Used Hyundai Santa Cruz for Sale nearSanta Maria, CA

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 $26,499, 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 is a strong choice if you want a compact pickup with comfort, modern tech, and everyday versatility. The all-generations owner rating is 4.65/5 across every model year in the data.

Owners consistently praise the smooth ride, modern technology, and spacious interior, along with the Santa Cruz's unique design and versatile character. Reviewers also frequently highlight its comfort, utility, and impressive fuel economy across model years.

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

The main trade-offs that come up most often are towing capacity, payload capacity, cramped rear-seat space, and the behavior of some electronic features. 33.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Hyundai Santa Cruz models reliable?

Owners consistently describe the Santa Cruz as comfortable, easy to live with, and appealing for its smooth driving character and useful design. Expert feedback also points to a strong warranty and a well-rounded 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, towing use, and overall condition.

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

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is excellent at 90.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

Key things to evaluate:

• Fuel efficiency: The 2025 Santa Cruz 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.
• Infotainment: Every 2025 Santa Cruz includes 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, fingerprint scanning, and more.
• Safety package: Like other Hyundai models, the Santa Cruz comes standard with several driver-assistance features under SmartSense branding.

Which Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers these trims:

• SE: The entry trim starts with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and gives you the Santa Cruz's core utility and everyday usability.
• SEL: This trim builds on the SE with the same base engine and adds more equipment for shoppers who want a better-equipped daily driver.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim for many buyers because it adds more content while staying with the base engine and broadens the Santa Cruz's appeal for everyday use.
• XRT: This off-road-themed 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, and it suits buyers who want the most upscale Santa Cruz experience with 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.

Those higher-volume years tend to be popular because they give you more inventory to compare and more chances to find the right price, mileage, and equipment mix. They also usually reflect the model years shoppers are cross-shopping most actively.

What is the Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

Most model years in this set are moving lower year over year, which can work in your favor if you're shopping used. The biggest drops are concentrated in the older and mid-cycle years, while the newest year is also easing down from its prior average. That creates a favorable setup if you want a recent Santa Cruz without paying the highest current asking prices.

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 −3.28% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −8.23%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 33.8% 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 $24,930. The Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a comfortable ride, modern technology, and a distinctive design that make it easy to live with every day.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: Driving a turbocharged Hyundai Santa Cruz is fun because the engine produces a robust 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 4,000 rpm.
• Tech: Every 2025 Santa Cruz includes 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, fingerprint scanning, and more.
• 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: 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 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.