2026 head-to-head · Small SUV
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Toyota Highlander
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
AWD · 2.4L 4-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 24 MPG
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,860 a year to fuel (25 MPG), versus $1,938 for the 2026 Toyota Highlander (24 MPG). That's roughly $78 a year, or about $388 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Toyota Highlander
Side by side
| Hyundai Santa Cruz | Toyota Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,860 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,938 |
| 25 MPG | Combined efficiency | 24 MPG |
| 22 MPG | City | 21 MPG |
| 30 MPG | Highway | 28 MPG |
| 356 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 371 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | AWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Toyota Highlander across model years
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Toyota Highlander
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 114 2026 small SUVs, the Hyundai Santa Cruz ranks 79th and the Toyota Highlander 81st for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Measured by cost to drive, the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is rated 25 MPG combined and the Toyota Highlander 24 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. the Toyota Highlander per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,860 for the Hyundai Santa Cruz and $1,938 for the Toyota Highlander.
Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Toyota Highlander in other years
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