The 2026 Hyundai Kona is available in four trims with two engine choices, including a turbocharged 1.6-liter option that produces 190 horsepower. Kelley Blue Book named the 2026 Hyundai Kona its Subcompact SUV Best Buy Award winner for its combination of spacious interior, technology, and class-leading warranty. Pricing for the 2026 Kona starts around $26,000 and tops out around $35,000 for a fully loaded SUV. Finding a subcompact SUV that checks every box (practical cargo space, modern technology, strong safety ratings, and a warranty that beats the competition) usually means accepting a few significant compromises somewhere along the way. The 2026 Hyundai Kona refuses to play that game. It delivers on all of those fronts at a starting price that keeps it accessible, and the fact that it's taken home the Kelley Blue Book Subcompact SUV Best Buy Award again this year says everything you need to know. 2026 Hyundai Kona Overview The 2026 Hyundai Kona is a small crossover SUV available in SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium, and Limited trim levels. Its distinctive front grille, streamlined headlights, and sculpted body lines create a sporty and sophisticated silhouette that sets it apart from other subcompact SUVs. The well-known Hyundai Kona dynamic stance is further accentuated by a selection of 17-inch, 18-inch, or 19-inch alloy wheels depending on trim. Built on a platform intended for electric vehicles, the 2026 Hyundai Kona adopts some EV design elements. EV Elements Include: Light Bar Spanning Vertical Grille, Bumper, Fender, and Rocker Chunky Cladding Performance & Power The 2026 Hyundai Kona SE and SEL Sport trims are powered by a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. SEL Premium and Limited trims step up to a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel-drive system is available on every version of the 2026 Kona. The eight-speed automatic responds promptly and contributes to the turbo engine's confident power delivery at all speeds. Hyundai's AWD system distributes torque to the rear wheels when conditions demand it, improving traction on wet roads and light off-road surfaces. For buyers who want the most out of the 2026 Hyundai Kona driving experience, the SEL Premium is the clear upgrade point where the powertrain genuinely transforms the character of the vehicle. Fuel Economy Lower 2026 Hyundai Kona trims, with the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, are rated at up to 31 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, or up to 28 mpg combined with AWD. Models with the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine return up to 28 mpg combined with FWD and 26 mpg combined with AWD. 0-60 MPH With the base 2.0-liter engine, the 2026 Hyundai Kona reaches 60 mph from a standstill in about 9.2 seconds. Turbocharged SEL Premium and Limited trims cut that time by roughly two seconds, bringing 0-60 mph down to approximately seven seconds. If acceleration matters to you, the turbo is the version to drive. A Clearly Comfortable Interior The 2026 Hyundai Kona interior takes a clear step forward in comfort. It features a cleaner and more open cabin design, smart storage areas, and soft-touch materials. Also, available H-Tex seating surfaces give the 2026 Kona a more premium feel. The 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback allows the cargo area to expand considerably. Interior color options include Black and Gray, with exterior paint choices spanning nine colors across the lineup. For a timeless, polished look, shades like Atlas White and Abyss Black Pearl are available. Bolder tones such as Neoteric Yellow and Soultronic Orange Pearl make a more expressive statement. Additional options include Mirage Green, Denim Blue Pearl, Ultimate Red Metallic, and Ecotronic Gray Pearl. Available Comfort Features: Heated Front Seats Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control Eight-Way Power Driver's Seat 2026 Kona Limited Trims Add: Power Tilt-and-Slide Moonroof Bose Premium Audio System Hands-Free Smart Liftgate Ventilated Front Seats Touchscreen Technology The 2026 Hyundai Kona base SE trim comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB ports, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Hyundai's Bluelink Connected Car System. A wireless charging pad is standard starting with the SEL Sport, and the SEL Premium adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The standard 12.3-inch touchscreen serves as the central hub for infotainment. Bose premium sound systems on higher trims deliver immersive audio through an external amplifier and eight strategically placed speakers. Buyers can also add Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch, which allows smartphone access to lock, unlock, and start their 2026 Hyundai Kona. Safety The 2026 Hyundai Kona earns a 4-star NHTSA safety rating alongside an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation. That combination of standard driver assistance technology and strong crash test performance makes the Hyundai Kona one of the best-protected vehicles in its segment at any price point. 2026 Kona Standard Safety Features: Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection Forward Collision Warning Automatic Emergency Braking Lane Following Assist Lane Keeping Assist Safe Exit Warning Driver Attention Monitor Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Blind Spot Monitoring Automatic High-Beam Assist Additional Safety Features: Blind-Spot View Monitor Parking Sensors Surround-View Camera Navigation-Based Adaptive Cruise Control Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist System 2026 Hyundai Kona Price The least-expensive 2026 Kona is the SE, which starts at approximately $25,500. From there, the 2026 Kona lineup builds progressively with each trim, giving buyers a clear path from an entry-level daily driver to a fully loaded subcompact SUV. Overall, you can expect the price of a 2026 Hyundai Kona to fall somewhere between $26,000-$33,000. Price by Trim The prices listed below for the 2026 Hyundai Kona are strictly estimated. We highly recommend visiting your local Hyundai dealer in person to ensure 100% accurate prices. SE: $25,500 SEL Sport: $26,674 SEL Premium: $28,550 Limited: $32,650 Hyundai Warranty The powertrain warranty coverage for the 2026 Hyundai Kona is the best in the industry. It applies across all four trims, meaning even the most affordable SE buyer drives home with the same peace of mind as someone in a fully loaded Limited. For buyers who place a high value on long-term ownership confidence, the Hyundai warranty is a legitimate differentiator in a crowded segment. Hyundai Backs The 2026 Kona With: 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty 7-year unlimited-mile Anti-Perforation Warranty 5-year/unlimited-mile 24/7 roadside assistance Test Drive a 2026 Hyundai Kona at Tulsa Hyundai The 2026 Hyundai Kona makes a genuinely compelling case for anyone who wants a smartly designed, well-equipped small SUV without overextending their budget. From the punchy turbocharged engine on the upper trims to the generous cargo room and best-in-class warranty that comes on every single one, there's a lot to appreciate here. Come visit us at Tulsa Hyundai to see the full lineup in person, compare trim levels side by side, and get behind the wheel for yourself. If you’re not interested in the 2026 Hyundai Kona, then check out our plethora of other Hyundai vehicles. We carry the Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Venue, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6. We have an extensive certified pre-owned inventory where we’ll help you find something you enjoy. Phone 918-779-3064 Address 9777 S Memorial Dr., Tusla, OK 741333 Return to Blog
A Compact 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz That Doesn’t Compromise
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers two engine choices, a 191-hp base engine and a 281-hp turbocharged option with up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity. Interior materials scale from cloth on the SE trim to genuine leather with ventilated seats on the Limited trim. Every Santa Cruz includes Hyundai's strong warranty coverage, with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for original owners. If you've been cross-shopping trucks and SUVs without finding anything that quite fits, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is worth a serious look. It blends the ride quality and cabin comfort of a Tucson-based SUV with genuine pickup bed utility, and Hyundai has refined it further for the 2026 model year. 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Overview The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a crew cab pickup built on the same platform as the Hyundai Tucson, which gives it car-like handling most trucks can't match. It comes in five trim levels (SE, SEL, SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited), each seating five passengers and pairing an open bed with a surprisingly upscale interior. For 2026, the Hyundai Santa Cruz remains largely unchanged from its recent refresh last year but with one notable update. The turbocharged trims now use a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission in place of the old dual-clutch unit. This means smoother low-speed shifting for XRT and Limited model buyers. There are other minor updates that we will explain. Extra Performance Options For Confidence Every 2026 Santa Cruz starts with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is available as an option on the SE, SEL, and SEL Activity trims for drivers who want extra confidence in rain or snow. Step up to the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT or Limited trims and you get a turbocharged version of that same 2.5-liter engine. It now produces 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque with standard all-wheel drive. The base engine can tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the turbocharged setup bumps that to 5,000 pounds, giving buyers real flexibility depending on what they plan to haul. An MPG That Varies Fuel economy varies noticeably in the 2026 Santa Cruz between the two engine choices. The naturally aspirated engine returns an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, landing around 24 mpg combined. The turbocharged engine trades some of that efficiency for power, coming in around 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. It's a fair tradeoff for buyers who prioritize towing capacity and quicker acceleration over maximum fuel economy. 0-60 MPH Acceleration is one of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz quiet strengths in this segment. With the turbocharged engine, the 2026 Santa Cruz has been clocked at roughly 6 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. That kind of performance means merging onto the highway or passing on a two-lane road never feels like a struggle. It's part of why reviewers keep pointing out that the 2026 Santa Cruz drives more like an SUV than a traditional truck. A Generous Interior Materials and comfort features in the 2026 Santa Cruz scale up as you move through the trim lineup. SE trims start with cloth seating, while the SEL through XRT trims use H-Tex leatherette upholstery. The Limited trim gets genuine leather with ventilated front seats for added comfort on long drives. Space is generous too, with around 101.8 cubic feet of passenger volume and roughly 27 cubic feet of bed volume. The bed itself includes a lockable in-bed trunk with a drain plug, which is a clever touch for keeping gear secure and dry, along with side storage compartments that add extra everyday utility. Easy-To-Use Technology Every 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, giving every trim a modern, easy-to-use infotainment setup. The SE and SEL pair that touchscreen with a 4.2-inch gauge cluster. SEL Activity, XRT, and Limited trims step up to a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument panel for a fully digital dashboard. Comfort tech is well represented too, with heated front seats and a wireless smartphone charger available starting on the SEL Activity trim. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity come standard across the lineup, so drivers stay connected no matter which trim they choose. Full of Safety Hyundai equips every 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim with Hyundai SmartSense, its suite of standard driver assistance technology. Higher trims add further conveniences including adaptive cruise control, giving families and daily commuters extra peace of mind on longer drives. Consumer reliability ratings for 2026 Hyundai the Santa Cruz have also been strong, which adds another layer of confidence for buyers researching long-term ownership. Standard Safety Features Include: Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Lane Keeping Assist Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Price Pricing for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz starts around $29,750 for the base SE trim with front-wheel drive. This makes it one of the more accessible options in the compact truck segment. From there, pricing climbs to just over $43,000 for a fully loaded Limited trim with all-wheel drive. All in all, you can expect the price of a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz to cost anywhere between $30,000-$45,000. 2026 Santa Cruz Price by Trim Each 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz trim is built around a distinct type of buyer, so understanding what separates them makes it easier to choose the right fit. It’s important to note that the prices listed below are strictly estimates. We highly recommend visiting your local Hyundai dealer in person to determine 100% accurate prices. SE: $29,750 – Serves as the value-focused entry point, with cloth seating and the standard 4.2-inch gauge cluster alongside the 12.3-inch touchscreen. SEL: $31,400 – adds a step up in comfort with H-Tex leatherette upholstery. SEL Activity: $34,450 – often considered the sweet spot of the lineup since it adds a factory tonneau cover, bed cargo rails with anchor points, a household-style power outlet, and the full digital instrument cluster. XRT: $41,350 – moves to the turbocharged engine with standard all-wheel drive and adds a Terrain mode with mud, snow, and sand settings for a more rugged, adventure-ready personality. Limited: $43,700 – tops the lineup with genuine leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and the most complete feature set Hyundai offers on this model. Hyundai Warranty Hyundai backs the 2026 Santa Cruz with one of the strongest warranty packages in the industry. Every new 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with a five-year, 60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty for the original owner. On top of that, Hyundai includes a seven-year, unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty against rust, along with five years of unlimited-mile roadside assistance. It's worth noting that starting with 2026 models, Hyundai discontinued the complimentary three-year maintenance program that came with earlier model years, so buyers should factor routine maintenance costs into their ownership plans. Test Drive a 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz at Tulsa Hyundai The best way to understand what makes the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz different is to get behind the wheel yourself. Whether you're drawn to the value of the SE, the versatility of the SEL Activity, or the performance of the XRT and Limited, seeing the lineup in person makes it much easier to find the right match. If you’re not interested in the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, then check out our plethora of other Hyundai vehicles. We carry the Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Venue, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6. We have an extensive certified pre-owned inventory where we’ll help you find something you enjoy. Phone 918-779-3064 Address 9777 S Memorial Dr., Tusla, OK 741333 Return to Blog