Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2025 Santa Cruz.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz pairs its 8-speed automatic transmission with EPA ratings of 19 city, 27 highway, and 22 combined mpg, slotting into Hyundai's utility lineup as a fuel-conscious yet capable option now in its fourth model year. Owner feedback has been relatively contained at 17 total complaints and 3 recalls, with forward collision avoidance systems drawing the most scrutiny from drivers — a far cry from the 177 complaints logged during the 2022 launch year. With complaint volume trending steadily downward toward the 2026 model year's low of just four, the 2025 Santa Cruz occupies a mature, well-sorted phase of the vehicle's reliability curve, suggesting that most early-production teething issues have been addressed and making it a more confident choice for buyers weighing long-term ownership.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 263312J000. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 263312J000 alt 263502S001 |
| Spark plug | 1887509085 |
| Front wiper blades | 00F09AU016HY alt 98350G8000 |
| Thermostat | 256232S600 |
| Cabin air filter | KLC79AC001 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S8) |
| Overall length | 195.7 in |
| Overall width | 75.2 in |
| Overall height | 66.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 118.5 in |
| Curb weight | 4101 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 64.6 / 65 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 57/43 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 19 / 27 / 22 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-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 |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 700 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 100 rpm |
| 1 | 130-138 ft. lbs., step 2: 180-190 | 130–138 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Federal data for the Hyundai Santa Cruz generation shows a steep downward trend in complaints from 177 in 2022 to just 17 in 2025, indicating early production bugs have been largely resolved. However, the 2025 model year bucks the downward trend in recalls, rising from 1 in 2024 to 3, which matches the subsequent 2026 model year. For the 2025 model specifically, the most prevalent complaint area is Forward Collision Avoidance (6 of 17 total complaints), followed by minor reports regarding exterior lighting, a single engine issue, a crash, and a fire, though the data does not specify the root causes for these occurrences. Despite the slight recall uptick, the significantly reduced complaint volume compared to earlier model years makes the 2025 Santa Cruz a strong used buy, provided you ensure all three recalls have been properly addressed prior to purchase.
All 17 complaints on record, top 8 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 and Santa Cruz vehicles. The console extension wiring assembly may be routed improperly, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without… Remedy: Owners are advised to use the parking brake when parking the vehicle. Dealers will reroute the console extension wiring assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were…
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…
Showing 5 of 28 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-GI-002H TSB | 2026-05-27 | Electrical System | This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software… |
| 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.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
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 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined mpg.