Index · Hyundai · Santa Cruz
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The cited maximum for a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 5,000 lb conventional. XRT or Limited, 2.5L turbo, required aftermarket towing equipment and a trailer with independent brakes.
The build table for 2026 is not transcribed. This page will not multiply trims, cabs, and engines into trucks the order guide did not list.
| Hitch | Cited maximum | Configuration | Source grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 5,000 lb | XRT or Limited, 2.5L turbo, required aftermarket towing equipment and a trailer with independent brakes. | OEM published maximum |
Do not apply the turbo trim's limit to the naturally aspirated base engine.
Source: Hyundai, 2026 Santa Cruz specifications and towing FAQ. The 5,000 lb maximum requires XRT or Limited, aftermarket towing equipment and a trailer with its own brakes.
Spec sheet
10 of 25 fields cited; 1 estimate. Field index
Cited fields may cover selected trims or only part of a measurement. Read the configuration and source beside each value; a cited field does not mean every version is researched.
Towing
- Conventional maximum
- 5,000 lb. XRT or Limited, 2.5L turbo, required aftermarket towing equipment and a trailer with independent brakes.Hyundai source
- Gooseneck maximum
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Tongue or pin load
- 500 lb tongue at the 5,000 lb conventional maximum. Illustration at 10 percent conventional and 15 percent in-bed, not a measured load or recommendation. Follow the trailer and vehicle instructions; actual load may be higher.Estimate
- Weight distribution
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Trailer frontal area
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Weights
- Payload
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- GCWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- GVWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Front GAWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Rear GAWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Curb weight
- FWD / AWD: SE 3,779 / 3,922; SEL 3,805 / 3,948; SEL Activity 3,900 / 4,043 lb. AWD: XRT 4,140; Limited 4,191 lb.Hyundai source — Weight: curb weight FWD/AWD
Body
- Wheelbase
- 118.3 in.Hyundai source — Exterior dimensions
- Bed length
- 52.1 in.Hyundai source — Exterior dimensions
- Bed width and depth
- 53.9 in maximum width; 42.7 in between wheel wells; 19.2 in depth.Hyundai source — Exterior dimensions
- Cab-to-axle
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Overall length, width, height
- 195.7 in long (XRT: 195.9); 75 in wide excluding mirrors; 66.7 in high excluding roof rails.Hyundai source — Exterior dimensions
- Ground clearance and angles
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fifth-wheel clearance
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Power
- Engine, horsepower, torque
- SE / SEL / SEL Activity: 2.5L I4, 191 hp at 6,100 rpm, 181 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm. XRT / Limited: 2.5L turbo I4, 281 hp at 5,800 rpm, 311 lb-ft at 1,700–4,000 rpm.Hyundai source — Powertrain: engine
- Transmission
- 8-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC across all five trims.Hyundai source — Powertrain: drivetrain
- Fuel type and tank
- Gasoline; 17.7 U.S. gal.Hyundai source — Fuel system and capacity
- Drivetrain
- SE / SEL / SEL Activity: FWD standard, AWD available. XRT / Limited: AWD standard.Hyundai source — Powertrain: drivetrain
- Axle ratio
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Tow package
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Bed, tongue weight, and wheelbase
The trailer rating is one limit. The bed has to fit the load, the tongue or pin has to fit in payload, and the wheelbase is the column the chart uses.
- An illustrative 10 percent of the 5,000 lb conventional maximum is 500 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. The spec sheet above lists the sourced wheelbase information for this year. GCWR is not transcribed for this year.
Estimate payload margin and bed volume · How these limits work together
Change from 2025
- Conventional: 5,000 lb in 2025, 5,000 lb in 2026 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
Generation
First generation
2026 is year 5 of this generation (2022–2026). Hyundai's unibody sport adventure vehicle. The cited 5,000-pound rating is the turbo all-wheel-drive truck.
Engines cited for 2026
| Engine | Output | Max tow | What it requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L naturally aspirated I4 | 191 hp / 181 lb-ft | 3,500 lb conventional | SE, SEL or SEL Activity; trailer brakes and proper towing equipment. |
| 2.5L turbo I4 | 281 hp / 311 lb-ft | 5,000 lb conventional | XRT or Limited, aftermarket towing equipment and trailer brakes. |
What changes the number
- Engine and transmission
- Cab, bed, and wheelbase
- Two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive
- Axle ratio and tow package
- Conventional hitch versus fifth-wheel versus gooseneck
- People, options, and cargo, which spend payload the chart assumed was empty
Questions
- How much can a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz tow?
- The cited maximum for a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is 5,000 lb conventional. XRT or Limited, 2.5L turbo, required aftermarket towing equipment and a trailer with independent brakes.
- Did Santa Cruz towing change for 2026?
- Compare the cited 2026 figures on this page with the 2025 record. They are stored separately.
- Which configuration hits the maximum?
- XRT or Limited, 2.5L turbo, required aftermarket towing equipment and a trailer with independent brakes.
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2026 Santa Cruz?
- At the cited 5,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 500 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.
2024 · 2025 · All Santa Cruz years