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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Truck |
| Base Price | $25,744–$32,217 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz at 8.0/10 overall, which translates to a Recommended rating for this truck. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 8.5/10, while Performance at 7.1/10 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. We score reliability at 8.3/10 — better than most direct rivals, if short of the segment's best. The 8.5/10 safety score puts it near the top of the class on this dimension; the official trim-level results at nhtsa.gov are worth a final check.
Performance scores 7.1/10 — competent for everyday use. Acceleration and handling are adequate for commuting and highway driving, though enthusiasts will want to look at higher-rated alternatives. Tech rates a reasonable 7.4/10: the essentials are covered and well executed, but rivals at the same price often include more as standard.
Priced from $25,744–$32,217, 25 MPG, seating 5, the Hyundai Santa Cruz sits in the mid-market bracket of the truck segment. Value is where it presses its advantage — 8.4/10, meaning the feature set and quality outrun the asking price. As the current model year, it benefits from the latest updates and full manufacturer warranty coverage.
Our take: The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a solid, well-rounded truck that covers the essentials without obvious deal-breakers. For most buyers in this segment, it's a safe, dependable choice.
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 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz ranks #1 of 515 trucks in the Carivo database — better than 100% of the segment. Its 8.0/10 overall score is 0.6 points above the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $25,744 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $35,138 by about 27%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Truck ranking →
Across the Santa Cruz model years we've scored, the 2026 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 (this review) | 8.0/10 | $25,744 | |
| 2025 | 8.0/10 | $25,744 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.9/10 | $24,995 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.9/10 | $24,245 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.9/10 | $23,495 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Air bags / Side/window / Curtain 21/11/2025 · 25V809000 | 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… |
|---|---|
| Electrical system / instrument cluster/panel 27/01/2026 · 26V047000 | 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… |
| Forward collision avoidance / automatic emergency braking 19/05/2026 · 26V316000 | 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… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Explore the full lineup of Hyundai models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.