The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize SUV with three rows and bold yet elegant styling. Competitors include the Volkswagen Atlas and the Subaru Ascent.
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe was fully redesigned for the 2024 model year, so this popular midsize SUV needs few changes to stay fresh for 2026. This year, Hyundai updated the drivetrain, replacing the dual-clutch automatic transmission with a smoother conventional eight-speed automatic, the XRT off-road trim received new driving modes for mud, snow, and sand conditions, and the top Calligraphy trim gained a new option: Pecan Brown leather upholstery.
Design
The Santa Fe's 2024 redesign turned heads with bold, blocky styling that still draws some comparisons to a certain British SUV brand. It remains the most squared-off Hyundai on the road, though some of its styling cues have trickled over to its recently refreshed or redesigned siblings. The lighting signatures are modern and the color palette emphasizes sophisticated neutral tones, while the wheels (18-inch alloys are standard; 20- or 21-inch wheels are optional) complement the Santa Fe’s all-terrain-inspired ruggedness.
Powertrain
The Santa Fe features a turbocharged 277-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 311 pound-feet of torque and is newly paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on all models except the XRT, which has all-wheel drive (AWD); AWD is available on the rest of the lineup. There are no performance upgrades, but the XRT trim gets a slightly higher ride height and all-terrain tires. With FWD, the Santa Fe is rated for 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. There’s a Santa Fe Hybrid, too, which we review separately.
Interior
The Santa Fe is a three-row midsize SUV with a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs, seating up to seven people. The first and second rows are supportive and spacious, while the third is snug, which is typical for the class. Cloth upholstery is standard, with options including synthetic leather, regular or premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated front and second-row seats, and ventilated front seats. The cabin has plenty of storage cubbies, but the cargo area can hold only 14.6 cubic feet behind the third row. That opens up to 40.5 and 79.6 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded, respectively.
Technology
The base Santa Fe models pair the standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display with a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher trims feature a 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Together, the two screens give a particularly premium vibe without being overwhelming. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the infotainment interface is easy to use. Optional features include single or dual wireless charging pads, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, third-row USB ports, a rear-view camera mirror, and Hyundai’s smartphone-based digital key.
