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Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Toyota RAV4

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2026 Toyota RAV4 — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Hyundai Santa Cruz

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WD
VS2 – 3Toyota RAV4 wins 3 of 5 categories
Toyota RAV4

2026 Toyota RAV4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota RAV4 is more fuel-efficient: 43 vs 25 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $1,150 a year less in fuel for the Toyota RAV4 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

Across all model years since 2005, the Hyundai Santa Cruz has had fewer recall campaigns (9 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. EPA rates its most efficient version at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 30 highway), 17% worse than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,700 a year in fuel.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 181 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,746 lb (Le 4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2024 Santa Cruz and the 2022 RAV4 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2022 Santa Cruz and the 2019 RAV4.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

25 MPG
Best combined MPG
43 MPG
22 city
City / highway MPG (best)
47 city
$2,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,550

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
186 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
–
Length
181.1 in
–
Width
72.8 in
–
Height
66.5 in
–
Curb weight (lightest)
3,746 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
13
3
Recalls (2026)
2
9
Recalls, all years since 2005
50
5
Owner complaints (latest year)
42

Interest

4,327
Wikipedia views, 30 days
45,921

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2022
2022
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz if…

  • You put reliability history first (9 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota RAV4 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (43 vs 25 MPG)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Pros & cons of each

2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 25 MPG combined, 17% below the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG.

2026 Toyota RAV4

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 43 MPG combined — 42% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz specs →Full 2026 Toyota RAV4 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →