique design, versatility, and comfortable everyday driving character.

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

The main trade-offs that come up most often are the cramped back seat, limited cargo space, and on-pavement handling with all-terrain tires.

31.9% 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, and comfortable interior, while expert coverage also highlights its great warranty and easy-to-live-with character. Across the model years, the truck’s appeal centers on comfort, versatility, and a distinctive design that many shoppers find easy to live with.

• 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 the electronics and other wear items that owners mention most often.

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 sophisticated 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring 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 entry trim starts the lineup and gives you the Santa Cruz’s core setup at the lowest price point.
• SEL: This trim adds a step up in everyday equipment while staying with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder.
• SEL Activity: This trim adds a more adventure-oriented feel and is the best-value choice if you want a well-rounded setup.
• 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 Highway Driving Assist, making it the most upscale choice in the lineup.

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 are already cross-shopping most heavily.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

The table shows broad downward movement across the Santa Cruz lineup, which can work in your favor if you're shopping used. The largest drops are concentrated in the older and mid-cycle years, while the newest model year has moved down more gradually. That pattern gives you several price points to choose from depending on how much equipment and freshness you want.

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 comes 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 −3.66% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.34%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 31.6% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 32.2%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2023 model has the most listings at a current average price of $25,091. 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 at 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, 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 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 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.