DecodedCars2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2025 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr Pickup
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 25 combined · 22 city / 30 hwy
- Length
- 195.7 in
- Curb weight
- 4,101 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 25 MPG combined, 14% below the 2025 small SUV average of 29 MPG.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 29 similar 2025 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2025 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.
It measures about 196 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 119-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,101 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 30 highway), 14% worse than the 2025 small SUV average of 29 MPG, for an estimated $2,700 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the forward collision avoidance.
What changed for 2025
- Best combined MPG up from 23 to 25
Compared with 2024; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2024 Santa Cruz →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Montgomery, Alabama
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2025 Santa Cruz configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Pickup | 195.7 in | 75.2 in | 66.5 in | 118.5 in | 64.6 / 65 in | 4,101 lb | 57/43 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 30 / 25 | -14% | $2,700 | 356 |
| Santa Cruz AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | -6% | $2,800 | 367 |
| Santa Cruz AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | -14% | $3,050 | 406 |
| Santa Cruz XRT AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -18% | $3,200 | 419 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2025 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 16.4% |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 16.4% |
Similar 2025 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz (this car) | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
| 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 4 |
| 2025 Toyota 4Runner | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2025 Ford Explorer | 24 MPG | ★★★★★ | 22 |
| 2025 Toyota Highlander | 35 MPG | ★★★★★ | 4 |
| 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
| 2025 Kia Telluride | 22 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
Recalls (3)
Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking · May 18, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V316000 · 423,062 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- 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.
Air Bags › Side/Window › Curtain · Nov 20, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V809000 · 258 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- 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 › Wiring · Nov 20, 2024
NHTSA campaign 24V877000 · 42,465 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The console extension wiring assembly may be routed improperly, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal.
- Risk
- A transmission that can shift out of Park without applying the brake pedal can result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 273.
Not every 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 6 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 4 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 5,045 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Santa Cruz years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Santa Cruz | 25 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 Santa Cruz | 25 | – | Not rated | 3 | 5 |
| 2024 Santa Cruz | 23 | 195.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 35 |
| 2023 Santa Cruz | 23 | 195.7 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 79 |
| 2022 Santa Cruz | 23 | 195.7 in | Not rated | 4 | 185 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →