2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 Santa Fe.
- Pros: The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is where practicality, safety, and value intersect.Â
- Cons: Lackluster fuel economy and questionable feature packaging make the XRT version hard to recommend.
- The Takeaway: Do you love the way the Santa Fe looks? Get the hybrid and don't look back.
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is an incredibly practical, safe, and technologically advanced family vehicle — its only real downside is polarizing styling. However, because of the American tendency to apply a "go big or go home" mentality to car buying, whether we're discussing size, price, or both, many people might miss out on the Santa Fe. It's one of the smaller three-row SUVs on sale today.Â
What's New for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai sells the 2026 Santa Fe with a turbocharged 2.5-liter gas-fueled four-cylinder engine or with a hybrid powertrain based on a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. For 2026, the gas-only engine gets a new transmission, an eight-speed automatic that replaces an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
Additionally, all versions of the Santa Fe now include junction-turning assist and oncoming driver detection safety features, and Hyundai makes minor adjustments to color, trim, seating configurations, and equipment depending on the trim level.
Christian Wardlaw
About the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Review Vehicle
As reported above, Hyundai offers the Santa Fe with gas-only and hybrid powertrains. Both variants are available in SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy trim levels, while the gas-only model offers an exclusive XRT version with enhanced off-roading capability. Base prices range from about $37,000 to around $51,000, including the destination charge for shipping the SUV to a dealership from the Montgomery, Alabama, assembly plant.
For this Santa Fe review, I test-drove the XRT in Southern California. Optional Serenity White paint and a set of carpeted floor mats brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $44,380, including the $1,600 destination charge. Hyundai provided the vehicle for this Santa Fe XRT review.
Christian Wardlaw
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
You can have the Santa Fe XRT's interior in any color you want, as long as it's black. A model of functionality, the cabin is dressed in Hyundai's H-Tex artificial leather, detailed with metallic trim, and features an industrial aesthetic with a technology overlay. Although there are hard plastics, I found the quality is high for the price point.
While a dual-screen display panel stretches across a chunk of the upper dashboard, Hyundai sees fit to equip the Santa Fe with plenty of old-fashioned knobs and buttons. Twist your wrist to adjust the stereo volume, tune the radio, or set the interior temperature. Tap to turn on the cruise control and push to access a menu on the center display. Even the touch-sensing features are easy and intuitive to use, including the expertly arranged touchscreen infotainment system.
Thoughtfulness is evident throughout. Hyundai understands how families will use the Santa Fe, so from the dual-device wireless smartphone charger and ample storage space to rear cupholders designed for use by kids riding in car seats, this SUV is ridiculously easy to live with, and even love.
Christian Wardlaw
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
Hyundai equips the Santa Fe XRT for off-roading, so it comes with all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance from 7 to 8.3 inches. That's relevant for comfort because it is really easy to get into and out of this SUV.
Once you're aboard, you'll find comfortable seats up front and in the second row. The XRT has heated front seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and a manually height-adjustable seat for the passenger. Ventilation is missing from the XRT's menu, which is a shame, because this trim level's outdoorsy lifestyle vibe will likely appeal to people who tend to get wet or sweaty on the weekends.
A panoramic sunroof is another thing missing from the Santa Fe XRT. Given the model's role as the adventuring machine in the SUV's lineup, I can guarantee that your second-row passengers will want to look through one as you explore nature. At least they'll be comfortable thanks to the supportive lower cushion and backrest angle.
Hyundai stuffs a standard third-row seat into the Santa Fe. As long as the people in the second row are willing to slide forward a bit, adults will fit for shorter trips. Accessing it is a real challenge, though, so you should probably reserve it for children, shorter teenagers, or relatives you don't like much. However, it is mounted close to the rear liftgate, and there isn't much crush space behind it should another vehicle plow into the rear of the Santa Fe. Given how distracted today's drivers are, I'm not sure how good an idea the third row is.
Storage space is seemingly endless. For example, there is a hidden upper dashboard cubby and a shelf above the glove compartment. Under the wireless charging pads, you'll find a roomy tray, plus every door armrest has a slot for a smartphone. The cupholders are accommodating, and there is a two-tier bin under the center armrest.
Rear passengers can access the center console bin through the bidirectional armrest lid, and the lower portion slides out from the back of the console for second-row access. The front seatback panels contain grocery bag hooks, USB charging ports, and storage pockets. When only two are along for the ride, a center armrest folds down with more cupholders. Even the people in the third row benefit from sizable drink holders and USB charging ports.
Hyundai equips the Santa Fe with a power hands-free liftgate that can sense the presence of the key fob and, after a few seconds, automatically open itself. As long as you've stored loose items in the underfloor tray, they won't fall out when it rises. This design means you never have to balance on one foot while waving the other one under the bumper to activate a sensor. That can be dangerous on icy surfaces, and the Santa Fe lets you keep both feet securely on the ground.
Behind the third-row seat, the Santa Fe offers 14.6 cubic-feet of cargo space. That's not very much, giving you another reason to fold the third row flat and forget about it. The volume behind the second row amounts to a roomy 40.5 cu-ft, and it's usefully cube-shaped due to the Santa Fe's squared-off roofline. The maximum cargo capacity behind the front seats is 79.6 cu-ft.
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Infotainment System Review
Digital instrumentation and a touchscreen infotainment system are standard in every 2026 Santa Fe. My XRT test vehicle's configurable driver display measured 4.2 inches; starting with the Limited trim, it grows to 12.3 inches.
A matching 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard in all Santa Fes. It is equipped with:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- Bluelink+ connected services
- Rear-seat Quiet Mode
As you upgrade to more expensive trim levels, the Santa Fe adds:
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Dynamic voice recognition
- Navigation
- Wi-Fi access
- Hyundai Pay technology
- Digital Key technology
- 12-speaker Bose audio system
My test vehicle had all of these features except for the Bose upgrade, another omission from the XRT trim level. While I did not use Hyundai Pay or the digital key system, all of the other features operated with flawless simplicity. That includes the voice recognition system, which is among the best I've experienced at this price point.
Bluelink+ deserves a special call-out here because it is free to use by the Santa Fe's original owner for the lifetime of the SUV. It's not a scaled-down connected-services plan, either. The highlights include:
- Automatic collision notification
- SOS emergency calling
- GPS-based roadside assistance
- Dynamic voice recognition
- Remote engine start with cabin preconditioning
- A car finder
- A stolen vehicle locator
- Safeguard Alerts perfect for use with teen drivers
- Digital key (when equipped)
Not only that, but the Santa Fe has a feature called Leading Vehicle Departure Alert. If you're the type of person who checks email or scrolls your socials while you're sitting in traffic or at an intersection, this feature will tell you when the car ahead is moving again. Of course, if you're the first in line, it can't save you from yourself, so expect to get honked at.
Christian Wardlaw
Safety Features and Ratings
It's not just the Santa Fe's collection of infotainment tech that's impressive — the list of standard and available advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) is also noteworthy.Â
These features are bundled together under the SmartSense umbrella and include:
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning with:
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Junction-turning detection
- Oncoming-vehicle detection
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keeping assist
- Lane-centering assist
- Safe-exit assist
- Front and rear parking sensors
In addition to those technologies, my test car added:
- Upgraded adaptive cruise control with driver monitoring to support:
- Navigation-based speed reduction
- Curve-speed reduction
- Highway Driving Assist (a semi-autonomous hands-on driver-assistance system)
- Emergency stop assist
During my week with the Santa Fe XRT, I used the ADAS extensively. I am not a fan of the navigation-based curve-speed-reduction feature. In the Los Angeles area, it can turn the Santa Fe into a rolling traffic cone and spark road rage in others. It's easy to override, but you need to keep your foot on the accelerator. Lift up, and the SUV will immediately brake to slow again, making you appear even more erratic and out of touch to other drivers.
The rest of the time, the SmartSense suite and the Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system worked with remarkable accuracy and refinement. Some people might be concerned about how long HDA will operate without any inputs from the driver, but I prefer that to tech that requires continual small steering adjustments to signal to the system that you're paying attention and holding the steering wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2026 Santa Fe earns the top five-star rating overall and in all individual assessments except rollover resistance, which results in a four-star rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Santa Fe a Top Safety Pick+ for the 2026 calendar year.
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Specs and Fuel Economy
A turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard in the 2026 Santa Fe. It makes 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, ensuring zippy acceleration, even at elevation. However, that power comes at a cost paid at the fuel pump, and the XRT's raised ride height and all-terrain tires make the situation worse.
Those modifications make this version of the Santa Fe less aerodynamic, reducing the EPA-rated fuel economy in combined city and highway driving from 23 mpg for other AWD-equipped trim levels to 21 mpg for the XRT. On my level fuel-economy test route, the XRT averaged 21.7 mpg. On the mountainous evaluation loop, I saw 18.6 mpg.
You can resolve this problem by choosing the Santa Fe Hybrid. The added cost is nominal, and the hybrids get 34 mpg with AWD and 36 mpg with FWD. However, Hyundai does not offer the XRT trim level with that drivetrain. Can you live without the XRT's added clearance, more rugged look, and increased 4,500-pound towing capacity? Then you should definitely check out the Santa Fe Hybrid.
Christian Wardlaw
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Test Drive
I don't mind dual-clutch automated manual transmissions (DCT), because I know what they are and how they work. However, I absolutely understand why a Santa Fe buyer might not like a DCT's perceptible shift delays and quirky behavior. For 2026, that's gone, thanks to the Santa Fe's smooth new eight-speed automatic. You probably won't even notice it, other than its odd gear selector, which is a stubby stalk jutting out of the steering column.
The XRT can handle moderate off-road driving. The all-terrain tires help it claw out of ruts, it rides high enough to avoid contact with the ground, and a Terrain mode helps the SUV make the most of its power and traction. However, you may eventually encounter an impassable section of trail, forcing you to reverse or turn around. Either way, a surround-view camera would be spectacular in that situation.Â
Unfortunately, you can't get one on the XRT. Or a camera-based digital rearview mirror, for that matter. Hyundai reserves that stuff for more expensive trims, but both would be perfect for the XRT, which genuinely needs the added visibility for getting turned around on a trail or seeing to the rear when the cargo area is packed to the roof with gear.
Those all-terrain tires grip well enough in the dirt, but as I discovered after driving through a flooded drainage channel and then taking a left through a dry intersection, they can be greasy on the street. They provide only modest grip in curves, too, whether they're kinks in a mountain road or a freeway entrance or exit ramp. The ride quality sure is cushy, though, and the tires don't seem to add much road noise on the highway.
I liked driving the XRT around town. It's easy to see out of and park, the added clearance means you need not worry so much about parking blocks, and the tires stick out far enough to reduce the risk of curb rash on the wheels. It also absorbs speed bumps and humps with ease. Here again, though, I wished for a surround-view camera on more than one occasion.
Christian Wardlaw
Alternatives to the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
While there are benefits to the Santa Fe XRT's exclusive off-road modifications, the fuel-economy penalty just isn't worthwhile unless you're planning to regularly head off the beaten path. And if that's the plan, you may be better off with a Subaru Outback Wilderness, a Toyota 4Runner, a Ford Bronco, or a Jeep Wrangler.
Remove the XRT from the equation, and the 2026 Santa Fe is easy to recommend to anyone seeking a solution at the center of a practicality, safety, and value Venn diagram. From Hyundai's legendary warranty coverage and the generous Bluelink+ deal to its comfort, utility, and technology, the Santa Fe is impressive. Do yourself a favor, though, and pay a little extra for the significantly more fuel-efficient hybrid.
Christian WardlawChris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
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