Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 Santa Cruz.
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is equipped with an Automatic (S8) transmission and carries EPA estimates of 22/30/25 mpg. Reliability data for the model year records four total owner complaints, three recalls, and Power Train as the top complaint area. Within the 2022–2026 model run, which saw complaint volume peak at 177 in the launch year, the 2026 model sits at the opposite extreme with the lowest complaint count on record, making it the least problematic model year in the Santa Cruz’s surveyed reliability history.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 22 / 30 / 25 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Santa Cruz of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | XRT 2.5T HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.50 sec | 14.90 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
| 2025 | XRT 2.5T HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.60 sec | 15.00 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Limited HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.00 sec | 14.50 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Limited HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.00 sec | 14.50 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | SEL Premium HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.00 sec | 14.50 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Limited HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.20 sec | 14.70 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Limited HTRAC (4'4.1" Bed) 2.5L Turbo I-4 | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 281 hp | AWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record shows a clear downward trend in consumer complaints for the Santa Cruz generation, plummeting from 177 in the inaugural 2022 model year to just 4 in the 2026 target year. While recall activity fluctuated, peaking at 4 in 2022 and stabilizing at 3 for both 2025 and 2026, Technical Service Bulletins decreased significantly from 60 initially to 13 for the 2026 model. The four recorded complaints for 2026 are evenly distributed across Power Train, Visibility/Wiper, Steering,Lane Departure, and Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control, with zero reports involving crashes or fires. This data places the 2026 model at the most stable point in the provided lifecycle, indicating a sharp reduction in reported issues compared to all prior model years even though recalls matched the 2025 figure of 3. Given the minimal reported issues and absence of safety-related crash or fire complaints, the 2026 Santa Cruz represents a statistically strong choice for a used purchase.
All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which… Remedy: Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service…
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata… Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact…
Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-AT-005H TSB | 2026-06-04 | Power Train | This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software… |
| 26-AT-003H TSB | 2026-05-18 | Power Train | Some Santa Fe (MX5A) and Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may exhibit a low idle or excessive… |
| 26-01-044H TSB | 2026-05-07 | Electrical System | Certain Santa Cruz (NXT) vehicles may experience Over-the-Air (OTA) update failures due… |
| DTN DL | 2026-04-10 | Air Bags | The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of… |
| DTN DCS | 2026-04-10 | Air Bags | The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined mpg.