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2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise

Hyundai Santa Cruz highlights

Customer rating

RepairPal reliability rating

(data not available)

Pros

  • Comfortable ride
  • Capable enough for most truck buyers
  • Lots of standard tech features

Cons

  • The rear seats are uncomfortable
  • Tough to see out the back
  • Pricier than its main rival

Mileage (EPA estimate)

19 city, 25 highway, 22 combined

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The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a truck with few compromises

If modern pickup trucks are too large and unwieldy for your liking, you might want to consider the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz. This compact pickup offers the smooth ride of a modern SUV with the capabilities of a truck.

The Santa Cruz is more than a foot shorter than the Toyota Tacoma but offers enough towing capacity and payload to satisfy many truck buyers. The Santa Cruz can tow between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, allowing you to tow a small trailer or boat.

But the Santa Cruz's main selling point may be its on-road comfort. It offers a smooth ride and comfortable front seats. Many driver aids, including adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning, come standard. You'll also get Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ as standard features.

All Hyundai Santa Cruz years

Not sure what year to select? Learn about each Hyundai Santa Cruz generation from 2022 to 2026

What We Like 

  • Comfortable ride: The Hyundai Santa Cruz is based on the Hyundai Tucson and has a unibody design, making it more like a car or SUV than a traditional pickup truck. That helps the Santa Cruz deliver a very comfortable ride, free from the jostling that you may find on a Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger. 

  • Lots of tech: You get Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ as standard in addition to adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning. The Santa Cruz also comes with a power-adjustable driver's seat and keyless entry on all but the base SE trim.  

  • Storage and utility: The Santa Cruz has a nifty trunk space inside its bed. That space features a drain that makes it handy for storing wet gear or using it as a cooler. The trunk features a lock on all but the base SE trim.  

 What Needs Improvement 

  • Fuel economy: The Santa Cruz, unlike its rival, the Ford Maverick, is not available as a hybrid. And despite its small size, its fuel economy is not great. The EPA estimates the Santa Cruz will get up to 23 mpg in combined driving, which is closer to the midsize Honda Ridgeline (21 mpg combined) than the non-hybrid Maverick (up to 26 mpg combined).

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

5 out of 5

6 customer reviews

Hyundai Santa Cruz features and specs

Curious how Hyundai Santa Cruz trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

SE 2WD 4D Crew Cab

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Blind Spot Monitor
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Traction Control

Optional Features

  • Full Roof Rack
  • Running Boards
  • Tow Hitch

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

2.5L

Horsepower

191

Torque (ft-lbs)

181

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

17.7

Wheelbase

118.3"

Overall length

195.7"

Width

75"

Height

66.7"

Leg room

F 41.4"/R 36.5"

Head room

F 40.2"/R 39.6"

Front tires

P245/60HR18

Rear tires

P245/60HR18

Seating capacity

5

Max towing capacity

350/3500 lbs.

Transmission

Automatic

2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz FAQ

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* Price excludes taxes, title, registration, and fees. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions.

We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.​

Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.

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