Hyundai Santa Fe Review 2026: Love It or Hate It

from the experts at Invoice Pricing

2026

Hyundai

Santa Fe

Enhanced | Hyundai | SUV

In this Hyundai Santa Fe Review, we take a closer look at what makes the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe one of the most practical and surprisingly refined three-row SUVs on the market. With bold styling, a spacious cabin for up to seven passengers, and a turbocharged engine that balances power and comfort, this midsize SUV blends everyday usability with upscale design cues—without the luxury price tag.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a costly vehicle, and at first glance, it might look like a high-end mid-size SUV. Even though it looks luxurious on the outside, the Santa Fe is an inexpensive way to transport a family of seven. It also has the tough design that you’d expect from a more expensive car. Although it may look boxy, the shape is actually quite practical. Santa Fe’s cabin is modern and well-equipped, with plenty of room for passengers. A large tailgate opens to show a large cargo area.

All Santa Fes that aren’t hybrids have a 2.5-liter inline-four turbocharged engine that makes 277 horsepower, an automatic gearbox with eight speeds, and a torque converter. The Santa Fe has enough power, but it prefers to cruise smoothly rather than go fast and turn quickly. The Santa Fe is the best three-row SUV for practicality, style, and elegance.

What's New?

It was changed from a problematic eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to a more standard eight-speed torque-converter automatic in 2026. Most of the remaining updates to the Santa Fe consist of new features added to the higher-end Calligraphy, Limited, and XRT trims.

Bench seats are an option, but on some types, second-row captain’s chairs are now standard. Both the Limited and XRT trim levels now come with two wireless phone chargers. The XRT also has a new Terrain Mode with choices for mud, snow, and sand. The top-of-the-line Calligraphy trim now comes with a new Pecan Brown Nappa leather choice on the inside.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Infotainment: 12.3-inch tablet for entertainment
Connectivity: Connectivity through Bluetooth and WiFi, Google Auto, and Apple CarPlay
Audio System: You can choose a 12-speaker Bose Premium system or a 6-speaker system as usual.

For more than half of the panel, there are two 12.3-inch screens: one for the infotainment touchscreen and one for the gauges. While the displays take center stage, physical knobs for temperature and audio volume have been retained for convenience. There are USB-C charging ports with a cord, and you can also get an extra wireless charging pad for two phones that charges them both at the same time. The Santa Fe comes with standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also has a UV-C cleaning container in the glovebox for cleaning wallets, smartphones, and other small items.

Engine and Performance

It comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that delivers 277 horsepower.
Automatic transmission with eight speeds.
Two drivetrain options are available: front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It takes 6.3 seconds to test Invoice-pricing at 60 mph.

Each Santa Fe has a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that makes 277 horsepower. You can choose all-wheel drive, but front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic are standard. Since the suspension is set up to make the ride smooth and soft, only the hardest hits reach the cabin.

It’s normal for cars to roll around a lot when they turn bends, but the steering is well-weighted. If you need faster reactions, we recommend the Mazda CX-90, which has three rows of seats and is more fun to drive. When you’re driving the Santa Fe, it’s easy to do, and the ride is smooth and comfy, especially on highways.

Several of its competitors, like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Grand Highlander, do not perform as well as the Hyundai Santa Fe, even though it wasn’t built to go fast.

Fuel Economy

24 mpg on the highway at 75 mph.
EPA ratings for city driving: 19 to 20 mpg.
26–29 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.

The EPA has not yet released the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe’s fuel economy figures. However, the front-wheel-drive model from the previous year got 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The gas mileage dropped to 19 mpg in the city, and 26 mpg on the highway when all-wheel drive was added, and the more powerful XRT type was chosen. The Santa Fe will have an eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox starting in 2026. This may change the fuel economy numbers for that year. These numbers will be updated as soon as new ones become available.

Safety Features

Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are just two of the driver-assistance features that come standard with the Santa Fe. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking are all standard safety features.

Cargo and Towing Capacity

Without brakes, the Santa Fe can tow up to 1,650 pounds; with them, up to 3,500 pounds. The XRT model, which can tow up to 4,500 pounds and has trailer brakes, is a choice for people who want to pull more.

Price and How to Choose

Rates for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe could range from $36,295 to $48,845, depending on the model and options. The SEL stands out as the most well-balanced model in the lineup. For a slight increase over the base SE, it offers body-color folding side mirrors, roof rails, dual-zone climate control with third-row air vents, wireless charging, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver, and several other premium enhancements. All-wheel drive costs $1715 extra on all models except the XRT, which comes with it already installed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Spacious three-row interior with flexible seating options
• Bold, boxy design that stands out in the segment
• Large dual 12.3-inch screens with modern tech integration
• Smooth, comfortable ride tuned for daily driving
• Strong 277-hp turbo engine with solid acceleration
• Competitive towing capacity, especially in XRT trim

Cons

• Noticeable wind noise at highway speeds
• Handling favors comfort over sportiness
• Fuel economy is average for the class
• Lower trims lack some premium interior touches
• Transmission refinement may not feel as polished as top rivals