2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz FWDFuel Economy & MPG Ratings

Gasoline Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDFront-Wheel Drive
City
22
MPG
Highway
26
MPG
Combined
23
MPG

Trim Comparison

Automatic (S8)
Regular
City
22
Hwy
26
Comb
23
Fuel cost: $2,950/yr
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,950

Based on gasoline at $3.67/gal, 15,000 miles/year

5-Year Fuel Savings
$-2,750

vs. average new vehicle

EPA Fuel Economy Score: 5/10
GHG Score: 5/10

Environment

CO₂ Tailpipe Emissions
381 g/mile
Annual Petroleum Consumption
12.9 barrels

Specifications

Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Transmission
8-speed Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD
Body Style
SUV/Crossover
GVWR
Class 1 (≤6,000 lbs)

Source: EPA fuel economy data & NHTSA vPIC. Specifications reflect the most common trim configuration.

Engine & Efficiency Details

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Engine Size
2.5L, 4-cylinder
Induction Type
Direct Injection
Fuel Type
Regular Gasoline

Annual Fuel Cost by State

Prices as of week ending May 18, 2026 · Source: EIA

National AvgEPA default
$4.490/gal$2,928/yr
California
$5.957/gal$3,885/yr
Texas
$3.888/gal$2,536/yr
Florida
$4.136/gal$2,697/yr
New York
$4.522/gal$2,949/yr
Ohio
$4.510/gal$2,941/yr
Washington
$5.591/gal$3,646/yr
Colorado
$4.618/gal$3,012/yr
Minnesota
$4.344/gal$2,833/yr
Massachusetts
$4.448/gal$2,901/yr

Calculated at 15,000 miles/year (EPA standard assumption) using 23 MPG combined. Regular gasoline prices. Actual costs vary.

NHTSA Safety Ratings

Source: NHTSA (nhtsa.gov)
Overall Safety Rating
5/5
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz PU/CC AWD

Crash Test Scores

Front Crash — Overall
Front Crash — Driver Side
Front Crash — Passenger Side
Side Crash — Overall
Side Crash — Driver Side
Side Crash — Passenger Side
Side Pole Crash
Rollover
Rollover Probability16.4%

Safety Equipment

Forward Collision Warning: Standard & OptionalLane Departure Warning: Standard
74
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Investigations

Recall History2

Source: NHTSA

Owner-Reported Problems74 complaints

Source: NHTSA

NHTSA has received 74 owner complaints for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD. Top reported issues include power train, engine and electrical system. The data below is sourced from consumer complaints filed directly with NHTSA.

Problems by System / Component

Power Train
25
Engine
19
Electrical System
11
Advanced Safety (ADAS)
7
Fuel System
7
Speed Control
6
Brakes
5
Lighting
4

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD problems by category: Power Train: 25 complaints, Engine: 19 complaints, Electrical System: 11 complaints, Advanced Safety (ADAS): 7 complaints, Fuel System: 7 complaints, Speed Control: 6 complaints, Brakes: 5 complaints, Lighting: 4 complaints.

3
Crashes Reported
3
Fires Reported
1
Injuries Reported

Sample Owner Complaints

Electrical SystemFiled: 01/28/2026ODI#11714053
At least two separate wiring harnesses have failed on my vehicle, affecting the tail lights. My vehicle cannot pass New York State safety inspection because of this issue. Safety of myself and other d…
Power TrainFiled: 05/13/2024ODI#11588397
On 3/22/2024 I was driving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz with 19k miles about 30 mph. My transmission suddenly became jerky without warning and acted liked it did not want to downshift, staying in higher…
Electrical SystemFiled: 11/20/2023ODI#11555981
Rough Idle, Loss of engine power, and cylinder misfire on 2023 Santa Cruize Limited approx. 26,700 miles(currently) purchased new 04-28-2023 at Hyundai in North Knoxville, TN. Vehicle is stored in in…

Complaint data is sourced from the NHTSA Complaints Database. Reports are filed by vehicle owners and may not reflect confirmed defects. Last updated via NHTSA API.

Related

Hyundai Santa Cruz FWD MPG History
See how this model's fuel economy changed by year

Similar Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, 2023

All Hyundai Models