carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Truck |
| Base Price | $24,995–$29,852 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a truck that earns a Carivo score of 7.9/10 — rated Recommended. Its strongest dimension is Reliability at 8.3/10, while Performance at 7.2/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 8.3/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety lands at 8.3/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
With 7.2/10 for performance, this is a car tuned for daily driving rather than excitement — perfectly capable on the commute, unremarkable on a back road. At 7.3/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $24,995–$29,852, 22 MPG, seating 5, the Hyundai Santa Cruz sits in the budget-friendly tier of the truck market. Its value score of 8.1/10 confirms that the price reflects the quality — you're getting a lot for your money here. At 2 years old, it's recent enough that the core feature set holds up well against current competition.
Verdict: Nothing about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz will scare a sensible buyer off. It scores consistently across the board, and it does what a good truck should — quietly and competently.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz ranks #16 of 515 trucks in the Carivo database — better than 97% of the segment. Its 7.9/10 overall score is 0.5 points above the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $24,995 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $35,138 by about 29%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Truck ranking → · Best Trucks under $25k →
Across the Santa Cruz model years we've scored, the 2024 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8.0/10 | $25,744 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 8.0/10 | $25,744 | Read review → |
| 2024 (this review) | 7.9/10 | $24,995 | |
| 2023 | 7.9/10 | $24,245 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.9/10 | $23,495 | Read review → |
We rate the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz's reliability 8.3/10 — one of the stronger records in its class.
It scores 7.9/10 overall, ranking #16 of 515 trucks in our database (better than 97% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz starts at $24,995 and ranges up to $29,852 across trims (MSRP when new). At 22 MPG, expect roughly $2,386/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Other trucks at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of Hyundai models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
