2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Name: 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Brand: Hyundai
Price: 34800 USD

Price Range: $34,800 - $50,250

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

For those with more modest space expectations from a three-row vehicle, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is a smart pick for a family SUV. Its boxy shape and thoughtful storage maximize its people- and stuff-carrying capabilities, while its abundant creature comforts and well-executed tech come at a reasonable price.Read full review

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Prices based on sales in IL thru 8/18/25

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2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Pros

Versatile and generously sized interior
Available hybrid powertrain with minimal price premium
Distinctive design
Smaller size may be a better fit for your needs or garage

Cons

Disappointing real-world fuel economy
Poor rear visibility

What's new

New eight-speed automatic transmission for gas-only models
New SE Hybrid trim level
More driver assistance features are standard
Dual wireless chargers now standard on the Limited and XRT
Part of the fifth-generation Santa Fe that debuted for 2024

Overview

by the Edmunds Experts

8/7/2025

Hyundai is the rare brand that offers two three-row crossover SUVs. The Palisade is the bigger one that matches the segment norm. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is distinctively smaller, most notably in terms of its third row and cargo space. If you rarely need a full load of luggage to accompany a full load of people, it could be a good bet as its smaller dimensions make it easier to park, cheaper to buy, and more efficient.

Edmunds spotlight: Fuel economy may be worse than advertised

Not many three-row vehicles are offered as hybrids, so the Santa Fe's availability as one adds to its appeal. Unfortunately, we have failed to come anywhere close to the Santa Fe Hybrid's EPA-estimated fuel economy figures during our yearlong test of one. After nearly 11,000 miles, we're averaging only 26.7 mpg, with a best fill of just 29.9 mpg. The EPA estimate is 34 mpg combined for our all-wheel-drive vehicle. This is a far greater discrepancy than we usually observe. That said, 26.7 mpg is still very good for a three-row SUV. Our long-term Kia Sorento, which is mechanically related to the Santa Fe, managed only 22.8 mpg. The gas-only Santa Fe, meanwhile, is estimated to get only 23-24 mpg combined. So, the hybrid should be more efficient.

Competitors to consider

The Kia Sorento is the best comparable for the Santa Fe since the two are similarly sized and share many components, as Kia and Hyundai are corporate siblings. The Sorento has less cargo space, especially behind the raised third row, but stands out with its available plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Toyota Highlander is the other smaller-than-the-average three-row SUV that's also available as a hybrid, although we don't rate it quite as highly as the Hyundai/Kia cousins. If you're OK paying for a bigger model, the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is our top-rated midsize three-row crossover, and the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are rated highly as well.

What’s it like to live with?

We are currently testing a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid for a year and 20,000 miles. The disappointing fuel economy has been the main takeaway, but the rest of the experience has been positive overall. You can read more about its maintenance, comfort, technology and more in our Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid One-Year Road Test.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.1

out of 10

We drove the Hyundai Santa Fe on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Santa Fe drive? We tested a Santa Fe XRT, which is the version that's a bit more off-road capable. With its 277-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive, our test model accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. That's pretty typical for a three-row SUV. Off-the-line and passing performance suffers from turbo lag, meaning you have to wait an extra beat for full power from the engine.

The Santa Fe is stable and composed when going around corners. The brakes also work well for smooth stops, though our XRT test vehicle's emergency braking distances were a bit longer than typical because of the all-terrain tires. If you are planning on occasional off-road driving, those tires plus the XRT's raised ride height will come in handy.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Santa Fe? Front and second-row passengers will be very comfortable in the Santa Fe. The front seats have enough side bolstering to hold you securely when cornering but not so much to hamper getting in and out. The second row is also supportive and nicely padded. As for the third row, it's more comfortable than what you'll get in some other smaller SUVs, though ultimately it's still best for short trips or kids.

Ride comfort around town and on the highway is quite good. The XRT's increased ride height also helps to soak up bumps. We blame the off-road-oriented tires for additional tire noise on the highway. Wind noise wasn't a factor despite the Santa Fe's blocky styling, which typically generates more of it.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? Think of the Santa Fe as a two-row SUV with an occasional third row. It's plenty spacious and easy to use, although the column-mounted twisty-knob gear selector takes some getting used to. The tall doors open wide; getting in and adjusting the driver's seat to your preferred position shouldn't be a problem.

Front and second-row occupants have plenty of headroom and legroom, and the second-row passengers benefit from seats that adjust for legroom and seatback angle. The third row is meant for occasional use. It has decent headroom, and the legroom can be expanded if your second-row passengers are willing to slide forward for the greater good. We wish the view to the rear was as good as it is to the front and sides, but unfortunately the thick rear pillars and second-row headrests make it hard to see what's behind you.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

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2026 Hyundai Santa Fe pricing in Marion, IL

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Build & Price

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The responsive 12.3-inch touchscreen has a logical layout with large icons and easy-to-read text. The available built-in navigation uses sharp and clear graphics, and the voice recognition can find even complicated street names easily. Every Hyundai Santa Fe model comes standard with wireless smartphone integration, and connecting a smartphone is a snap. When equipped with the available wireless charging like our car, a paired phone is a set-and-forget affair. The audio system in our test Santa Fe sounded good, with decent bass and sharp highs.

Hyundai's newest driver assist system on the Santa Fe includes Highway Driving Assist, which lets you go hands-free for about a mile or so before reminding you to steer the car again. This isn't self-driving, but it's impressive. It also means aggressive lane centering, but if you don't like any of it, a button on the steering wheel shuts it off. The GPS-linked adaptive cruise keeps a reliable distance from the car it's following and can also slow for curves. Put it all together and it's a sweet ride for a road trip.

Storage

9/10

How’s the storage? The Santa Fe's blocky rear styling gives this SUV a big, wide opening that's low to the ground, making it easy to load and unload large and heavy items. There's 14.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, enough to barely squeeze in three roll-aboard suitcases and a duffel bag. Most other three-row crossovers are a bit better. To really carry cargo, you'll need to sacrifice at least one side of the third row. Lowering the entire third row opens up a cavernous 40.5 cubic feet. Fold the second row and you get nearly 80 cubic feet of space, and available power fold-down second-row seatbacks make that easy too. The Santa Fe's raised roof rails make it easier to use aftermarket crossbars for carrying a bike, kayak or cargo box on the roof, while the unique built-in grab handles on the rear roof pillars make it easier to secure and access whatever you put up there.

Small-item storage is equally impressive, with bins and trays too numerous to count. The center console is particularly clever, with two tiers of wide, flat shelves between the seats and a big center bin. When you first open it, the bin looks small, but it's a tray; remove it and there's a much larger storage area underneath that actually slides out for rear-seat access. The lid is double-hinged, opening to the front or rear, so second-row passengers can easily access items in the tray. It's a pack rat's dream.

If you have child seats to install, the LATCH points aren't too difficult to access, though not quite as exposed as the Isofix-style anchors. There are upper tethers that can be simply accessed through the center of the headrests. You can install a child seat in virtually any spot behind the front row, though it seems some trims don't have an upper tether in the middle seat of the second, while some do.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? That 277 horsepower has to come from somewhere, and the Santa Fe isn't kind to its gas tank. We averaged below the XRT's EPA estimate during our testing, although it's possible the new transmission for 2026 may alter real-world fuel economy despite minimal changes in the EPA estimates. A hybrid Santa Fe promises better fuel economy but, alas, it's not available in the off-road XRT trim and our real-world fuel economy disappointed with that as well.

Value

8/10

Is the Santa Fe a good value? Materials quality and overall assembly are mostly top-notch, although we did notice a couple of areas where some more budget-minded materials were used. Lower trims like our XRT test vehicle aren't quite as feature-rich as the top-of-the-line Calligraphy of course, but the addition of a third row and built-in roof access grab handles make up for the lack of the occasional creature comfort.

Like all Hyundais, the Santa Fe benefits from the automaker's industry-leading five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and three years of free scheduled maintenance.

Wildcard

8/10

The Santa Fe is pleasant to drive and has no major flaws. For many shoppers, we suspect the styling could seal the deal. The blocky angles make it look like a more expensive SUV from Europe. The rear styling was not everyone's favorite on our staff, but overall the Santa Fe easily stands out in a parking lot.

Which Santa Fe trim does Edmunds recommend?

Though the Santa Fe Hybrid's real-world fuel economy has been disappointing, it's still better than the figures for the non-hybrid versions, and the price premium is only $1,000. As such, we would recommend the SEL Hybrid trim level. You're likely to miss its key additions over the base SE, including the power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats and a panoramic curved display.

Compare 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Hyundai Santa Fe models

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is a six- or seven-passenger SUV, depending on configuration, and it's available in five main trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited and Calligraphy. Note that the Santa Fe Hybrid is not available as the XRT .

The regular Santa Fe has a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (277 horsepower, 311 lb-ft) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrid has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and a six-speed automatic (231 hp, 271 lb-ft). Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional for the Santa Fe. Here's what you can expect in each trim.

SE
Starts you off with:

18-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
Hands-free power liftgate
Proximity entry and push-button start
Dual-zone automatic climate control (SE Hybrid only)
Cloth upholstery
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
60/40-split second-row bench seat
12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity

Every Santa Fe comes standard with a generous number of advanced driver aids:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Lane keeping assistance (steers the Santa Fe back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Rear automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
Rear passenger safe-exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Santa Fe and the car in front)
Lane centering system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane while using adaptive cruise control)
Front and rear parking sensors

SEL
The SEL adds to or replaces the following from the SE:

Roof rails
Synthetic leather upholstery
Heated front seats
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Dual-zone climate control
Third-row air vents
Panoramic curved display (integrates 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen)
One wireless smartphone charging pad
Third-row USB ports
Digital key (uses smartphone to lock/unlock car and control other functions)
Driver forward attention monitoring (issues an alert if sensors determine the driver is not paying attention to the road)

XRT
The XRT combines similar features of the SEL with a more rugged off-road vibe. Although not available with the hybrid powertrain, it comes with all-wheel drive, higher towing capacity (4,500 pounds), 1.3 inches of extra ground clearance and the following:

Dark exterior trim
Unique 18-inch wheels
All-terrain tires
Sunroof
Navigation
Dual wireless charging pads
110-volt household-style power outlet
Highway Driving Assist (enhanced functionality of the adaptive cruise control and the lane keeping systems when driving on highways)

Limited
The Limited trim builds on the SEL features with:

20-inch alloy wheels
Power-folding mirrors
Automatic wipers
Panoramic sunroof
Leather upholstery
Upgraded driver's seat with memory settings
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Ventilated front seats
Second-row captain's chairs and six-passenger capacity (bench remains optional)
Heated rear seats
Side window sunshades
Heated steering wheel
Full digital instrument display
12-speaker Bose audio system
Blind-spot camera (displays a live camera view of the Santa Fe's blind spot in the instrument panel when changing lanes)
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Santa Fe and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

Calligraphy
The Calligraphy ramps up the luxury and tech with:

21-inch wheels (non-hybrid)
Unique exterior trim
Premium leather seating with quilted stitching
Synthetic suede headliner
Power-folding and power-adjustable second-row captain's chairs (reduces capacity to six passengers; bench seat not available)
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
Upgraded Highway Driving Assist (enhances functionality of the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems)
Blind-spot collision avoidance (helps avoid collisions by applying brakes if a vehicle is detected in blind spot during a lane change)

Learn More Here

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Pricing

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: Fuel economy may be worse than advertised

Competitors to consider

What’s it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Save as much as $1,351 with Edmunds

Edmunds suggests you pay

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Santa Fe trim does Edmunds recommend?

Hyundai Santa Fe models

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