2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Towing Capacity

Are you looking for an adventure vehicle that blends the utility of a truck bed with the comfort of an SUV? The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz fits the bill, offering a spacious cabin, advanced technology, and two punchy engine options. So, just how much can the Hyundai Santa Cruz tow? It depends on the configuration, but the Hyundai Santa Cruz tow capacity reaches up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Learn more about the Hyundai Santa Cruz towing capacity in our guide below, and don’t hesitate to contact us at Five Star Hyundai of Albany with any questions.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Engines & Specs

Strictly speaking, the entire 2025 Santa Cruz lineup is powered by a Smartstream 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. The baseline version is naturally aspirated and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®. On the other hand, there’s also a turbocharged version of this engine that comes standard with HTRAC AWD and is paired with an 8-speed Wet Dual-Clutch transmission with paddle shifters. The latter version is standard on the XRT and Limited trims. See below for the basic specs for each engine configuration: 

Smartstream 2.5L 4-Cylinder Engine

• Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®

• Drivetrain: Standard front-wheel drive; available HTRAC All-Wheel Drive

• Horsepower: 191 hp @ 6,100 rpm

• Torque: 181 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

Smartstream 2.5L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder Engine

• Transmission: 8-speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission with paddle shifters

• Drivetrain: HTRAC All-Wheel Drive

• Horsepower: 281 hp @ 5,800 rpm

• Torque: 311 lb-ft @ 1,700-4,000 rpm

Maximize the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Tow Capacity

You can maximize the Hyundai Santa Cruz tow capacity by opting for the turbocharged engine. The turbocharged Smartstream® comes paired with AWD and is capable of engaging Tow Mode, a feature that enables smoother towing by adjusting shift patterns to hold lower gears for longer. This helps to maintain steady torque, making for a smoother tow on Americus roads. Thanks to these features, the Hyundai Santa Cruz can comfortably tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Tow Mode is only available with the turbocharged Smartstream® engine.   

On the other hand, the naturally aspirated Smartstream® is mostly stuck with FWD unless you opt for the SEL Activity trim, which can be equipped with AWD. This enables the SEL Activity to match the towing capacity of the XRT and Limited with the non-turbo Smartstream®, but the FWD SE and SEL trims are limited to a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. 

Each trim comes with a standard 4-pin connector or a 4- or 7-pin connector. As for a Hyundai Santa Cruz tow hitch, you’ll need to purchase that separately. You can check out the official Hyundai store or place an order with our dealership. We can also assist you with installing your Hyundai Santa Cruz tow hitch, so contact us if you’re interested. 

Learn More About the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz in Albany

Now that you’re familiar with the Hyundai Santa Cruz towing capacity, are you ready to see what else this Sport Adventure Vehicle has to offer? Our dealership is conveniently located near Tifton and Camilla, so visit us today. If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out our model research hub for more information about our new Hyundai models.