2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz: What's in stock, trim-level comparison, FAQ's.
Updated 2026-10-01·/·car
Quick Answer
The 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a compact unibody pickup that seats five and carries a 4.3-foot composite bed. Two engines are offered: a 191-horsepower 2.5L four-cylinder or a 281-horsepower 2.5L turbo, both paired with a conventional 8-speed automatic. FWD is standard on the lower trims, with HTRAC all-wheel drive optional there and standard on the turbocharged XRT and Limited. Maximum towing is 5,000 lbs with the turbo. Hyundai SmartSense driver assistance and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Hyundai officially designates the 2027 a carry-over model, and credible reports indicate it is likely the final year for this truck. Swope Hyundai has 7 SEs available right now.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Gallery3 photos
SEATLAS WHITE
SEBlue Stone
LimitedSage Gray
Highlights of the 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz
7 highlights
Compact unibody pickup on the Tucson platform: five seats, a 52.1-inch (about 4.3 ft) composite bed with 27 cu ft of bed volume and a lockable in-bed storage tub
Two engines: 191 hp 2.5L four-cylinder or 281 hp, 311 lb-ft 2.5L turbo, both using a conventional 8-speed automatic since the turbo's dual-clutch was dropped for 2026
Tows up to 5,000 lbs with the turbo and 3,500 lbs with the base engine; maximum payload is 1,411 lbs
FWD standard on SE, SEL, and SEL Activity; HTRAC all-wheel drive optional there and standard on XRT and Limited
12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on every trim
EPA-rated up to 22 city / 30 highway MPG with the base 2.5L and FWD (2026 figures; 2027 ratings had not been posted at the time of writing)
5-year / 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the longest coverage in the compact-truck class
Trim-Level Comparison and Availability at Swope Hyundai
Compare available trim levels to find the right Hyundai Santa Cruz for you. Pricing reflects current in-stock inventory.
Compare trimsTrim1 trim · 7 in stock
SE7 in stock
Pricing
Starting price
$32,394
Top price
$34,494
Powertrain
Drivetrain
4WD / FWD
Fuel options
Gasoline
Engine
4 Cyl, 2.5L
MPG (city / hwy)
21–22 / 29–30
Standard equipment · Safety & driver assistance
Auto high-beam headlights
Blind-spot & rear cross-traffic alert
Driver attention monitor
Forward collision-avoidance
Highway driving assist
Lane keep assist
Rear occupant alert
Safe exit assist
Standard equipment · Technology & infotainment
Bluelink+ connected services
Push-button start with proximity key
Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Standard equipment · Comfort & convenience
Memory driver seat & mirrors
Remote engine start
Standard equipment · Interior & exterior
Leather seating
LED headlights & daytime running lights
Inside the Hyundai Santa Cruz
What the Santa Cruz is, and is not
The Santa Cruz is a unibody pickup: it shares its basic structure with the Hyundai Tucson SUV rather than riding on a separate frame like a Tacoma or a Ranger. That choice defines the vehicle. You get a car-like ride, tighter handling, easy parking, and an interior that feels like a well-equipped crossover. You give up the heavy payload, heavy towing, and off-road articulation of a body-on-frame truck. Payload tops out at 1,411 lbs and towing at 5,000 lbs, real numbers, but not work-truck numbers. For the buyer who wants an open bed, gear capacity, and modest towing without a mid-size truck's bulk and fuel bills, that tradeoff is exactly the appeal. For job-site duty, a body-on-frame truck is still the right tool.
Powertrains and trims: how the 2027 lineup breaks down
The 2027 lineup runs SE, SEL, and SEL Activity with the 191-horsepower 2.5L four-cylinder, then XRT and Limited with the 281-horsepower, 311 lb-ft 2.5L turbo. Both engines use a conventional 8-speed automatic: Hyundai dropped the turbo's 8-speed dual-clutch for 2026, which cured that gearbox's low-speed hesitation, and the change carries into 2027. FWD is standard on the non-turbo trims with HTRAC all-wheel drive optional; XRT and Limited come with AWD standard. The base engine handles daily errands and up to 3,500 lbs of towing. The turbo is meaningfully quicker and unlocks the full 5,000 lbs rating, but it is only available on XRT and Limited, which start above $40,000. XRT adds all-terrain tires and rugged styling; Limited is the loaded leather-and-tech build. Most buyers land on SEL or SEL Activity; anyone towing regularly should budget for the turbo trims.
How it stacks up vs Ford Maverick and Honda Ridgeline
Ford Maverick is the direct cross-shop: same compact unibody brief, lower starting price, and a standard hybrid the Santa Cruz cannot answer on fuel economy, since the turbo Santa Cruz is EPA-rated at just 18 city / 25 highway MPG. The Santa Cruz counters with a nicer interior, the stronger 281-horsepower turbo, and a much longer warranty. Honda Ridgeline is the next size up: more expensive, with more towing capability and a longer bed, and easier to recommend for regular hauling. One more factor for 2027: multiple reports sourced to Automotive News say Santa Cruz production ends in late 2026 or early 2027, with a body-on-frame mid-size Hyundai truck to follow around 2030. That can mean strong discounts on a well-warrantied truck, but cross-shop with eyes open about resale and the model's future.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Car-like ride and handling, daily-driver comfortable in a way body-on-frame trucks are not
Available 281 hp turbo with a 5,000 lbs tow rating is genuinely useful pickup capability
Conventional 8-speed automatic on both engines since 2026, so the old dual-clutch's low-speed hesitation is gone
Composite bed with lockable storage tub, available tonneau cover, and multi-position tailgate are clever, daily-useful features
Standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every trim
HTRAC all-wheel drive is available on every trim and standard on XRT and Limited, well-tuned for winter and gravel-road driving
Hyundai's 5-year / 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper plus 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is unmatched in the class
Cons
Reportedly the final model year: Automotive News-sourced reports say production ends by early 2027, so long-term resale value deserves a hard look even though the 10-year powertrain warranty still applies
No hybrid option, and the turbo is thirsty: 18 city / 25 highway MPG on the 2026 EPA cycle, where the Ford Maverick Hybrid holds a large efficiency edge
Bed is short at about 4.3 ft, fine for gear, mulch bags, and kayaks with the tailgate down, not for flat 4x8 plywood sheets
Unibody construction caps payload at 1,411 lbs and rules out serious off-road articulation; this is not a work truck
The 281 hp turbo is locked to the XRT and Limited trims, both of which start above $40,000 with destination
New 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz Inventory at Swope HyundaiLive
Current in-stock units at Swope Hyundai in Elizabethtown, KY with full specifications, pricing, and direct links to each vehicle's detail page.
Option Group 01Blue StoneCarpeted Floor MatsTailgate Protector
Frequently Asked Questions about the 2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Get the 281-horsepower 2.5L turbo if you will tow more than the occasional small trailer, regularly merge or climb hills with the bed loaded, or simply want the stronger drivetrain; it raises towing from 3,500 lbs to 5,000 lbs. Get the 191-horsepower 2.5L if your use is light hauling and errands and you want the lower price and better fuel economy. Note that on the 2027 Santa Cruz the engine choice is really a trim choice: the turbo comes only on XRT and Limited, both with standard all-wheel drive.
Nothing significant. Hyundai's own newsroom lists the 2027 Santa Cruz as a carry-over model, so it keeps the 2025 refresh styling, the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, and the 2026 switch from the turbo's dual-clutch gearbox to a smoother conventional 8-speed automatic. The bigger news is around the truck, not in it: reports sourced to Automotive News say production ends in late 2026 or early 2027, which would make 2027 the final model year. Hyundai officially says the model's life-cycle plans are unchanged.
Up to 5,000 lbs with the 2.5L turbo on XRT and Limited, enough for a small camper, jet skis, a UTV trailer, or a small boat. The base 2.5L on SE, SEL, and SEL Activity tows up to 3,500 lbs. Always confirm the rating on the specific build sheet, since equipment affects the number.
The bed measures 52.1 inches, about 4.3 feet, with 27 cu ft of volume, a lockable under-floor storage tub, and an available built-in tonneau cover. It fits gear, mulch bags, kayaks and ATVs with the multi-position tailgate down, and standard camping loads. Full 4x8 sheets of plywood do not lie flat even with the tailgate down; that is the size tradeoff of a compact unibody pickup.
EPA figures for the 2027 model year had not been published at the time of writing, but the 2027 is mechanically identical to the 2026, which is rated 22 city / 30 highway MPG with the base 2.5L and FWD, 21 city / 29 highway with AWD, and 18 city / 25 highway for the turbo with AWD. If fuel economy is the top priority, cross-shop the Ford Maverick Hybrid.
Five trims: SE, SEL, and SEL Activity with the 191 hp 2.5L engine and a choice of FWD or HTRAC all-wheel drive, then XRT and Limited with the 281 hp turbo and standard AWD. XRT adds all-terrain tires, rugged styling, and surround-view cameras; Limited is the loaded leather and tech configuration. Pricing stays close to 2026 levels, which ran from about $29,750 for the SE to the mid-$40,000s for a loaded Limited with destination.
Get the Maverick if hybrid fuel economy and the lowest entry price matter most; its standard hybrid is the segment's MPG leader. Get the Santa Cruz if interior quality, the 281 hp turbo, and Hyundai's longer warranty matter more than peak efficiency. Factor in the model's future too: the Maverick continues, while credible reports say 2027 is the Santa Cruz's last year, which can mean better discounts but softer resale.
Hyundai's full coverage applies: 5 years / 60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain, longer than the standard coverage on the Maverick or Ridgeline. Warranty obligations continue even if the model leaves production, so a 2027 bought as the final year is still covered for the full terms.
