The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz gets 21 to 25 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Santa Cruz FWD at 25 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2025, the Santa Cruz ranks 50th (tied with 9 others) of 76 for combined mileage (24 mpg), 32nd (tied with 6 others) of 75 for yearly fuel cost ($2,600 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 52nd of 76 for tailpipe CO2 (367 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 250 2025 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 249 other models, 114 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Santa Cruz's best version, 13 other models get the same and 122 get less. The 2025 Santa Cruz's cheapest version costs $2,500 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 68 cost less, 7 the same and 166 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 2025 Buick Envision | 2025 Envision AWD | 24 | $2,600 | 371 |
| 50 | 2025 Chevrolet Blazer | 2025 Blazer AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 24 | $2,600 | 368 |
| 50 | 2025 Genesis GV70 | 2025 GV70 AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) #2 | 24 | $3,200 | 369 |
| 50 | 2025 Hyundai Santa CruzThis car | 2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) | 24 | $2,600 | 367 |
| 50 | 2025 Jaguar F-Pace | 2025 F-Pace | 24 | $3,200 | 376 |
| 50 | 2025 Maserati Grecale | 2025 Grecale | 24 | $3,200 | 365 |
| 50 | 2025 Toyota Highlander | 2025 Highlander AWD | 24 | $2,600 | 371 |
Pick a 2025 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.
2025 Santa Cruz FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 22 mpg city, 30 highway, 25 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Santa Cruz version is $2,500 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2025, 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 $731 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Santa Cruz costs $3,655 less to fuel than the Stelvio (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio | 2025 Stelvio AWD | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 1 lower | $700 more a year | - |
| 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale | 2025 Tonale AWD | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 1 lower | $100 more a year | - |
| 2025 BMW X4 | 2025 X4 xDrive30i | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 1 lower | $700 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2025; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Santa Cruz FWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,500 | 356 | cheapest |
| 2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,600 | 367 | +$100 |
| 2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-wheel | 19 | 27 | 22 | $2,850 | 406 | +$350 |
| 2025 Santa Cruz XRT AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-wheel | 18 | 26 | 21 | $2,950 | 419 | +$450 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 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 2025 Santa Cruz FWD puts out 356 grams per mile; across the 4 tested versions the figure runs from 356 to 419.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Santa Cruz FWD: fuel economy score 5 (4 to 5 across versions), greenhouse gas score 5 (4 to 5 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Santa Cruz gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2023 | 23 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2024 | 23 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 25 mpg | 4 | this page | |
| 2026 | 25 mpg | 4 | same as 2025 |
Compared with the 2024 model: 3 versions were tested then and 4 now; the best figure went from 23 to 25 mpg (up 2).
The 2026 model has 4 tested versions.
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Santa Cruz FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | +2 mpg |
| 2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Santa Cruz XRT AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 21 mpg | 22 mpg (listed in 2024 as Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8))) | -1 mpg |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 23 complaints, 3 recalls, 0 investigations.
23 complaints for the 2025 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | |
| Electrical System | 4 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | |
| Service Brakes | 3 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
1 of the 23 reports say the car was in a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
3 recalls are on file for the 2025 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 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles.
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 Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles.
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 Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The console extension wiring assembly may be routed improperly, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal.
Fix: Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge.
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Santa Cruz itself is at 24 mpg.
More Hyundai models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2025 Santa Cruz FWD with 25 mpg combined (22 city, 30 highway).
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz costs between $2,500 and $2,950 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Santa Cruz FWD at $2,500; the dearest is the 2025 Santa Cruz XRT AWD at $2,950. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8)): 24 mpg combined (21 city, 29 highway); 2025 Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (AM-S8)): 22 mpg combined (19 city, 27 highway); 2025 Santa Cruz XRT AWD: 21 mpg combined (18 city, 26 highway).
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 50th of 76 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Kia Sportage at 43 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 26 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Genesis GV70 at 24 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Jaguar F-Pace at 24 mpg.
The 2024 model had 3 tested versions and the 2025 model has 4. The best figure went from 23 to 25 mpg (up 2).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
23 complaints for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Forward Collision Avoidance (10 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 3 recalls for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2025 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 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 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.