Reasons to pick Hyundai Santa Cruz
- 1cargo room matters: this catalog shows up to 764 L of cargo capacity.
- 2you prefer the compact pickup with the clearer 3-trim staircase instead of restarting your research elsewhere.
Compare
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs 2026 Nissan Altima
Live comparisonUpdated April 2026
Santa CruzvsAltima
- Price−$9,001
- Efficiency2.2 L/100 km
- Cargo+340 L
- Rows won1–3
Altima starts $9,001 lower. Altima wins efficiency by 2.2 L/100 km. Santa Cruz gives you 340 L more cargo room. The highlighted cells below show the winner, and the edge column tells you by how much.
Interactive trim explorer
Each row is a feature. Tap to see the unlock detail.
Hyundai Santa CruzNissan Altima
Full spec sheet
Every row scored head-to-head. The winner cell is highlighted.
Entry price$9,001 lower
Santa Cruz
$41,999
Preferred AWD
Altima
$32,998
Altima AWD
Average trim price$13,668 lower
Santa Cruz
$46,666
3 tracked trims
Altima
$32,998
2 tracked trims
| Metric | Hyundai Santa Cruz | Nissan Altima | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
Entry priceLower wins | $41,999 Preferred AWD | $32,998 Altima AWD | $9,001 lower |
Average trim priceLower wins | $46,666 3 tracked trims | $32,998 2 tracked trims | $13,668 lower |
Best efficiencyLower wins | 10.4 L/100 km XRT | 8.2 L/100 km Altima AWD | 2.2 L/100 km lower |
Cargo roomHigher wins | 764 L Best published cargo figure | 424 L Best published cargo figure | 340 L more |
Tow ratingHigher wins | 2,268 kg Highest rated trim in ladder | — Not published | Only Hyundai reports |
Mid-trim valueHigher wins | 1 feature Core coverage still thin | 1 feature Core coverage still thin | Thin data |
Premium ceilingHigher wins | 1 feature Core coverage still thin | 1 feature Core coverage still thin | Thin data |
Safety and warranty still deserve a final check: IIHS n/a · NHTSA n/a and 5 yr / 100,000 km for Hyundai Santa Cruz, versus Top Safety Pick+ · NHTSA 5 and 3 yr / 60,000 km for Nissan Altima.
Equipment differences
Extra equipment beyond the core table. Each row shows the earliest trim on either side that gets you there.
Expanded rows4beyond the core table
Model reach4 vs 0Santa Cruz vs Altima
Pair overlap0 shared4 one-sided
Driver Assist
High-use visibility and lane-support hardware that often moves buyers up the ladder.
1
Driver Assist
High-use visibility and lane-support hardware that often moves buyers up the ladder.
Adaptive cruise controlLeft only
Santa Cruz
$47,499
XRT
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop-and-go capability
Altima
—
Doesn’t reach it
Tech
Screen, charging, and software comforts that matter once the basics are covered.
1
Tech
Screen, charging, and software comforts that matter once the basics are covered.
Wireless chargingLeft only
Santa Cruz
$47,499
XRT
Wireless Charging Pad
Altima
—
Doesn’t reach it
Comfort & Cabin
Roof, audio, and interior-upgrade cues that tell you where the premium story really starts.
2
Comfort & Cabin
Roof, audio, and interior-upgrade cues that tell you where the premium story really starts.
Moonroof / sunroofLeft only
Santa Cruz
$47,499
XRT
Power Sunroof
Altima
—
Doesn’t reach it
Premium audioLeft only
Santa Cruz
$50,499
Ultimate AWD
Bose premium audio system with 8-speakers
Altima
—
Doesn’t reach it
Driver Assist
High-use visibility and lane-support hardware that often moves buyers up the ladder.
| Equipment | Hyundai Santa Cruz | Nissan Altima | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
Adaptive cruise controlExpanded Only Santa Cruz reaches adaptive cruise control. | $47,499 XRT Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop-and-go capability | — Doesn’t reach it | Left only |
Tech
Screen, charging, and software comforts that matter once the basics are covered.
| Equipment | Hyundai Santa Cruz | Nissan Altima | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
Wireless chargingExpanded Only Santa Cruz reaches wireless charging. | $47,499 XRT Wireless Charging Pad | — Doesn’t reach it | Left only |
Comfort & Cabin
Roof, audio, and interior-upgrade cues that tell you where the premium story really starts.
| Equipment | Hyundai Santa Cruz | Nissan Altima | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
Moonroof / sunroofExpanded Only Santa Cruz reaches moonroof / sunroof. | $47,499 XRT Power Sunroof | — Doesn’t reach it | Left only |
Premium audioExpanded Only Santa Cruz reaches premium audio. | $50,499 Ultimate AWD Bose premium audio system with 8-speakers | — Doesn’t reach it | Left only |
Trim Shortcuts
Switch between the entry, efficiency, and premium picks to see how both ladders compare on the same shelf.
The cheapest acceptable version on each side.
Hyundai Santa Cruz$41,999
Preferred AWD
10.7 L/100 km efficiency1 features
Nissan Altima$32,998
Altima AWD
8.2 L/100 km efficiency1 features
| Side | Trim | MSRP | Efficiency | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Cruz | Preferred AWD | $41,999 | 10.7 L/100 km | 1 |
| Nissan Altima | Altima AWD | $32,998 | 8.2 L/100 km | 1 |