Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2026 Toyota Tacoma
The Hyundai Santa Cruz wins clearly, 96.6 to 71.2, on tech & comfort, space & cargo, safety. The Toyota Tacoma is ahead on performance.
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2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact pickup truck with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Cruz FWD, i…
vs
A2026 Toyota Tacoma
The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact pickup truck with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tacoma Hyb…
More Hyundai Santa Cruz head-to-heads More Toyota Tacoma head-to-heads Every Santa Cruz vs Tacoma model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Clear winThe Hyundai Santa Cruz wins clearly, 96.6 to 71.2, on tech & comfort, space & cargo, safety. The Toyota Tacoma is ahead on performance.
Tech & comfort 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz leads by 79.7
Space & cargo 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz leads by 60
Safety 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz leads by 19.6
| Category · weight | 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruzoverall 96.6 | 2026 Toyota Tacomaoverall 71.2 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 92.3 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 92.7 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 92.9 | 73.3 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 40 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 83.5 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 20.3 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 96.6 | 71.2 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Santa Cruz: base trim SE FWD · Toyota Tacoma: base trim SR 4X2. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz wins
- It lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 13 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (39.5 points against 8 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Toyota Tacoma answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 81).
- It turns out 243 lb-ft of torque against 181.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
48 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $29,750 | $32,245 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L GDI + MPI DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Turbocharged DOHC 16-Valve D-4S |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 191 hp | 228 hp |
| Torque | 181 lb-ft | 243 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 22 mpg | 20 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 25 mpg | 23 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 30 mpg | 26 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.081 | 3.583 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | 8-speed AT |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.6 in | 11 in |
| Overall height | 66.7 in | 74 in |
| Overall length | 196 in | 213 in |
| Overall width | 75 in | 76.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 118 in | 132 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Total interior volume | 102 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 2 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.2 in | 39.7 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.6 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.4 in | 41.8 in |
| Second-row legroom | 36.5 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,779 lbs | 4,200 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,779 lbs | 4,145 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,522 lbs | 5,605 lbs |
| Payload capacity | 1,411 lbs | 1,460 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut with coil springs | Independent double-wishbone with stabilizer bar and twin-tube shocks |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link | Leaf spring with outboard-mounted twin-tube shocks |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), Rack and pinion, column-mounted | Electronic Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19.8 ft | 22.9 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 325 mm | 320 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electronic with Automatic Vehicle Hold | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | 325 mm | 310 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | ventilated disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | 7.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 245/60R18 | 245/70R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.7 gal | 18.2 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Bluelink+ | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.7 in | 58.3 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 56.1 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
116 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 29 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | — |
| Airbags (Front - Advanced): Driver (1) and Front passenger (1) | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger side-impact FR (Thorax) (2) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | — |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | std | — |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) - Driver Selectable | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Rear side airbags with rollover sensors (2) | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | — |
| VSM, ESC, TCS, DBC, TSC, HAC, ABS, BA, EBD, & TPMS | std | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with 4-wheel disc brakes | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) * with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) * | — | opt |
| Blind-Spot Collision and Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance-Assist Indicators (on mirrors) | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) and Brake Assist | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) and Brake Assist | std | — |
| Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking | — | opt |
| High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Leading Vehicle Departure Alert | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) | std | — |
| Steering wheel haptic feedback (for LKA and BCW) | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 (TSS 3.0) – Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) w/Individual Tire Indicator | std | — |
| Backup Guide Monitor | std | std |
Infotainment14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Key * capability — Digital Key * enables smartphone to be used instead of a physical key (Remote Connect * subscription required.) | — | opt |
| Bluetooth controls (Voice recognition, Accept call, Hang up) | std | — |
| 12.3" Touchscreen Display (ccNc Lite) with 6-speakers | std | — |
| 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with 4-speaker audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay® * & Android Auto™ * compatible, SiriusXM® * with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription. | — | opt |
| 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with 6-speaker audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay® * & Android Auto™ * compatible, SiriusXM® * with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription. | — | opt |
| AM/FM/HD Radio/SiriusXM®, Bluelink+ | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ (Wireless) | std | — |
| Audio controls (Volume up/down, Mute, Seek up/down, Mode) | std | — |
| Bluelink+ Connected Car System | std | — |
| Front dual USB ports (Type-C) | std | — |
| HD Radio™ Technology | std | — |
| OTA update capability (ECU & multimedia – all; Map update only on XRT and Limited) | std | — |
| Second row dual USB ports (Type-C) | std | — |
| SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (3-month trial subscription) | std | — |
Convenience7 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Start (on key fob) / Tailgate remote release (on key fob) | std | — |
| 12-volt outlet - Front (1) | std | — |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Power door locks | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry system with alarm and panic | std | — |
| Smart Key System on driver door with Push Button Start | — | std |
| Power Window Switches - Driver auto down | std | — |
| Smart Key System on driver and front passenger doors with Push Button Start | std | std |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin air filter | std | — |
| Manual air conditioning | std | — |
| Rear seat heater ducts | std | — |
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| 60/40 split, folding rear seat with Under-Seat Storage | — | opt |
| Cloth-trimmed seats (stain- and odor-resistant) | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed seats; 6-way manually adjustable driver and front passenger seats with 2-way power adjustable lumbar support on drivers seat only | — | opt |
| Passenger Capacity (5) | std | — |
| Rear Seats 60/40 split tip-up lower seat cushions | std | — |
Interior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" Multi-Information Display | std | — |
| 3-Spoke steering wheel | std | — |
| Assist grips (4) | std | — |
| Cupholders, Dual - Front center console-mounted | std | — |
| Fold-flat passenger seat, lockable rear storage panel with integrated pegboard, and lockable deep storage compartment | — | opt |
| Front and Rear LED maplights | std | — |
| Front center console - Fixed armrest storage box | std | — |
| Glove compartment with Damper | std | — |
| Manual day/night rearview mirror | — | std |
| Polyurethane manual tilt/telescopic steering wheel with phone, audio, display/infotainment, and Driver Assist controls | — | std |
| Rear cupholders (on door panel) | std | — |
| Seatback map pockets - Front Passenger | std | — |
| Sunvisors - Dual vanity mirror with cover | std | — |
| Sunvisors with sliding function | std | — |
| Tilt & Telescoping steering wheel | std | — |
| Electric Power Steering (EPS) and power-assisted rack-and-pinion with an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | — | std |
| Inside rearview mirror - Manual day/night | std | — |
| Floor mats - Carpeted | opt | — |
| Trip odometer | std | — |
Exterior19 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bi-LED headlights (high/low beam, projector-type) | std | — |
| "TACOMA" stamped easy lower and lift tailgate | — | std |
| 17-in. styled alloy wheels with 245/70R17 tires | — | opt |
| 17-in. styled steel wheels with 245/70R17 tires | — | opt |
| Acoustic Laminated Windshield | std | — |
| Body color side mirror housing | std | — |
| Hood insulator | std | — |
| Integrated rear bumper side steps | std | — |
| LED Bed Lighting | — | opt |
| LED cargo light (roof-mounted) | std | — |
| LED taillights | std | — |
| Multi-functional tailgate (assisted open/close) | std | — |
| Roof-mounted Center High-Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) | std | — |
| Shark-fin roof antenna (gloss black) | std | — |
| Automatic headlights | std | — |
| Privacy Glass - Rear/back glass | std | — |
| Rear window defroster | std | — |
| Solar glass - Front Door, Windshield | std | — |
| Spare Tire - Temporary Spare Tire | std | — |
| LED headlights with Daytime Running Lights (DRL), auto on/off feature and manual leveling adjustment | std | std |
| Front and rear mudguards | opt | opt |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| HTRAC AWD, Active On-Demand | opt | — |
| Drive Type - FWD | std | — |
| AWD Lock | opt | — |
| Drive Mode - Center-console mounted | std | — |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf spring rear suspension | — | std |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Rack and pinion steering, column-mounted | std | — |
| Rear gas-pressurized shock absorbers, self leveling | std | — |
Cargo9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Class-IV towing hitch receiver and wiring harness with 7-pin/4-pin connector * | — | opt |
| 5-ft. Bed | — | opt |
| 6-ft. Bed | — | opt |
| Deck rail system with four adjustable tie-down cleats and four fixed cargo bed tie-down points | — | opt |
| Heavy duty cargo D-rings | std | — |
| Lockable under bed storage compartment | std | — |
| Sheet Molded Composite bed | std | — |
| Sidewall bed storage compartments | std | — |
| Trailer pre-wiring (4-pin for 2.5L, 4/7-pin for 2.5T) | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Santa Cruz
Safety Signal 81 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 5 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (2), Lane Departure (2), Vehicle Speed Control (1)
Top recalls
- high Forward Collision Avoidance 26V316000 · 423,062 vehicles
- high Air Bags 25V809000 · 258 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Toyota Tacoma
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★☆
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★☆☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 13 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (4), Engine (3), Electrical System (2)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai Santa CruzSE FWD | Toyota TacomaSR 4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,750 (base trim) | $32,245 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $29,750 – $43,700 8 trims | $32,245 – $64,450 18 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Santa Cruz FWD | Tacoma Hybrid 4WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 25 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,700 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | — | 2 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz or the 2026 Toyota Tacoma?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz wins clearly, 96.6 to 71.2, on tech & comfort, space & cargo, safety. The Toyota Tacoma is ahead on performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz scores 96.6 and the 2026 Toyota Tacoma 71.2. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz or the 2026 Toyota Tacoma?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz starts lower — $29,750 against $32,245, a gap of $2,495 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz or the 2026 Toyota Tacoma?
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 recalls. 2026 Toyota Tacoma: 4 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and the 2026 Toyota Tacoma?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz wins: it lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 2, has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 13 filed with NHTSA), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (39.5 points against 8 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Toyota Tacoma answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 81) and turns out 243 lb-ft of torque against 181.