Hyundai Santa Cruz MPG by year — every rating on record
The Hyundai Santa Cruz has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 2022 to 2027. Across those years its best rated version returned 25 mpg (2025) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (2022). The EPA record holds 15 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD / Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #59 of 68 (13th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2023 | 3 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #61 of 69 (12th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2024 | 3 | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | #70 of 77 (9th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2025 | 3 | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | #68 of 82 (17th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| 2026 | 1 | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | #62 of 71 (13th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2027 | 2 | 25 mpg | 24 mpg | #23 of 26 (12th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Hyundai Santa Cruz placed highest in 2027 at #23 of 26, and lowest in 2024 at #70 of 77. It spent 0 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 15 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 367 | 5/10 |
| 2027 | 2.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 22 | 30 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 356 | 5/10 |
| 2026 | 2.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 22 | 30 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 356 | 5/10 |
| 2025 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI, turbocharged | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 406 | 5/10 |
| 2025 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 367 | 5/10 |
| 2025 | 2.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 22 | 30 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 356 | 5/10 |
| 2024 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI, turbocharged | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403 | 5/10 |
| 2024 | 2.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 22 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 381 | 5/10 |
| 2024 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 21 | 25 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 390 | 5/10 |
| 2023 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI, turbocharged | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 402 | 5/10 |
| 2023 | 2.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 22 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 381 | 5/10 |
| 2023 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 21 | 25 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 390 | 5/10 |
| 2022 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI, turbocharged | 19 | 27 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403 | 5/10 |
| 2022 | 2.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 385 | 5/10 |
| 2022 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 21 | 27 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 382 | 5/10 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 → 2025 | 23 → 25 mpg | +2 mpg | 460 gal |
What Santa Cruz fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz burns 460 to 479 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,380 | $1,438 | $58 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,610 | $1,677 | $67 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,840 | $1,917 | $77 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2027 model year is $2,500 to $2,600 a year in fuel, or $1,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Across the 311 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 25 mpg the Hyundai Santa Cruz is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $119 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Hyundai nameplates
Every Hyundai model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.