“At 140 miles, the brand new vehicle needed the transmission replaced. At a few months, sections of the leather seats seem to have the leather de-bonding. A few panels look horrible.”
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz gets a substantial mid-cycle update led by a redesigned front end and cabin built around a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen. It is a refresh of the existing first generation, not a full redesign.
About the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz
1st generation (2022-2026), mid-cycle refresh year
Hyundai positions the Santa Cruz as a “Sport Adventure Vehicle”: a compact, five-passenger crew-cab vehicle that blends an SUV-like cabin and road manners with an open cargo bed. Its core appeal is everyday maneuverability, passenger comfort, concealed bed storage, and useful hauling capability without the size and driving feel of a traditional pickup. Turbo AWD trims add stronger acceleration and a higher towing rating for shoppers carrying recreational equipment or small trailers.
The SE is the practical everyday version, with a 191-hp engine, a five-seat cabin, and a composite 4-foot bed with lockable underbed storage. SEL Activity adds recreation-focused features such as a sunroof, digital gauge display, bed outlet, and bed lighting. The turbocharged AWD XRT focuses on towing and rough-road use, while Limited adds leather seating, ventilated front seats, Bose audio, and surround-view cameras.
What changed, by category
Styling
Hyundai redesigned the grille, front and rear bumpers, and daytime running lights. Inside, the dashboard, steering wheel, air vents, and frequently used audio and climate controls were also redesigned.
Tech
Every trim gained a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear USB-C ports, push-button start, and a rear center armrest. SEL Activity and higher trims gained a 12.3-inch digital instrument display.
Safety
Seatbelt reminders for all five seating positions became standard. XRT and Limited gained Smart Cruise Control 2 and Forward Attention Warning, while XRT also added surround-view and blind-spot camera displays plus highway driving assistance.
Structural
The XRT gained front recovery hooks and a better approach angle, helping its front end clear steeper obstacles. The underlying chassis was not redesigned.
Powertrain
XRT and Limited gained Tow Drive Mode. The 191-hp non-turbo engine, 281-hp turbo engine, and their eight-speed automatic transmissions carried over.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, GDI, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, GDI, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, GDI, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, GDI, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, GDI, 2.5 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 8-Spd w/Shiftronic | Automatic, 8-Spd w/Shiftronic | Automatic, 8-Spd DCT w/Shiftronic | Automatic, 8-Spd DCT w/Shiftronic | Automatic, 8-Spd w/Shiftronic |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | AWD | AWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | 19 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 30 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | 27 mpg | 30 mpg |
| Horsepower | 191 hp | 191 hp | 281 hp | 281 hp | 191 hp |
| Torque | 181 lb-ft | 181 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft | 181 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 3500 lb |
| Rear Legroom | 36.5 in | 36.5 in | 36.5 in | 36.5 in | 36.5 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||
| Alarm System | |||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||
| Cruise Control | |||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | |||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||
| 360 Camera | |||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||
| Heated Mirrors | |||||
| LED Headlights | |||||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | |||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||
| Roof Rails | |||||
| Tow Hooks | |||||
| Navigation System | |||||
| Premium Audio | |||||
| Satellite Radio | |||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||
| 115V Power Outlet | |||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | |||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | |||||
| Rear Air Conditioning | |||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | |||||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | |||||
| Leather Seats | |||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | |||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||||
| Power Driver Seat | |||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||||
| Remote Start | |||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | |||||
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz fully redesigned?
No. The 2025 Santa Cruz is a substantial mid-cycle refresh of the first-generation model. It has a new front-end look, a redesigned dashboard, and major equipment updates, but its basic platform and engine lineup carry over.
What changed inside the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2025 Santa Cruz gets a redesigned dashboard, steering wheel, air vents, and physical audio and climate controls. Every trim also has a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-C ports, push-button start, and a rear center armrest.
Did the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz get new engines?
No. The 2025 Santa Cruz keeps its 191-hp non-turbo 2.5-liter engine and 281-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, along with their eight-speed automatic transmissions. The turbocharged XRT and Limited gained Tow Drive Mode.
What is new on the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT?
The 2025 XRT gets redesigned rugged bumpers, front recovery hooks, a better approach angle, Tow Drive Mode, dual 12.3-inch displays, surround-view and blind-spot cameras, and added highway driving assistance. Its turbocharged engine and standard AWD carry over.
How did the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim lineup change?
The 2025 lineup adds SEL Activity as a separately listed trim and drops the Night trim. SEL Activity uses the 191-hp non-turbo engine and adds recreation-focused equipment such as a sunroof, digital instrument display, bed outlet, bed lighting, and sliding rear glass.
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
4.0
2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz
(11 reviews)
“Back seat has no leg room unless you are a child. Sometimes the screen does not make sense when looking for a function. The map on the Home Screen needs larger type for the street names, and would be easier to use if it was not locked to dark (nighttime). But overall, it's pretty awesome and fun to drive.”
“The Santa Cruz is an easy going and low stress driving crossover SUV. Plenty polished and has very good modern technology.”
Sources
- hyundainews.com — Releases / 4110
- hyundainews.com — Releases / 4182
- hyundainews.com — Releases / 4218
- hyundaiusa.com — Us / Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz
- hyundaiusa.com — Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz / Compare Specs
- hyundainews.com — Releases / 4513
- hyundaiusa.com — Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz / Se
- hyundaiusa.com — Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz / Sel
- hyundaiusa.com — Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz / Sel Activity
- hyundaiusa.com — Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz / Xrt
- hyundaiusa.com — Vehicles / 2025 Santa Cruz / Limited