New Hyundai Santa Fe Review

Whether it's the entry level trim or the top luxury level, the new Santa Fe is packed with the best materials and amenities. For starters, you'll find an extraordinary amount of technology for your entertainment, for safety, and for driver assistance.

The cockpit can be fully outfitted with a power-adjustable chair, push button start, and a wireless charger. Families can get favorites like rear sunshades to shelter kids, power-folding rear seats for fast transformations, and the power liftgate with its hands-free capability. A panoramic sunroof and rich Nappa leather are favorite luxuries.

There are more ways to keep cool like the multi-zone HVAC system with automatic climate controls and plenty of second- and third-row air vents. Plus this big SUV offers ventilated seats, perfect for our hot summer days. You can get to know more about trim levels in this extended review.

Ready to provide entertainment and information, there are now dual 12.3-inch screens in the cockpit. The digital gauge cluster perfectly complements the equally large central touchscreen. You will find the system easier with its advanced voice recognition and supplemental knobs and buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give you a direct way to put your apps on the screen for easier use.

A dual wireless smartphone charging pad is definitely going to be a big hit with parents. You can charge both phones the same time in this large space. Plus it has fans to keep the process cool. Another smart idea is the UV sanitizer that can be added to the glovebox.

In its latest generation, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is bigger and faster. That's because the 191-horsepower engine has been retired in favor of a 277-horsepower engine. This 3 row SUV has plenty of muscle since it generates a hefty 311 lb-ft of torque. A dual-clutch automatic transmission controls the actions. Well-weighted steering ensures that handling is responsive to driver commands. This excellent road capability is matched with a smooth ride to keep passengers happy.

The new Santa Fe Hybrid has a 226-horsepower unit with two electric motors. This allows it to offer standard all-wheel drive. The hybrid fuel economy is expected to be 36 miles per gallon city and 31 miles per gallon highway. Regular fuel economy is 22/28 mpg city/highway for the turbo.

To achieve spaciousness in the cabin, Hyundai engineers employed a boxy shape that gives riders more height and greater legroom than before. Engineers worked on the tailgate to provide a bigger, wider cargo area than it did before.

Clearly the engineers had off-roading in mind when they designed the new Hyundai Santa Fe. They kept overhangs tight. Even before you add all-wheel drive, ground clearance is a generous 8.2 inches.

With the turbo engine, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe tows up to 3,500 pounds. That's enough to bring along a trailer full of camping gear or adventure machines, like ATVs. XRT models can crank the tow rating up to 4,500 pounds.

Hyundai has developed a particularly advanced version of standard collision avoidance, and it has made it standard on the Santa Fe. The emergency autobrake and warning system watches for forward collision dangers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The blind spot monitoring system warns you about traffic by the vehicle, and the lane departure system helps you stay aware of the lane lines. It can even help steer the vehicle into a safer trajectory. When you take these forward automatic emergency braking systems and combine it with cruise control, you get the highly capable adaptive cruise control system.

It can slow, go and slow again as needed for traffic. You set the speed and the number of car lengths. Then you monitor progress with your hands on the wheel. With the advanced Highway Driving Assist, the system goes another step and combines ACC with lane centering technology. This can be used on long stretches of interstate.

When this SUV was designed, you can tell they had parents in mind. The upholstery is stain-resistant cloth, helping you clean up messes quickly and effectively. Second row air vents are standard, and sunshades are on the menu. Another standard, the rear seat quiet mode built into the audio system is a rare find in automotives today. For carseats, Hyundai has two full LATCH attachments on the second row.

A rear seat alert reminds the driver to check for sleeping kids before leaving the vehicle unattended. On the new Santa Fe Limited trim, it’s upgraded with ultrasonic technology and Blue Link integration.

Safe exit assist may lock the rear doors if a moving car is detected alongside. In addition, parents will appreciate the standard automatic high-beam headlights, driver drowsiness monitoring, and other advanced safety features on the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV in Phoenix.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe starts you off with a rearview camera and the confidence instilled by a rear cross traffic alert with an assisting autobrake, just in case. The front and rear parking sensors are standard on upper trims. The Limited includes a useful surround-view parking camera system that shows you everything around the vehicle. Even better, this trim gives you the Remote Smart Parking Assist.

You can stand nearby and use your keyfob to put the SUV into a marked parking space. Incredible!

If you want to see how that works, it’s easy. Just head to Earnhardt Hyundai - San Tan for a test drive.

If you don’t have time to shop, the answer is easy. Use our No Bull Express and do the whole process online with our local dealership.