The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz gets 22 to 23 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) at 23 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2024, the Santa Cruz ranks 58th (tied with 7 others) of 75 for combined mileage (23 mpg), 38th (tied with 2 others) of 73 for yearly fuel cost ($2,700 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 65th of 75 for tailpipe CO2 (390 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 26 mpg, costs $2,600 a year and puts out 339 grams per mile.
Across all 262 2024 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 261 other models, 150 get more miles per gallon than the 2024 Santa Cruz's best version, 20 other models get the same and 91 get less. The 2024 Santa Cruz's cheapest version costs $2,700 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 255 other models with a cost figure, 90 cost less, 8 the same and 157 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2024. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 2024 Cadillac XT5 | 2024 XT5 AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 23 | $2,950 | 386 |
| 58 | 2024 Cadillac XT6 | 2024 XT6 AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 23 | $2,950 | 386 |
| 58 | 2024 Ford Edge | 2024 Edge AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L, Automatic (S8)) | 23 | $2,700 | 380 |
| 58 | 2024 Hyundai Santa CruzThis car | 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) | 23 | $2,700 | 390 |
| 58 | 2024 Jaguar E-Pace | 2024 E-Pace | 23 | $3,350 | 398 |
| 58 | 2024 Land Rover Range Rover | 2024 Range Rover Velar | 23 | $3,350 | 381 |
| 58 | 2024 Nissan Pathfinder | 2024 Pathfinder 4WD | 23 | $2,700 | 379 |
Pick a 2024 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L: 21 mpg city, 25 highway, 23 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2024 Santa Cruz version is $2,700 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2024, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Santa Cruz costs $659 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Santa Cruz costs $3,295 less to fuel than the RDX (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2024 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Santa Cruz (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Santa Cruz | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Acura RDX | 2024 RDX AWD | 23 mpg | $3,350 | same figure | $650 more a year | - |
| 2024 Cadillac XT5 | 2024 XT5 AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 23 mpg | $3,350 | same figure | $650 more a year | - |
| 2024 Cadillac XT6 | 2024 XT6 AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 23 mpg | $3,350 | same figure | $650 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2024; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 25 | 23 | $2,700 | 390 | cheapest |
| 2024 Santa Cruz FWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 22 | 26 | 23 | $2,700 | 381 | cheapest |
| 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-wheel | 19 | 27 | 22 | $2,850 | 403 | +$150 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2024 Santa Cruz; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) puts out 390 grams per mile; across the 3 tested versions the figure runs from 381 to 403.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)): fuel economy score 5, greenhouse gas score 5.
Best combined figure of the Santa Cruz gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2024 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23 mpg | 3 | same as 2024 | |
| 2023 | 23 mpg | 3 | same as 2024 | |
| 2024This page | 23 mpg | 3 | this page | |
| 2025 | 25 mpg | 4 | 2 mpg higher than 2024 | |
| 2026 | 25 mpg | 4 | 2 mpg higher than 2024 |
Compared with the 2023 model: 3 versions were tested then and 3 now; the best figure went from 23 to 23 mpg (no change).
The 2025 model has 4 tested versions.
| Version in 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | no change |
| 2024 Santa Cruz FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | no change |
| 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD Early Release | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD Early Release | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 26 complaints, 1 recall, 0 investigations.
36 complaints for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 11 | |
| Engine | 6 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
3 of the 36 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 2 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
1 recall is on file for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The circuit board in the motor-driven power steering assembly may short circuit, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
Fix: Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 11, 2024.
Other 2024 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Santa Cruz itself is at 23 mpg.
More Hyundai models that have a 2024 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) with 23 mpg combined (21 city, 25 highway).
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz costs between $2,700 and $2,850 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) at $2,700; the dearest is the 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)) at $2,850. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)): 23 mpg combined (21 city, 25 highway); 2024 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)): 22 mpg combined (19 city, 27 highway).
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 58th of 75 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2024 Kia Sportage at 43 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 26 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2024 Ford Edge at 23 mpg and the next one behind is the 2024 Jaguar E-Pace at 23 mpg.
The 2023 model had 3 tested versions and the 2024 model has 3. The best figure went from 23 to 23 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD Early Release: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD Early Release: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
36 complaints for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Power Train (11 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 1 recall for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.