Used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz cost?

Prices have softened 5.92% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,486 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz a good car?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns an 8.2/10 expert rating, and it is aimed at you if you want a sport truck for weekend DIY projects, hauling bulky items, and carrying adventure gear on day trips.

The standout strength is Technology at 10/10.

It also brings a fun-to-drive character, impressive technology, and a great warranty, while staying focused on everyday versatility rather than heavy towing or remote off-road travel. The main trade-offs are a cramped back seat and limited cargo space, and the all-terrain-tire setup can hurt on-pavement handling. If you want a compact trucklet with a clear utility-first identity, this one fits that brief well.

31.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which suggests there are worthwhile opportunities if you shop carefully.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is positioned as a practical, everyday-use trucklet with a strong warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance for the 2025 model year.

Its turbocharged version is described as zippy and enjoyable to drive, and the truck’s tech suite is unusually rich for the segment. Hyundai also includes three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance with every new vehicle purchase through 2025, which helps reduce early ownership costs. The performance notes also point to a regular-gas turbo engine and a comfortable ride, though the dual-clutch transmission can feel quirky and the all-terrain tires can compromise road manners.

For used buyers, the long-term risk is mainly about accepting a vehicle that prioritizes style, tech, and light-duty usefulness over maximum durability for hard work.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you are considering a truck that has seen rough roads or frequent utility use. Pay close attention to tire wear, brake condition, and how the transmission feels in normal driving, since those areas can reveal how the truck has been treated. If you want the more capable turbocharged versions, make sure the added equipment and driving character match your expectations.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The lineup spans SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited. The base three trims use the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while the XRT and Limited add the turbocharged engine. The XRT brings a more rugged look and off-road-themed hardware, but the Limited is the better pick if you care more about on-pavement refinement.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is described as underpowered, while the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is more satisfying and makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque on regular gas. The turbo setup is quicker, but it also returns lower fuel economy and uses a dual-clutch automatic that can feel uneven.
• 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 XRT and Limited.
• Infotainment: Every trim gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air software updates, Bluelink+ connected services, Hyundai Pay, a digital key system, and fingerprint scanning. Wireless smartphone charging is standard across the lineup.
• Fuel efficiency: The SEL Activity with AWD is rated at 24 mpg combined, the Limited AWD at 22 mpg combined, and the XRT at 21 mpg combined. The turbocharged engine is the less efficient choice, but it is also the more engaging one.

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’s core utility and standard tech without paying for the turbocharged engine or extra appearance and capability upgrades.
• SEL: This is the value-minded step up if you want a better-equipped daily driver while staying close to the lower end of the range.
• SEL Activity: This is the best-value trim if you want a more appealing middle ground, since it adds more equipment while still avoiding the higher price of the turbo models.
• XRT: Choose this if you want the off-road-themed look, the turbocharged engine, and the added camera and driver-assistance hardware, but be aware that the all-terrain tires hurt on-road handling.
• Limited: This is the trim to buy if you want the most polished version, especially because it pairs the turbo engine with better on-pavement driving dynamics than the XRT.

SmartSense is standard, and the XRT and Limited add the most advanced driver-assistance features.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you have room to shop, but the better listings can still move quickly.

• Deal availability: 31.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,486 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.92% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 93.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $29,275, 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 $29,275 sits slightly below last year's $31,116.

That price movement suggests the Santa Cruz has softened enough to create a more favorable buying window today. For a future seller, it also means you should expect resale value to depend heavily on trim, condition, and equipment, since the market is already pricing in some depreciation. If you buy well now, you may be better positioned than someone who paid closer to last year’s average.

Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz safe?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz earns a Marginal rating in the latest moderate overlap frontal-impact assessment from IIHS and earns five-star ratings in each collision evaluation from NHTSA, along with a four-star rollover resistance rating.

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

SmartSense is the standard driver-assistance suite, and it 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 trim, you also get an intersection collision-braking system, a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, and adaptive cruise control with automatic speed adjustment for curves. Highway Driving Assist is standard on the XRT and Limited.

The main caveat is the IIHS frontal-impact result, which is a meaningful shortcoming to weigh if safety is a top priority.

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:

• 31.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.92% compared with last year.
• The 2025 adds new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements while keeping the Santa Cruz’s fun-to-drive character.

Consider the 2024 if:

• At $26,587, the 2024 costs less than the current year's $29,275 average.
• It blends pickup utility with a compact, quirky personality.

The bottom line: Choose the 2025 if you want the latest updates, stronger tech, and a better shopping environment. If you are more price-sensitive, the 2024 is the smarter value play because it delivers the same basic Santa Cruz formula for less.

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, warranty coverage, and a more engaging drive. The Maverick has the edge if you want standard hybrid efficiency and a lower starting MSRP, but it gives up some tech sophistication and standard safety content.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.