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Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Subaru Forester - Differences and prices compared

Compare performance (281 HP vs 180 HP), trunk space and price (28,800 $ vs 30,000 $ ) at a glance. See which model fits your needs and budget better – Hyundai Santa Cruz or Subaru Forester?

Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Subaru Forester: Key differences

Hyundai Santa Cruz

  • marginally cheaper
  • clearly more power
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Subaru Forester

  • slightly more efficient
  • very slightly lighter
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Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Santa Cruz

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Hyundai Santa Cruz is marginally cheaper – starting at 28,800 $ , while the Subaru Forester costs 30,000 $ . That’s a price difference of around 1,245 $.

When it comes to city fuel economy, the Subaru Forester performs slightly better – achieving 26 mpg, compared to 22 mpg for the Hyundai Santa Cruz. That’s a difference of about 4 mpg.

Forester

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Hyundai Santa Cruz offers clearly more power – delivering 281 HP compared to 180 HP. That’s roughly 101 HP more horsepower.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Hyundai Santa Cruz delivers significantly more torque with 311 lb-ft compared to 178 lb-ft. That’s about 133 lb-ft more.

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Subaru Forester is very slightly lighter – 3,510 lbs compared to 3,779 lbs. The difference is around 269 lbs.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is clearly ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from $28,800
Santa Cruz

Hyundai Santa Cruz

  • Engine Type : Gasoline
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front Wheel, All Wheel
  • Power HP : 191 - 281 HP
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Hyundai Santa Cruz

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a city-friendly pickup with SUV manners, serving up a smooth ride and a surprisingly upscale cabin while still handling weekend projects without the drama. It doesn’t try to out-macho the big rigs; instead it wins with smart packaging, easy parking, and just enough adventure vibe to make every grocery run feel like a mini road trip.

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Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is the outdoorsy family SUV that shrugs off muddy trails and bad weather as easily as it handles school runs. With airy visibility, a practical cabin, and unflappable all-wheel-drive confidence, it delivers no-drama comfort during the week and genuine adventure vibes on the weekend without trying too hard.

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Costs and Consumption
Price
28,800 - 42,800 $
Price
30,000 - 40,300 $
FuelEconomy City
18 - 22 mpg
FuelEconomy City
25 - 26 mpg
FuelEconomy Hwy
26 - 30 MPG
FuelEconomy Hwy
32 - 33 MPG
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
17.7 gal
Fuel tank capacity
16.6 gal

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Pickup
Body Type
SUV
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
3,779 - 4,295 lbs
Curb weight
3,510 - 3,664 lbs
Trunk Volume
-
Trunk Volume
-
Length
195.9 in.
Length
183.3 in.
Width
75 in.
Width
72 in.
Height
66 in.
Height
68 in.

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Gasoline
Engine Type
Gasoline
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Drive Type
Front Wheel, All Wheel
Drive Type
All Wheel
Power HP
191 - 281 HP
Power HP
180 HP
Torque
181 - 311 lb-ft
Torque
178 lb-ft
Number of Cylinders
-
Number of Cylinders
-
Engine Displacement
2.5 L
Engine Displacement
2.5 L
Gears
-
Gears
-

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
Brand
Hyundai
Brand
Subaru
What is the price of the Hyundai Santa Cruz?

Starting from 28,800 $.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. Prices shown are manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRP). Taxes, registration fees and dealer charges are not included.