DecodedCars2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- 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
- –
- Curb weight
- –
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 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, 17% below the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 49 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
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.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the power train.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Santa Cruz — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Santa Cruz →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Montgomery, Alabama
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 4 2026 Santa Cruz configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
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 | -17% | $2,700 | 356 |
| Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | -7% | $2,800 | 367 |
| Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | -23% | $3,350 | 433 |
| Santa Cruz XRT AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | -23% | $3,350 | 435 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz (this car) | 25 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Bronco | 20 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 35 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
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.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Jan 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
- Problem
- 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."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- 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.
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.
Not every 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Santa Cruz years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Santa Cruz | 25 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Santa Cruz | 25 | 195.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 21 |
| 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 →