2026 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Now in its third generation, the Range Rover Sport is a smaller alternative to the traditional Range Rover, and a more stylish alternative to the utilitarian Land Rover Defender and Discovery. Competitors include two-row midsize luxury SUVs like the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE Class, and Porsche Cayenne. This generation was introduced for the 2023 model year, so the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport sees minimal changes.

Verdict: Blending traditional Land Rover looks and luxury with sportier on-road driving dynamics, the Range Rover Sport justifies its place in the automaker’s convoluted lineup, but not in the larger luxury SUV market.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize, three-row SUV that sits at the smaller end of the segment, while the Hyundai Palisade lives among the larger players in the class. Nevertheless, thanks to its boxy shape and thoughtfully crafted interior, shoppers might decide bigger isn’t necessarily better. The 2026 Santa Fe gets a new transmission, added safety features, and minor equipment and packaging updates. The Santa Fe Hybrid returns, too, but we’ll cover that in a separate review.

Verdict: Polarizing design aside, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is a brilliant, family-friendly crossover SUV. We tested the XRT version, which trades fuel economy for off-road capability, so buyers who don’t need that should pick a different trim level.