2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a compact SUV, rated at 25 MPG combined by the EPA, with a 5-star NHTSA overall safety rating. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year.
- Combined MPG
- 25
- NHTSA safety
- Starting price
- $27,000
- Recalls
- 3
Watch: Santa Cruz reviews
Full specifications
Identity
SRC · NHTSA vPIC| Make | Hyundai |
|---|---|
| Model | Santa Cruz |
| Model year | 2026 |
| Vehicle class | Compact SUV |
Engine & drivetrain
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| Displacement | 2.5 L |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
Fuel economy
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| City MPG | 22 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 30 |
| Combined MPG | 25 |
| CO₂ tailpipe | 356 g/mi |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2500 |
Available configurations
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT | 24 MPG combined |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT | 20 MPG combined |
| Santa Cruz FWD | 25 MPG combined |
| Santa Cruz XRT AWD | 20 MPG combined |
Fuel economy
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| City | 22 MPG |
|---|---|
| Highway | 30 MPG |
| Combined | 25 MPG |
Efficiency vs class average
About 22% below the class average.
- Amount financed
- $24,300
- Total interest
- $4,227
Partner offers · may earn us a commission
≈ $1,608/yr · 12,000 mi/yr · $3.35/gal
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Cost to own
Estimate monthly payments and 5-year fuel cost using the tools in the sidebar. Figures use EPA fuel economy and current U.S. energy prices from EIA.
Safety ratings & recalls
SRC · NHTSA vPIC- Overall
- Frontal crash
- Side crash
- Rollover
Recalls (3)
- AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN25V809000 · 2025-11-21
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL26V047000 · 2026-01-27
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING26V316000 · 2026-05-19
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
Remedy: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.
Compare with rivals
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Frequently asked questions
What is the MPG of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is EPA-rated at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 30 highway).
Is the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz reliable?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Recalls are repaired free of charge by the manufacturer — verify any open recalls by VIN before purchase.
How safe is the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz earned a 5-star overall NHTSA safety rating, including 5 stars in the frontal crash test.
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
At 12,000 miles per year, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz costs roughly $1,608 per year to fuel, or about $8,040 over 5 years at current U.S. energy prices.
What type of vehicle is the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is classified as a compact suv. Common rivals in this class are worth comparing on price, MPG, and safety.
Sources: NHTSA vPIC · EPA FuelEconomy · NHTSA vPIC