The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz gets 20 to 25 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Santa Cruz FWD at 25 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Santa Cruz ranks 45th (tied with 7 others) of 66 for combined mileage (24 mpg), 35th (tied with 4 others) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($2,600 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 48th of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (367 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 105 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Santa Cruz's best version, 8 other models get the same and 121 get less. The 2026 Santa Cruz's cheapest version costs $2,500 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 68 cost less, 10 the same and 147 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale | 2026 Tonale AWD | 24 | $2,600 | 376 |
| 45 | 2026 Audi Q5 | 2026 Q5 Sportback TFSI quattro | 24 | $3,200 | 368 |
| 45 | 2026 Chevrolet Blazer | 2026 Blazer AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 24 | $2,600 | 368 |
| 45 | 2026 Hyundai Santa CruzThis car | 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT | 24 | $2,600 | 367 |
| 45 | 2026 Jaguar F-Pace | 2026 F-Pace | 24 | $3,200 | 376 |
| 45 | 2026 Maserati Grecale | 2026 Grecale Modena | 24 | $3,200 | 365 |
| 45 | 2026 Toyota Highlander | 2026 Highlander AWD | 24 | $2,600 | 371 |
Pick a 2026 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.
2026 Santa Cruz FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 22 mpg city, 30 highway, 25 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 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 2026, 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 2026 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Alfa Romeo Stelvio | 2026 Stelvio AWD | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 1 lower | $700 more a year | - |
| 2026 Alfa Romeo Tonale | 2026 Tonale AWD | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 1 lower | $100 more a year | - |
| 2026 Audi Q5 | 2026 Q5 Sportback TFSI quattro | 24 mpg | $3,200 | 1 lower | $700 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2026; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz FWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,500 | 356 | cheapest |
| 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,600 | 367 | +$100 |
| 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 433 | +$600 |
| 2026 Santa Cruz XRT AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 435 | +$600 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 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 2026 Santa Cruz FWD puts out 356 grams per mile; across the 4 tested versions the figure runs from 356 to 435.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 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 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 23 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 23 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 25 mpg | 4 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 25 mpg | 4 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 4 versions were tested then and 4 now; the best figure went from 25 to 25 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa Cruz FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 24 mpg | 24 mpg (listed in 2025 as Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8))) | no change |
| 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 20 mpg | 24 mpg (listed in 2025 as Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8))) | -4 mpg |
| 2026 Santa Cruz XRT AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 20 mpg | 24 mpg (listed in 2025 as Santa Cruz AWD (Automatic (S8))) | -4 mpg |
2 2025 versions have no match in 2026.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ PU/CC N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ PU/CC N/A AWD | 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 5 complaints, 3 recalls, 0 investigations.
5 complaints for the 2026 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Departure | 2 | |
| Power Train | 2 | |
| Steering | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
0 of the 5 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
3 recalls are on file for the 2026 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 2025-2026 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.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026.
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.
Other 2026 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 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Santa Cruz FWD with 25 mpg combined (22 city, 30 highway).
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz costs between $2,500 and $3,100 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Santa Cruz FWD at $2,500; the dearest is the 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT at $3,100. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT: 24 mpg combined (21 city, 29 highway); 2026 Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT: 20 mpg combined (18 city, 25 highway); 2026 Santa Cruz XRT AWD: 20 mpg combined (18 city, 25 highway).
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 45th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Chevrolet Blazer at 24 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Jaguar F-Pace at 24 mpg.
The 2025 model had 4 tested versions and the 2026 model has 4. The best figure went from 25 to 25 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ PU/CC N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ PU/CC N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
5 complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Lane Departure (2 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 3 recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 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 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 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.