2027 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the few compact three-row SUVs. It slots between traditional small crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4 and the midsize three-row segment — think Hyundai Palisade or Honda Pilot. We think it's a great option in the class, especially if you get the efficient yet peppy hybrid, and its Land Rover-lite styling helps it stand out from the crowd. We expect these attributes to largely carry over to the 2027 Santa Fe, though rumors abound that it might be refreshed for this year, which would likely mean styling tweaks and new features are in store.

Edmunds spotlight: Just the right size

Even though the Santa Fe has a modest footprint, it's pretty roomy inside; adults can fit in all three rows provided they're of average height. The Santa Fe, then, is a great choice if you're looking for a functional crossover that is the right size for navigating dense urban environments and you need the flexibility that three rows provide. If you plan to use the Santa Fe primarily as a two-row vehicle, the cargo area measures 40.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. That's one of the most spacious cargo holds in the class. So even if you don't need a Santa Fe for the additional passenger room, you could consider it for the extra grocery capacity.

Competitors to consider

The Santa Fe's biggest competitor is the mechanically similar Kia Sorento. We currently give the Sorento the edge in a direct comparison — it's the quicker, more comfortable of the two, and it uniquely offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain — but a refresh for 2027 could tip the scales in the Hyundai's favor. The Mitsubishi Outlander is the only other small three-row crossover, but it's not as refined as the Kia/Hyundai twins. If you don't need three rows of seating, the Tucson Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 hybrid are our favorite compact two-rows. And if you want extra third-row room, the larger Palisade Hybrid and Kia Telluride Hybrid are our top-ranked midsize SUVs.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of our favorite small SUVs (especially with the hybrid powertrain). An expected refresh for 2027 could put the Santa Fe on top of the Kia Sorento in our ranking of compact three-row crossovers.