DecodedCarsFord Bronco vs Hyundai Santa Cruz
2026 Ford Bronco vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.
The short version
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is more fuel-efficient: 25 vs 20 MPG combined in its best version.
That works out to about $650 a year less in fuel for the Hyundai Santa Cruz (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).
Across all model years since 2005, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has had fewer recall campaigns (9 vs 50).
The two cars
The 2026 Ford Bronco is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 165 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,288 lb (2dr 2.3l SUV).
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. EPA rates its most efficient version at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 30 highway), 17% worse than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,700 a year in fuel.
Buying used? The 2024 Bronco and the 2024 Santa Cruz have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2022 Santa Cruz.
Basics
Efficiency
Performance & space
Safety & reliability
Interest
Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Ford Bronco if…
It doesn't clearly beat the Hyundai Santa Cruz on any measure we track.
Choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz if…
- You want lower fuel bills (25 vs 20 MPG)
- You want more standard driver-assist tech
- You put reliability history first (9 vs 50 recalls since 2005)
Pros & cons of each
2026 Ford Bronco
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 20 MPG combined, 23% below the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG.
- 9 recallsMore than similar models (about 1). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 25 MPG combined, 17% below the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG.
Full 2026 Ford Bronco specs →Full 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →