2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz MPG and Fuel Cost
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is rated 20 to 25 mpg combined across 3 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic.
EPA fuel economy
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz · 3 EPA-tested versionsBest EPA rating
25MPG combined
22 city 30 highway
$2,600 a year to fuel
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic
Best version costs $1,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)
Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).
At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,600 to $3,250 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2025.
Every 2026 Santa Cruz version
EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.
| Version | Combined | City / Hwy | Fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic Best
EPA listing: Santa Cruz FWD |
25 mpg | 22 / 30 | $2,600 |
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5 AWD 8AT |
24 mpg | 21 / 29 | $2,700 |
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: Santa Cruz AWD NX4 OB 2.5T AWD 8AT (also Santa Cruz XRT AWD) |
20 mpg | 18 / 25 | $3,250 |
Fuel cost at your prices
EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.
| Version | Per year | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic | $2,592 | $12,960 |
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic | $2,700 | $13,500 |
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic | $3,240 | $16,200 |
At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.
Hyundai Santa Cruz MPG by model year
The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 23 to 25 mpg (every year from 2022 to 2026); 25 since 2025.
2026: gas 25 mpgTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Best gas version |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2026 | 25 |
How the 2026 Santa Cruz compares
2026 compact pickups covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.
| 2026 model | Best combined | Best gas | Fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
Best: hybrid |
38 mpg | 26 mpg | $1,700 |
Hyundai Santa Cruz This page Best: gas |
25 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,600 |
2026 Santa Cruz recalls and complaints
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints for the 2026 Santa Cruz.What they cover, and crash test ratingsQuestions
Does the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz need premium gas?
No. EPA lists every 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz version on regular gasoline.
How does the 2026 Santa Cruz's MPG compare with the 2025?
For 2026, the best gas version is rated 25 mpg, the same as the year before.
Sources and method
- US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
- EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
- Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 29, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 28, 2026.
Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.