To those who’ve been around a while, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz looks like a bigger version of the old Subaru Baja, which looks like a smaller version of the old Chevrolet El Camino. The idea of wedding a pickup bed and an SUV chassis isn’t entirely new. Still, Hyundai’s take creates a versatile, attractive, and off-road capable machine the company likes to call a “Sport Adventure Vehicle.”
However you perceive it, the Santa Cruz offers more features and technology than the Ford Maverick but less cargo or interior volume than the Honda Ridgeline. Then again, neither Ford nor Honda can match Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which comes at no extra cost.
Hyundai offers the Santa Cruz in five trims: SE, SEL, Night, XRT, and Limited. The SE and SEL use a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and are pulled by their front wheels, although you can opt for all-wheel drive (AWD) on either trim. The Night, XRT, and Limited get a more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter upgrade, good for an impressive 281 horsepower. Turbocharged models come standard with AWD and get a dual-clutch 8-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters.
Tow ratings for the SE and SEL are limited to 3,500 pounds, while the turbocharged trims can pull up to 5,000 pounds.
Prices provided are current at the time of publishing.
What’s New:
For 2024, the Hyundai Santa Cruz gains a new XRT trim and a few upgrades. Bi-LED headlights are standard on all trims, while SEL and higher trims gain dual-zone automatic climate control. The steering wheel gains new haptic feedback buttons for some driver-assist systems.
Our Recommendation:
The Hyundai Santa Cruz in XRT trim is the best overall value. It has a potent turbocharged engine, plenty of features, looks great, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. It would be nice if the Bose audio upgrade were available, but moving to the Limited trim is the only way to get it.
Santa Cruz SE
Starting at $26,650 | See listings
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 191 hp
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Auto on/off Bi-LED headlights
- Auto high-beam headlights
- Under bed floor storage
- Cruise control
- Blind-spot monitor
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Automatic emergency braking
- Bluetooth
- See more
Santa Cruz SEL
Starting at $29,400 | See listings
- 8-way power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Heated side mirrors
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Proximity keyless entry
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- See more
Santa Cruz Night
Starting at $38,210 | See listings
- Turbo 2.5-liter engine with 281 hp
- 20-inch black wheels
- 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen
- 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster
- Power sunroof
- Integrated sliding bed cover
- Wireless charging pad
- See more
Santa Cruz XRT
Starting at $39,850 | See listings
- XRT exterior styling
- Junction Assist
- Digital Key
- Adaptive cruise control
- 115-volt in-bed inverter
- H-Tex faux-leather upholstery
- See more
Santa Cruz Limited
Starting at $41,070 | See listings
- Ventilated front seats
- Bose audio
- Leather upholstery
- Ambient interior lighting
- Navigation-based adaptive cruise control
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Heated steering wheel
- See more
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE: $26,650 (FWD), $28,150 (AWD)
Like all entry-level Hyundai vehicles, the entry-level Santa Cruz SE is surprisingly well-equipped. It’s perfect for people who do not need power seats or fancy touchscreens but still want a safe, reliable vehicle that serves their active lifestyle needs. That could be a first-time buyer on a budget or an older buyer whose last vehicle didn’t even have Bluetooth.
The SE equipment buffet starts with its safety and driver-assist system. Standard equipment includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist with lane following feature, safe-exit warning, and a driver attention monitor.
You’ll also get a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic detection, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear backup camera, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Adaptive cruise control, a standard feature on the Honda Ridgeline, isn’t available on the Santa Cruz until you reach the XRT trim.
The unique Santa Cruz exterior features a 4-foot composite bed with a locking storage compartment under the bed floor. The compartment includes a drain plug, so you can use it as an ice chest when tailgating.
Hyundai also includes sidewall storage bins, heavy-duty cargo tie-down D rings, and a height-adjustable tailgate that can be released using the remote key fob. The bed also features an LED bed light below the center high-mounted brake light.
The Santa Cruz’s rear bumpers have integrated steps making it easier to load large or heavy items, and self-leveling rear shocks to deal with heavy loads.
Moving to the front, we find LED daytime running lights and auto on/off bi-LED projector headlights integrated into the grille and front bumper design. The SE trim includes 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, remote keyless entry, power side mirrors, and black resin wheel arch moldings.
The SE’s cabin features a stain- and odor-resistant cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, rear under-seat storage, one-touch down power driver’s window, power door locks, and sliding sun visors.
Amenities include manual air conditioning with physical knobs and buttons, a 4.2-inch multi-information display, adjustable drive modes, rear seat reminder, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with cruise, Bluetooth, and audio controls.
The SE comes with a rather basic infotainment setup. It includes an 8-inch color touchscreen display, a 6-speaker AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth streaming, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are no option packages for the SE, although Hyundai does offer several dealer-installed accessories.
With the $1,335 delivery fee, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE costs $27,985. On a 60-month loan with 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $528. See 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE models for sale near you
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SE includes:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – With the SE’s wireless connectivity, you can enjoy music, navigation, and message from your phone without removing it from your purse or pocket.
- Versatile bed – The Santa Cruz’s durable bed is designed to take a beating, with plenty of ways to haul cargo, including places to hide it from prying eyes.
- Self-leveling rear shocks – The Santa Cruz’s Nivomat self-leveling shocks automatically adjust to keep the back end from sagging under load.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL: $29,400 (FWD), $30,900 (AWD)
The SEL adds more tech and convenience features, making the Santa Cruz a bit more hip.
Building off the SE, the SEL adds power-heated side mirrors, a remote engine start, and a proximity keyless entry system, which lets you unlock and start this little trucklet without taking the fob from your purse or pocket.
Interior upgrades include an 8-way power driver’s seat with 2-way power lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate controls, heated front seats, one-touch up/down power front windows, and illuminated visor mirrors.
The SEL’s audio system gains SiriusXM satellite radio and Hyundai Bluelink connected services.
Optional on the SEL is the Activity Package. For an additional $3,660, the package adds an integrated retractable bed cover, a power sunroof, roof rails, a sliding rear glass window, and a dual C-channel rail system with cleats on each side.
Also in the package is a 115-volt in-bed power inverter, LED bed lighting, LED interior lighting, a wireless charging pad, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen, and dynamic voice recognition.
When upgrading to the Activity Package, you also get a haptic-touch climate control panel but lose wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in favor of a wired system.
With the $1,335 delivery fee, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL costs $30,735. On a 60-month loan with 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $580. See 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL models for sale near you
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL includes:
- Dual-zone automatic climate control – The SEL’s dual-zone climate control lets the driver and front passenger personalize their climate zones.
- Heated front seats – The SEL’s multi-stage heated front seats let occupants choose varying degrees of cushion warmth.
- Remote start – Push a button on the key fob to start the Santa Cruz. That way, the cabin can be heated or cooled to your liking before your drive.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night: $38,210
The Night trim comes standard with AWD, a dual-clutch 8-speed automatic transmission, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a more powerful turbocharged engine.
It builds off the SEL AWD trim with the Activity Package, adding black H-Tex synthetic leather seat upholstery, 20-inch Night alloy wheels, dark exterior chrome trim and grille, side steps, and gloss-black mirror caps and door handles.
With the $1,335 delivery fee, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night costs $39,545. On a 60-month loan with 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $746. See 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night models for sale near you
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT: $39,850
Mechanically, the XRT is identical to the Night trim and has all the same features as the SEL AWD with the Activity Package. The XRT adds unique exterior styling elements to this mix, such as orange anodized center wheel caps, wider fender cladding and door garnish, and bold “SANTA CRUZ” tailgate lettering in matte black.
On the driver-assist front, the XRT gains forward Junction Turning Detection that watches for cars or cyclists and can stop this Hyundai from making a dangerous left turn into oncoming traffic. It also features adaptive cruise control with stop & go, intelligent speed limit assist (adjusts speed to the posted limit), and Digital Key, a smartphone app that turns a smartphone into a key.
Additional XRT equipment includes side steps, bed rails, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
With the $1,335 delivery fee, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT costs $41,185. On a 60-month loan with 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $777. See 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT models for sale near you
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT includes:
- XRT styling – The XRT treatment first seen on Hyundai’s larger SUVs comes to the Santa Cruz. It features more exterior cladding, unique wheels, and bold matte-black lettering.
- Junction Turning – This additional driver aid warns of danger when making a left turn across oncoming traffic and can even stop the vehicle if a collision seems imminent.
- Adaptive cruise control – The XRT’s advanced adaptive cruise control maintains a safe distance from the car ahead. It can slow, stop, and resume speed once traffic begins to move.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited: $41,070
The Limited trim brings all available hardware. In addition to a turbocharged engine, standard AWD, and a dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Limited builds off the SEL with the Activity Package, adding high-end features like leather upholstery, a Bose audio system, and ventilated front seats.
The Limited features adaptive cruise control that uses the car’s navigation system to anticipate upcoming curves or hills, adjusting the vehicle to an appropriate speed if necessary. It also includes Junction Turning Detection, a 360-degree Surround View Monitor, Digital Key 1, Highway Driving Assist, rain-sensing wipers, and a heated steering wheel.
Hyundai’s Blind-Spot View Monitor projects an image of the adjacent lane onto the instrument panel, letting you see when it’s unsafe (or safe) to change lanes.
Rear seat air vents, ambient interior lighting, and 20-inch alloy wheels round out the Limited’s upgrades.
With the $1,335 delivery fee, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited costs $42,405. On a 60-month loan with 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $800. See 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited models for sale near you
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited includes:
- Leather upholstery – Rich-looking and soft to the touch, these leather seating surfaces elevate the Santa Cruz interior to near-luxury status.
- Ventilated front seats – The Limited’s ventilated front seats circulate cool air through the seatback and lower cushion, keeping occupants cool and dry.
- Bose audio – The Bose audio system includes eight high-performance speakers designed to impress even the pickiest audiophile.
