Hyundai carried it 2025 Santa Cruz to this year New York Auto Show for the launch. With salesman With deliveries slated for late this summer, it’s time to answer the question every dad is programmed to ask at the end of a meal out: “How’s the damage?” Like almost every light vehicle in 2025, Santa Cruz more expensive than the current Santa Cruz. Let’s recap what the money pays for. We’re looking at a new front grille and bumper, redesigned daytime running lights, and new wheel designs. Interior updates are similar in scope to what we saw on the refreshed TucsonThe Santa Cruz SUV sibling sees the arrival of Hyundai’s panoramic curved-screen setup with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system running the latest Hyundai software. It ditches the tactile center console controls in favor of physical knobs and switches for easier use, and makes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard. Hyundai has also redesigned the steering wheel, air vents, dashboard and rear armrests.
In addition to the Tucson’s technology, the Santa Cruz also gets a host of new systems, including features like a fingerprint scanner to start the car, Digital Key 2 technology (using your phone as a key), over-the-air updates for the infotainment system, a more powerful USB-C port, and a new driver attention monitoring system.
And Hyundai has made the off-roading version XRT a more aggressive off-roader after introducing it as an exterior package in 2024. The XRT is known for its exclusive, red grille drag Redesigned front bumper overhang for better approach angle, new rear bumper and 245/60R off-road tires 18-inch “wrench-inspired” wheel covers are exclusive to the trim. The cabin features XRT logos and an Around View Monitor is standard for improved visibility in off-road situations.
The powertrain remains the same. That means a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic to the front or both axles, or a turbocharged variant of the same engine that makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet, sent through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to both axles. The 2.5 turbo, however, adds a tow mode to its drive mode selection for both the Limited and XRT, though the maximum capacity remains the same at 5,000 pounds; the non-turbo version can tow 3,500 pounds.
Finally, the Night Edition is gone. The super-dark stepping stone that filled the $10,000 gap between the SEL and XRT is now the SEL with the Activity Package.
Okay, onto the MSRP. The 2025 price after destination is $1,395, and the difference from the 2024 launch price is:
- LOCAL: $29,895 ($1,910)
- PROUD: $31,595 ($1,220)
- SEL Activities: $34,595 (New Version)
- XRT: $41,395 ($210)
- Limit: $43,895 ($1,490)
As we’ve seen with a number of other vehicles for the 2025 model year, Hyundai has raised prices for the 2024 model year. We have a feeling automakers are doing this for two reasons: 1. They can; 2. So the new pricing stories don’t look so bad when you compare the latest prices to the upcoming prices. For example, 2023 Santa Cruz SE starts at $26,745 after $1,010 destination charge. When announced in 2024This little hauler starts at $27,985 after adding $1,335 in destination. Based on Hyundai’s pricing sheet, the SE’s MSRP increased to $26,900 plus $1,395 in destination in June of this year, for a base price of $28,295. So what looks like a $1,600 premium over the 2024 Santa Cruz is only valid if you go back to June and don’t take into account the $310 cumulative increase in MSRP and destination from before.
As for the contest, Honda Ridgeline 2025 starting at $41,545, still selling well Ford Maverick will start at $27,890 in 2025.
