Used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 5.57% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,400 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns an expert rating of 8.2/10.

The standout strength is Technology at 10/10.

It is aimed at you if you want pickup versatility for weekend DIY projects, big-box runs, and day-trip gear hauling rather than heavy towing or serious off-grid use. The Santa Cruz also brings a fun-to-drive character, impressive technology, and a great warranty, but you should weigh the cramped back seat and limited cargo space against those strengths. The XRT’s all-terrain tires can also hurt on-pavement handling, so the right trim matters if you care about road manners.

With 34.6% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is positioned as a practical, lifestyle-focused trucklet with a strong warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years on new purchases in 2025. Its tech and ownership perks help support day-to-day confidence, and the available turbocharged setup adds a more satisfying driving experience for buyers who want extra punch.

The performance notes also point to a truck that is enjoyable but not flawless: the turbo engine is quick, but the dual-clutch transmission can feel quirky, and the XRT’s all-terrain tires can compromise road behavior. Hyundai’s complimentary maintenance and lifetime Bluelink+ for the original owner help reduce early ownership friction.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that this is still a compact, capability-limited truck, so wear from hard use or mismatched expectations can matter more than raw mileage alone.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the truck has been used for hauling, commuting, or light off-road driving. Pay close attention to tire wear, brake condition, and any signs that the truck has been pushed beyond its intended light-duty role. If you’re considering an XRT, make sure the road manners and tire setup still fit how you plan to drive.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup includes SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited. The base trims use the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while the XRT and Limited get the turbocharged engine. The XRT adds a more rugged look, an improved approach angle, and standard all-terrain tires, but the Limited is the better pick if you want stronger on-pavement behavior.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while the XRT and Limited use a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbo setup is more satisfying, but it returns slightly lower gas mileage and pairs with a quirky eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
• Safety package: SmartSense includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. Starting with the XRT, you also get an intersection collision-braking system, surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.
• Infotainment: Every trim gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluelink+ connected services, Hyundai Pay, a digital key system, fingerprint scanning, and over-the-air updates. Wireless smartphone charging is standard across the lineup.
• Fuel efficiency: The SEL Activity with AWD is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined, the Limited AWD is rated at 22 mpg combined, and the XRT is the least efficient version at 21 mpg combined. We averaged 21.1 mpg in the XRT.

Which 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim should I buy?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is offered in 5 trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited.

Here's the short version:

• SE: This is the entry point if you want the Santa Cruz formula at the lowest price, but it lacks the stronger turbocharged character found higher up the range.
• SEL: This is the sensible middle ground if you want a better-equipped Santa Cruz without jumping to the pricier turbo trims.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim if you want a more appealing balance of equipment and everyday usability, especially if you want available AWD and stronger efficiency than the turbo models.
• XRT: Choose this if you want the rugged styling, improved approach angle, all-terrain tires, and the turbocharged engine, but be aware that the tires hurt on-road handling.
• Limited: This is the trim to buy if you want the turbo engine plus the best on-pavement driving dynamics and the most complete feature set.

Starting with the XRT trim level, the Santa Cruz adds the intersection collision-braking system, surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 34.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,400 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.57% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 91.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $28,985, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz's resale value?

The current average of $28,985 sits slightly below last year's $30,697.

That price movement suggests the Santa Cruz has softened enough to help you buy more selectively today. If you sell later, you should expect resale value to depend heavily on trim, condition, and whether the truck has the turbo engine and desirable equipment buyers want. Well-kept examples with the right features should hold appeal better than stripped or heavily used trucks.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a Marginal rating in the latest IIHS moderate overlap frontal-impact assessment, and its SmartSense technologies receive the same Marginal rating for front-crash prevention.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

SmartSense includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. Starting with the XRT, you also get intersection collision-braking, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves, and Highway Driving Assist on the XRT and Limited.

The NHTSA gives the Santa Cruz five-star ratings in each collision evaluation, along with a four-star rollover resistance rating. The main caveat is the IIHS frontal-impact result, so you should pay attention to how the truck was equipped and how it has been maintained.

Should I buy a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 34.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.57% compared with last year.
• The 2025 adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

Consider the 2024 if:

• At $26,468, the 2024 costs less than the current year's $28,985 average.
• It blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality.

The bottom line: If you want the most up-to-date Santa Cruz with stronger tech and the latest updates, the 2025 is the better target. If your priority is saving money and you’re comfortable with the older formula, the 2024 is the value play.

How does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz compare to the 2025 Ford Maverick?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz:

• Pros: Fun to drive, Impressive technology, Great warranty.
• Cons: On-pavement handling with all-terrain tires, Cramped back seat, Not much cargo space.

2025 Ford Maverick:

• Pros: Standard hybrid powertrain, Charming and functional interior, Fun-to-drive Lobo model.
• Cons: Price has crept up, Advanced safety features are not standard, Excessive touchscreen controls.

Our experts score the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz 8.2/10 and the 2025 Ford Maverick 7.8/10. The Santa Cruz is the better pick if you value technology and a more engaging drive, while the Maverick stands out for its standard hybrid powertrain and stronger fuel economy. The Ford also offers more listings and a lower starting MSRP, but the Hyundai counters with a better warranty and more standard tech.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.