Hyundai Santa Cruz SE, SEL, XRT & More

Last updated August 4, 2026

Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz lineup starts with the SE, which covers the essentials with a large touchscreen, useful safety features, and built-in bed storage. The SEL is the everyday comfort upgrade, while SEL Activity adds more bed utility and cabin tech. Night, SEL Premium, and XRT form the turbocharged AWD branch: Night emphasizes dark styling, SEL Premium leans toward comfort and technology, and XRT adds a tougher look and trail-focused hardware. Limited sits at the top with leather seating, richer cabin features, premium audio, and extra camera views.

What each trim is known for

Hyundai Santa Cruz Base Model

Base Model

SE 4 ft

The Base Model trim level — SE 4 ft — is the straightforward entry point, pairing the Santa Cruz’s compact bed with essential technology and safety features.

Best for: Shoppers who want the core Santa Cruz experience without the comfort, appearance, or turbo upgrades of higher trims.

Highlights

  • 191-hp 2.5-liter engine with an 8-speed automatic
  • Large touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in recent years
  • Locking under-bed storage and sidewall bed compartments
  • Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic assistance
14 in stock
Hyundai Santa Cruz Mid-Level

Mid-Level

SEL 4 ftSEL Activity 4 ft

The Mid-Level trim level — SEL 4 ft and SEL Activity 4 ft — is the comfort-focused step-up, with Activity adding more gear-friendly bed features and cabin tech.

Best for: Daily drivers who want heated seats and a more polished cabin, especially those considering SEL Activity for weekend gear or project use.

Highlights

  • H-Tex synthetic leather and heated front seats
  • Power driver’s seat with power lumbar support
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • SEL Activity adds a sunroof, digital gauges, a bed power outlet, and utility tracks

Compared with the SE 4 ft, the SEL 4 ft adds upgraded seating, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and roof rails. SEL Activity 4 ft builds on that with added bed utility and cabin tech.

57 in stock
Hyundai Santa Cruz Premium Upgrade

Premium Upgrade

Night 4 ftSEL Premium 4 ftXRT 4 ft

The Premium Upgrade trim level — Night 4 ft, SEL Premium 4 ft, and XRT 4 ft — is the stronger turbo AWD branch, with distinct style, technology, and rugged-use personalities.

Best for: Shoppers who want quicker turbo power, standard AWD, and stronger towing, then prefer dark styling, added technology, or a tougher XRT theme.

Highlights

  • 281-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with standard AWD
  • Night centers on dark styling and upper-range performance
  • SEL Premium emphasizes comfort and driver technology
  • XRT adds terrain modes, rugged cladding, front tow hooks, and extra camera views

Compared with the Mid-Level trims, this group moves to a 281-hp turbo engine, standard AWD, and a 5,000-pound maximum towing rating. Equipment then differs by member trim: Night is style-focused, SEL Premium is tech-focused, and XRT is the rugged branch.

24 in stock
Hyundai Santa Cruz Top Tier

Top Tier

Limited 4 ft

The Top Tier trim level — Limited 4 ft — is the luxury-focused Santa Cruz, combining turbo AWD performance with the lineup’s richest cabin and camera technology.

Best for: Drivers who want compact-bed usefulness and strong towing without giving up leather, ventilated seats, premium audio, or upscale convenience features.

Highlights

  • Leather-trimmed heated and ventilated front seats
  • Bose premium audio
  • Surround-view and blind-spot camera views
  • Driver-seat and side-mirror memory

Compared with the Premium Upgrade level, Limited 4 ft keeps the 281-hp turbo AWD setup but shifts the focus to leather seating, ventilation, premium audio, driver memory, and richer cabin comfort.

23 in stock

Trim comparison

FeatureTop TierMid-LevelBase ModelPremium Upgrade
Includes
Limited 4 ft23 in stock
SEL 4 ft, SEL Activity 4 ft57 in stock
SE 4 ft14 in stock
Night 4 ft, SEL Premium 4 ft, XRT 4 ft24 in stock
Engine output281 hp, turbo191 hp191 hp281 hp, turbo
DrivetrainAll-wheel driveFront-wheel driveFront-wheel driveAll-wheel drive
Maximum towing5,000 lb3,500 lb3,500 lb5,000 lb
Seat comfortLeather; heated and ventilatedH-Tex; heated front seatsCore seatingNight: H-Tex; heated front seats
Display focusNavigation and digital gaugesActivity adds digital gaugesLarge touchscreenNavigation and digital gauges
Defining extrasBose audio, memory, extra camera viewsActivity adds bed power and utility tracksBuilt-in bed storageStyle, tech, or XRT trail hardware

Frequently asked questions

What does the SEL add over the SE?

On newer models, the SEL keeps the SE’s 191-hp engine but adds H-Tex synthetic leather, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, and roof rails. It is mainly a comfort upgrade.

What is the difference between SEL and SEL Activity?

In recent years, SEL Activity builds on SEL with a sunroof, digital gauge display, wireless phone charging, a bed power outlet, bed utility tracks, LED bed lighting, and a sliding rear window. Both retain the non-turbo engine.

Which Santa Cruz trim should I pick if I do not need the turbo engine?

On newer models, SE is the straightforward choice, SEL adds everyday cabin comfort, and SEL Activity adds the most bed utility and technology. All three use the 191-hp non-turbo engine.

Which Santa Cruz trims have the turbo engine?

The names depend on the era. Early turbo models included SEL Premium and Limited, while Night joined later. In the recent lineup, XRT and Limited use the 281-hp turbo engine with standard AWD.

What is the difference between the XRT and Limited?

In recent years, both use the turbo engine and AWD. XRT emphasizes rugged styling, front recovery hooks, terrain settings, and trail-friendly hardware. Limited emphasizes leather, ventilated front seats, Bose audio, driver memory, and a heated steering wheel.

Is the Night trim the same as the XRT?

No. Night is an older style-focused turbo AWD trim with dark exterior details. XRT takes a more capability-focused approach, adding tougher body hardware and, on newer models, features such as exposed front recovery hooks, extra camera views, and terrain settings.

How does the older SEL Premium compare with the XRT?

SEL Premium was a turbo AWD trim focused on comfort and technology. XRT replaced it in the lineup for 2024 and added a more rugged identity, including distinctive body cladding, while retaining the stronger turbo AWD setup.

Which Santa Cruz trim is best suited to camping or project gear?

SEL Activity is the practical non-turbo pick in recent years. Its bed outlet, utility tracks, bed lighting, and sliding rear window add useful hardware, while the sunroof, digital gauges, and wireless charging improve daily comfort.

Which Santa Cruz trim has the most upscale interior?

Limited is the luxury-focused trim. On newer models, it combines turbo power and AWD with leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, Bose audio, driver-seat memory, a heated steering wheel, and extra camera views.

Which Santa Cruz trims have a 360-degree parking camera?

On newer models, XRT and Limited include a surround-view camera that shows the area around the vehicle. They also provide a camera view of the adjacent lane when the turn signal is activated.

What do I gain by stepping up from SEL Activity to XRT?

On newer models, XRT adds the 281-hp turbo engine, standard AWD, more advanced camera views, adaptive highway assistance, rugged exterior hardware, and terrain settings. SEL Activity keeps the 191-hp engine and focuses more on bed utility and cabin features.

Does the base SE still have modern phone and convenience features?

Yes, especially on refreshed models. The SE includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, push-button start, key-fob remote start, and core blind-spot and rear cross-traffic safety features.

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