The Hyundai Santa Cruz does 23.8 mpg combined (21.4 city, 27.4 highway), which works out to about $1,613 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Hyundai Santa Cruz engine, compared
The Hyundai Santa Cruz was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 21.4 / 27.4 | 2022–2026 | $1,613 |
What that actually costs
The Hyundai Santa Cruz burns a gallon every 23.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 504 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.134 |
| Fuel per year | $1,613 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,065 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$119 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,620 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Hyundai Santa Cruz gives up 6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.4 out there against 21.4 in town, a 28% drop worth $393 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 21.4 mpg | $1,794 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.4 mpg | $1,401 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6 mpg (28%) | Typical for its type |
How the Santa Cruz changed over the years
The Santa Cruz peaked in 2026 at 25 mpg (22 city, 30 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2024 at 23 — 2 mpg apart, or $134 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 25. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2025 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2024 | 21 / 25 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2023 | 21 / 25 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2022 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 5 EPA ratings of the Hyundai Santa Cruz — 1 engine across 2022–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,620. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Hyundai Santa Cruz get?
23.8 mpg combined on average — 21.4 in the city and 27.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2022–2026.
How much does a Hyundai Santa Cruz cost in fuel per year?
About $1,613 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,065 over five years, or 0.134 dollars a mile.
Which Santa Cruz engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 23.8 mpg.
Is the Santa Cruz good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Santa Cruz figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Hyundai Santa Cruz is $2,620 against the $1,613 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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