2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2026 Honda HR-V

$28,750 · Crossover

$26,200 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz leaps onto the scene with a more aggressive posture and superior power, boasting 191 hp compared to the 2026 Honda HR-V's 158 hp, making the Hyundai the instant choice for drivers craving more gusto. The Santa Cruz, though longer at 195.7 inches, still offers respectable efficiency with 25 combined MPG. Conversely, the diminutive 2026 Honda HR-V champions efficiency and compactness, achieving a superior 28 combined MPG and offering a tighter footprint at just 179.8 inches long and 63.4 inches tall. While the HR-V starts at a compelling MSRP of $26,200, undercutting the Santa Cruz’s $28,750, its 138 lb-ft of torque means less pavement-pounding excitement than the Hyundai's 181 lb-ft, giving the Santa Cruz the edge in sheer output despite its slightly thirstier nature.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Honda HR-V

The 2026 Honda HR-V is the better commuter due to its superior fuel economy, achieving 28 combined MPG versus the Santa Cruz's 25 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers a larger physical presence (195.7 inches long) which generally translates to better interior space for family needs.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz clearly wins for driving enthusiasts thanks to its significant power advantage of 191 hp over the HR-V’s 158 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Honda HR-V

The 2026 Honda HR-V presents better immediate value, starting at a lower MSRP of $26,200 compared to the Santa Cruz’s $28,750.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Cruz if...

You prioritize outright performance, benefiting from 33 more horsepower (191 hp vs 158 hp).
You need the slightly larger dimensions, measuring 195.7 inches in length for potential utility.
You prefer the decisive shifts of an 8-speed automatic transmission over a CVT.

Choose the Honda HR-V if...

Maximizing fuel savings is key, as the HR-V delivers 28 combined MPG.
Budget is a primary concern, given its lower starting MSRP of $25,750.
You require maximum city efficiency, boasting 26 MPG in the city compared to the Santa Cruz's 22 MPG.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Hyundai Santa Cruz	Honda HR-V
Length	195.7"	179.8"
Width	75.0"	72.4"
Height	66.7"	63.4"
Wheelbase	118.3"	104.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	—
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	—
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	191 hp @ 6100 rpm	158 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque	181 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	138 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	—

Drive Train

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	22/30 MPG	26/32 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	25 MPG	28 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	389.4/531.0 mi.	364.0/448.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	14.0 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	—
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	9.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	4
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Stereo Power	—	180W
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
One-Touch Power Windows	1	1
Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Remote Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Front Head Room	40.2 in.	39.4 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.7 in.	56.6 in.
Front Hip Room	54.5 in.	54.0 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Rear Head Room	39.6 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	36.5 in.	37.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.1 in.	55.2 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.5 in.	47.4 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	245/60R18	215/60R H
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Diameter	—	17 in

Suspension

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Hyundai	Honda
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	7 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz and 2026 Honda HR-V.

How significant is the performance difference between the 2025 Santa Cruz and the 2026 HR-V?

The performance gap is quite noticeable; the Santa Cruz generates 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, giving it substantial advantage over the HR-V's 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque.

Which crossover is more economical for daily driving?

The 2026 Honda HR-V is more economical, achieving 28 combined MPG, whereas the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is rated at 25 combined MPG.

Does the higher starting price of the Santa Cruz reflect greater utility?

The Santa Cruz starts $2,550 higher ($28,750 vs $26,200), reflecting its focus on power and a larger exterior footprint, despite neither vehicle having specific cargo figures listed for the Santa Cruz.

What is the advantage of the Santa Cruz's transmission over the HR-V's CVT?

The Santa Cruz uses an 8-speed shiftable automatic, which typically offers more engaging driving dynamics and direct gear ratios than the continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT) found in the HR-V.