2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: Sporty Truck
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a classy, contemporary compact pickup truck. It's characterized by a strong, masculine front end that embodies brawn and boldness. For this reason, the Santa Cruz stands out with its dynamic presentation for the 2026 model year. Moreover, it exudes a sense of confidence that immediately captures onlookers' attention.
This is due to Hyundai's desire and commitment to going the extra mile with its vehicle production. The auto giant has made the Santa Cruz a genuine gem within the unibody compact pickup truck segment. Keep reading to learn more about the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
What's New for Santa Cruz in 2026?
In 2025, the Hyundai Santa Cruz received a refresh in its overall style and presentation. But for the 2026 model year, it sees no notable modifications. However, there is one difference that Hyundai implemented: it has removed the dark green interior color from the lineup.
Adventurous Exterior
The Santa Cruz communicates a sense of might and modernity with its exterior design, evident in its emboldened stance. What's more, this subcompact unibody pickup truck speaks to the outdoorsman as much as it does to the city dweller in a single, adventurous exterior. Some of its exterior features include the following:
- 5 separate LED daytime running lights
- Black-and-silver contrasted 18-inch wheels
- Black-contrasted side handles
- LED turn signals on the two-tone side mirrors
At first glance, you instantly know there is something special about the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz. You experience a feeling of boldness that is contrasted with safety. Indeed, it was designed to meet your need for adventure as well as security-all within a single cabin.
Spacious Interior
Let's talk about the interior. Don't be fooled by the Santa Cruz's misleading label of "compact pickup truck." The engineers at Hyundai had a few surprises with this unibody pickup-one of them was its unexpectedly spacious interior. In fact, compared to its competitors, the Santa Cruz offers a generous amount of back room for its passengers.
A few interior features include the following:
- Tilt and telescoping steering column
- Two-tier glove box system
- Infotainment screen shortcuts
- Heated front seats and more
The interior of the Santa Cruz welcomes you with its supportive, leather-wrapped seats, user-friendly layout, and intuitive tech. As a result, you and your passengers can feel at ease during every excursion in the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Trim Levels and Pricing
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz has 5 different trim levels for the new model year. With each trim offering a unique set of features, capabilities, and price points, you can feel confident that there is something available for you.
SE Trim
The SE trim starts the lineup as the base model. It comes with fully galvanized steel panels, stylish 18-inch alloy wheels, deep-tinted glass, a black grille, a lip spoiler, and more. As a result, the SE trim comes with a starting MSRP of $31,100.
SEL Trim
Next in the lineup is the SEL trim. This model boasts LED turn signals, projector headlight beams, matte black bumper cladding, silver trim accents to the front grille, and accentuated side fender flares. The SEL, emboldened with its strong presentation and exterior design, has an MSRP of $32,750.
SEL Activity Trim
The SEL Activity is the next trim in the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz lineup. With its 2.5-liter direct injection engine, it boasts outputs of 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. In addition, it can tow up to 3,500 lbs and has a fuel economy rating of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The SEL Activity has an MSRP of $35,800.
XRT Trim
The XRT trim is by far the roughest, most rugged, and robust in the lineup. It's for those who dare to lead a more bold and adventurous lifestyle and need a sturdy pickup that aligns with that way of life. If this sounds like you, then the XRT is the trim of choice. It has a starting MSRP of $42,700.
Limited Trim
At the top of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim hierarchy is the Limited trim. This model is characterized by a more luxurious presentation and interior design. With a user-friendly cabin and power outputs of 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, the Limited seamlessly combines practicality with performance. Due to these contrasting attributes (in addition to many others), it comes with a starting MSRP of $45,050.
Engine, Power, and Performance
How does the Hyundai Santa Cruz stack up when it comes to power and performance for the 2026 model year? With its 2-engine system outputs, you can have a steady (although less potent) performance of 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque (bottom 3 trims). Or you can opt for the more robust engine output of 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque (top 2 trims).
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz 0-60 Time
The Hyundai Santa Cruz was able to produce a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of only 6 seconds in speed tests.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Towing Capacity
The Santa Cruz's base four-cylinder is able to tow up to 3,500 lbs. However, with the optional turbocharged engine, that rating jumps to an impressive 5,000 lbs towing capacity.
Fuel Efficiency
With the world moving more toward sustainability and eco-friendly alternatives, the auto industry is falling in line to do its part. But the question is: How does the Santa Cruz fare in this all-important category? It has a fuel economy rating of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Safety Features
Safety has always been a critical category when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle. That's why Hyundai is renowned as one of the safest auto brands in the world. It boasts a commitment to safety in every vehicle that comes off its production line. You can rest assured that the Hyundai Santa Cruz is no exception to that rule.
Some of its advanced safety features include the following:
- Blind-spot collision warning
- Driver attention warning
- Smart cruise control
- Forward collision-avoidance assist
- Pedestrian detection
- Automatic high-beam assist and more
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes fully stocked with a suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance technologies. As a result, you can rest easy knowing that you and your loved ones are secure every time you get behind the wheel of your new Santa Cruz.
Hyundai SmartSense Package
The Hyundai SmartSense package consists of an array of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These systems use state-of-the-art radar, sensor, and camera technology. The result? An enhanced vehicle safety system at your fingertips that increases safety and driver awareness. Features include forward collision-avoidance assist, adaptive cruise control, SmartSense technology, and more.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Warranty
Hyundai has long provided one of the most renowned warranty programs within the industry. The auto giant also provides complimentary scheduled maintenance servicing that surpasses that of many of its rivals.
- Limited Warranty: 60,000 miles or 5 years
- Powertrain Warranty: 100,000 miles or 10 years
- Complimentary Maintenance: 36,000 miles or 3 years
Reliability and Driving Experience
The Santa Cruz delivers a nice punch on acceleration, giving it a dynamic thrust on the road. With its impressive powertrain, you can confidently overtake slower vehicles. As a unibody independent suspension vehicle, this compact pickup boasts smooth maneuverability and responsive handling. As a result, you gain a feeling of control while you effortlessly cruise down the roadway in the versatile Santa Cruz. Whether you're navigating city streets or exploring off-road trails, this vehicle provides an enjoyable and reliable driving experience.
Technology and Connectivity
The Santa Cruz comes with a large, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, a Bose premium sound system, and wireless charging. In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard equipment, and you also receive Hyundai Blue Link services as well. All of these tech features will keep you well-connected and entertained every moment during your excursions.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is an exceptional vehicle with a lot of utility. However, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Let's look at a few of the pros and cons to help you determine if it's the right choice for you and your family. The pros include responsive ride quality, a comfortable driving experience, an optional robust turbocharged engine, numerous bed features, and plenty of advanced technology.
On the flip side, some considerations might include a slightly smaller rear seat, a price point for upper models that might stretch some budgets, and a compact size for the cargo bed.
Get Your Hyundai Santa Cruz at Hyundai of Saco
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a brilliant compact pickup. It delivers both versatility and practicality, making it an exceptional choice for a new vehicle. We at Hyundai of Saco in Saco, ME, are here to match you with one of your own. So, if you're ready to get your Hyundai Santa Cruz, contact us today to learn more.
