Can’t Figure Out the Clock on Your 2025 Santa Cruz? Let’s Fix That (And Explore a Few Hidden Gems Too)
When I first hopped into the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL, the stunning 12.3-inch digital cluster lit up like a spaceship. Everything felt fresh—sleek UI, crisp graphics, responsive touchscreen. But halfway into my first drive, I noticed something odd: the time was off by an hour. Daylight Saving, of course. What should’ve been a minor fix turned into an unexpected exploration of just how polished—and customizable—Hyundai’s infotainment system has become.
If you’re a new owner, someone eyeing the Santa Cruz for your next purchase, or even a seasoned Hyundai driver navigating the latest tech, I’ve got you covered. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to set the clock on your 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL, share a few cool display customization tricks, and answer the most common questions I’ve heard about the system.
First Impressions: It’s More Than Just a Clock
Let me say this upfront: the 2025 Santa Cruz SEL’s digital cluster is impressive. It’s not just a speedometer and fuel gauge anymore—it’s your vehicle’s nerve center. The clock sits neatly in the corner, integrated seamlessly with everything from navigation to your drive mode display.
Clarity? Top-notch. The screen is sharp, with vibrant contrast that holds up well even in direct sunlight. The layout feels intuitive, and animations are smooth without being flashy. What surprised me was how much thought went into something as small as the clock—it reflects the vehicle’s design ethos: simple, functional, but surprisingly smart.
Setting the Time: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Alright, let’s get your 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz clock display sorted. It’s genuinely easier than it looks—once you know where to look.
Here’s what worked for me, step-by-step:
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Start the car and make sure you’re in Park. (Hyundai doesn’t let you mess with settings on the move, which is probably for the best.)
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On the infotainment home screen, tap the Setup icon (gear symbol in the bottom corner).
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From there, go to “General” in the sidebar menu.
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Now tap “Date/Time.”
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Here’s where the magic happens:
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I had “GPS Time” toggled on by default. This uses satellite data to automatically adjust for time zones and Daylight Saving.
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If the time’s wrong, toggle GPS Time off, then back on again. That usually forces a sync.
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Want to set it manually? Just leave GPS Time off and enter your hours and minutes directly using the on-screen keypad.
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Check the format: Scroll down a bit and choose between 12-hour and 24-hour (military) time.
Pro tip: I leave GPS Time on. It’s one less thing to worry about, especially if you travel across states or time zones often.
Customization: Making the Display Your Own
This is where the Santa Cruz really starts to shine. The clock display is just a piece of the larger digital environment—and there’s a lot you can tweak.
Here are some of my favorite tricks:
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Switching Between 12h/24h Time
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Inside the same Date/Time menu, look for the toggle labeled “24-hour format.”
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Tap it once and boom—you’re in military time.
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I personally like this option when I’m driving late or traveling internationally. Keeps things clear.
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Drive Mode Affects Display Style
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Changing drive modes doesn’t just affect performance—it tweaks the digital cluster visuals, including the clock.
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Sport mode? The whole display goes red, and the clock takes on a sleeker, more aggressive font.
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Smart or Normal? Softer tones, more relaxed font.
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It’s subtle, but honestly, it gives the Santa Cruz this sci-fi cool factor I didn’t expect in a pickup.
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Standby Mode / Digital Photo Frame
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When the infotainment screen goes into standby (say, while parked with the engine running), you can set it to show a large analog or digital clock.
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Dig into Setup → Display → Screen Saver Mode, and you’ll see options for Clock or even a photo slideshow (yep, upload your own images).
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My take? The analog clock looks classy as hell.
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Common Questions & Troubleshooting (Your Mini FAQ)
I’ve gotten a few questions from fellow drivers, so let’s tackle them head-on.
❓ Why is my clock off by exactly one hour?
This is almost always a Daylight Saving Time hiccup. GPS Time might not auto-refresh immediately after the change.
Fix:
Toggle GPS Time off, then back on again under Setup → General → Date/Time. You can also manually adjust if needed.
❓ My clock keeps resetting every time I start the car. What gives?
Ugh, yeah—this happened to me once. Usually, it’s:
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A low 12V battery messing with the memory.
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Or a glitch in the infotainment software.
Fix:
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Make sure your car battery is in good shape.
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Check for software updates via Hyundai’s website or at your dealership. A quick firmware update can iron out weird bugs like this.
❓ Can I make the clock bigger?
Honestly? Not really.
You can’t resize the clock itself on the main screen. But you can make it stand out more by choosing a minimalist display theme or activating the standby clock screen, which gives it full attention when you’re parked or idling.
A Small Detail Done Right
At the end of the day, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL clock display is a small thing. But like many things in the Santa Cruz, it’s done thoughtfully. It’s easy to use, intuitive, and refreshingly customizable. Whether you’re a tech geek like me or someone just trying to get to work on time, Hyundai nailed the balance of function and flair.
And yeah—it may have taken me a hot minute to find the 24-hour format setting (tucked away like a shy little toggle), but once I did, it felt like I had my Santa Cruz fully dialed in.
Your Turn!
Have you discovered any hidden display tricks or clock-related quirks in your 2025 Santa Cruz? Maybe a tip I missed? Drop a comment below—I’d love to swap notes. After all, the best car communities are the ones that help each other out.
