With the Hyundai Santa Cruz supposedly on its way out, is it still worth your consideration?
It felt like an eternity as we waited for Hyundai to develop its new small truck for the North American market, considering the concept debuted all the way back in 2015. We finally got the production Hyundai Santa Cruz in summer 2021, however, and after just over three model years…it’s reportedly rolling into the history books after this model year. The timing of that development (which Hyundai has yet to outright confirm) was a bit odd, considering we recently had a brand-new XRT model of Hyundai’s small truck in our office. So, bearing in mind the Santa Cruz could be a one-and-done deal as the automaker eyes new pastures, we’re left with a simple question: Should you buy a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz before it’s too late?
Let’s cast back a few years, when TFL had a long-term Santa Cruz when it first hit the market. Back then, the team had fairly favorable impressions of Hyundai’s efforts, apart from one area on the turbocharged variants: its dual-clutch transmission. Following a recent facelift, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz suddenly (and quietly) dropped the DCT in favor of the conventional 8-speed automatic transmission, so now both turbocharged and naturally aspirated versions get the same setup. So, all is forgiven, right? Well, the transmission change is one of the factors I wanted to look at when trying out the latest Santa Cruz XRT.
In what could be its final model year, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz broadly enters the new year with few changes in store, other than the transmission. The Dark Green interior option has been dropped, while the off-road-focused XRT picks up new Terrain Modes comprising Mud, Snow and Sand. Tommy and Kase put the off-roadiness of the XRT to the test over on TFLoffroad, so for my intents and purposes (trying it out over the week on the road), this Santa Cruz is otherwise more or less the same as what we already know.
Pricing for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz kicks off at $31,350 for the base SE model, which brings in a 12.3-inch touchscreen display and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as its headline standard features. The SEL and SEL Activity models from 2025 remain, with price tags now sitting at $33,000 and $36,050, respectively. This XRT kicks the MSRP up a notch to $42,950 (mainly due to getting the 2.5T powertrain), while the Limited rounds things off at $45,300.
Our Santa Cruz XRT added Sage Gray paint for $500 and carpeted floor mats for $240. Including Hyundai’s $1,495 destination fee, the XRT more or less loaded, where extra-cost options include some paint colors and accessories. As a whole, the more rugged trim brings in the extra drive modes, unique 18-inch wheels with chunkier Continental TerrainContact tires, a revised front fascia with a darker grille and better approach angle, and red recovery hooks.
Just trucky enough?
Fundamentally, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is still the same small, unibody truck we’ve known over the past few years. You get a 2.5-liter engine running the show — naturally aspirated or turbocharged, depending on the trim — with output levels between 191 horsepower/181 lb-ft of torque and 281 horsepower/311 lb-ft of torque. Base models can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, while the brawnier 2.5T trims, the XRT and Limited, can haul up to 5,000 pounds.
As you’d rightly expect, the more interesting end of the Santa Cruz lineup is where the turbocharged four-pot’s at. The higher output makes the Santa Cruz properly quick, and it’s even more potent than the equivalent Ford Maverick. Actually, to help put that in perspective a little bit further, that’s more power and torque than the larger Honda Ridgeline, even with the latter’s V6 powerplant. When you want or need to, the turbo Santa Cruz can sprint from 0 to 60 in 6-and-a-bit seconds, and the Sport mode sharpens up transmission mapping and throttle response to make highway cruising and passing maneuvers satisfying experiences.
Performance isn’t the only name of the game for truck owners (even small truck owners). To that end, the Santa Cruz offers up a 52.1-inch-long bed and 27 cubic feet of overall bed volume, with a payload of 1,411 pounds. All those figures are slightly less than the Ford Maverick, though Hyundai does include a standard locking tonneau cover and Ridgeline-style under-bed storage, as well as a couple storage cubbies (with a power point inside one of them) and several cargo tie-downs.
Even with just a 4.3-foot bed, the Santa Cruz does still hit a sweeter spot for those needing cargo versatility over the equivalent Tucson SUV, while still offering up decent payload and more than adequate towing capability for a rig this size. Not that you necessarily need them with a truck this small, but the integrated rear bumper steps are also a nice touch.
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT uses a screen-heavy dash design, but still packs plenty of hard controls.
One of the major changes to Hyundai’s Maverick fighter last year was the interior. Like the Tucson, the Santa Cruz also received a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Depending on which trim you choose, the gauge cluster varies between a 4.2-inch TFT driver display flanked by digital gauges for the speedometer and tachometer or a configurable 12.3-inch cluster display on SEL Activity and higher models.
From the steering wheel to the center stack switches (including physical volume, tuning and temperature knobs!), the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is virtually identical to the gas-powered Tucson models. That may smack a bit formulaic for a truck that’s supposed to stand out to active and adventurous types, but the nice thing about the similarity is that controls are thoughtfully laid out. You still get a nice big gear selector, the steering wheel controls are easy to understand, your driving-related switches are on the center console, and there otherwise aren’t any curve balls.
The front row is appropriately spacious with 41.4 inches of legroom, while the Santa Cruz also packs a comfortable and obviously car-like ride, since it’s based on the Tucson’s platform. Rear passengers are a bit more cramped with 36.5 inches of possible legroom, but that’s not much worse than the Ford Maverick (there’s about half an inch in it).
As far as connectivity goes, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz also doesn’t bring any shocking surprises. There are a couple USB-C ports front and rear, while SEL Activity and higher trims, like this XRT, pack in a wireless charging pad just in front of the shifter. Higher trims also include a 10-speaker Bose stereo system which offers a better (if a bit middle-of-the-road) listening experience over the standard truck’s 6-speaker setup.
Verdict: The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT is more livable than ever…for a specific kind of buyer.
Fundamentally, while it may not be a major competitor to your dyed-in-the-wool off-road trucks, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT still offers a fun little sport truck for the lifestyle-minded owners Hyundai to which Hyundai aimed this truck in the first place. While the Ford Maverick is a bit more of a practical proposition — probably one reason it outsells the Santa Cruz by six-to-one — Hyundai offers a solid mix of usability and performance with a manageable footprint. If you want a fun little sport truck with a nicer interior and well-composed road manners, this is still a good choice. With the troubled 8-speed dual-clutch transmission now out of the picture, I’d argue this model year is actually the one to go for.
This might be a strange take, but if you don’t need the extra practicality of a midsize truck, I’d also argue the Santa Cruz is a more fun to drive (and fun to look at) alternative to the Honda Ridgeline, as well.
With fuel economy in the mid-20-mpg range, the Hyundai Santa Cruz does suffer for the lack of a hybrid option, like the Ford Maverick or even its Tucson SUV sibling. That said, it does get a little better out on the highway, and the power is a nice trade-off if you can swing the mileage hit…as well as the higher up-front price.
Speaking of that price, you’ll also get a range of standard safety features with the new Santa Cruz, as well as a five-star overall NHTSA safety rating. Features like lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert come standard, while more advanced systems like Highway Driving Assist, Driver Attention Warning and a 360-degree camera system come on the higher-end models.
According to the most recent reports, Hyundai will continue to sell the Santa Cruz through this year, and possibly wind down production in early 2027. If that does indeed come to pass (again, there’s not official word to that effect just yet), the Santa Cruz may just become a bit of a collector’s item, especially with turbo models like the XRT.
