Hyundai Santa Fe Review 2026

The Hyundai Santa Fe has earned itself a reputation as a strong-and-stable, no-nonsense family SUV. But for the latest model its design team decided to go a bit extra. You'll love or hate how it looks, but there's no denying that the boxy appearance provides a spacious (and upmarket) interior. Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review to find out if it's the SUV for you.

You've probably noticed the surge in self-sufficiency over the last few years. Rather than staying in hotels, people are keen to fit roof tents to their cars and disappear for a weekend in the wilderness.

The new Hyundai Santa Fe is a family SUV that's intended to cross that line between work and pleasure, giving families enough space and capability for off-grid adventures.

Sounds a lot like marketing nonsense, right? Maybe, to an extent. But there are some neat little touches which you don't get in a Skoda Kodiaq or the Kia Sorento.

For example, the top-spec model comes with a little handle that appears from the rear pillar, giving you something to hold onto when loading items onto the roof. There's even a UV-C sterilisation tray which can be used to clean bacteria from your phone or wallet (how very post-2020).

Apparently the Hyundai Santa Fe has been designed around 'the box' - its versatile interior with boxy dimensions providing space for up to seven passengers. And it certainly feels very spacious inside, with a lofty seating position and a huge amount of boot space - provided you don't use all seven seats, anyway.

There are two engines available in the Hyundai Santa Fe: a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. Which one you choose will probably depend on whether you can charge a car at home.

The PHEV needs regular charging to get the best from it... but, when it's fully charged, it's our pick of the range. There's no diesel, which is unsurprising these days but also a bit of a shame - we reckon a diesel motor would suit the chunky Hyundai Santa Fe very well indeed.

You also get the choice of three trim levels: Premium, Ultimate and Calligraphy. Even the entry-level Hyundai Santa Fe Premium is very well equipped, so don't be too concerned about splashing out on one of the pricier trim levels. Standard equipment includes a brilliant dual-screen infotainment system, leather seats and clever navigation-based adaptive cruise control.

One sticking point is the price. The new Santa Fe starts from nearly £50,000, which is pricier than a Kia Sorento or Nissan X-Trail - and firmly into Land Rover Discovery Sport territory. It looks and feels a lot like a cut-price full-fat Land Rover Discovery, though, and when you look at it like that, it's almost a bargain.

The Hyundai Santa Fe feels like quite a big SUV but it's actually very easy to drive. You'll soon get used to its chunky dimensions - thanks to impressive visibility, light controls and a lot of technology acting as a second pair of eyes.

It's comfortable, too, although the 20-inch alloy wheels (standard across the range) mean it patters noticeably over broken road surfaces. The plug-in hybrid feels noticeably heavier and firmer, so while it's fine on smooth surfaces, it's not as happy over bumps and ruts. Air suspension would really help here, but would also increase the price.

For a car of this size, the Hyundai Santa Fe remains surprisingly composed during cornering. While it's not a true off-roader, you can get it with four-wheel drive, and it's more than capable of tackling a rutted farm track.

While most people bought the old Hyundai Santa Fe with the diesel engine, this latest model is hybrid-only. There are two available: a 'regular' hybrid, which combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, and a plug-in hybrid, which combines the same engine with a bigger battery and a more powerful motor.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is fine, but does feel a bit sluggish, especially when fully loaded or driving on the motorway. Originally, this model had 215PS and 367Nm of torque for a leisurely 9.6 second 0-62mph time, or 9.8 seconds for the all-wheel drive model, but things have improved slightly.

Now, the engine makes 239PS and 380Nm of torque, trimming the 0-62mph time to a more respectable nine seconds, or 9.2 seconds if you've specced all-wheel drive. You do still feel like you need to work the 1.6 hard to make good progress, though, and it can sound a bit thrashy in the process. 

We still prefer the plug-in hybrid, which has received some improvements of its own. Combining a 13.8kWh battery with an electric motor which lives inside the gearbox, it makes a total of 288PS and 380Nm for a 0-62mph time of eight seconds, down from 9.3. Its ability to travel up to 33 miles under electric power alone means it's also very refined.

Euro NCAP crash-tested and assessed the Hyundai Santa Fe in 2024, awarding it the maximum five stars.

You can be pretty confident that the Hyundai Santa Fe is going to keep you and your family safe. There are many driver-assistance features that are standard across the range - including an emergency braking system that'll slam the anchors on if it detects a potential collision - as well as a blind spot view monitor to warn you about vehicles hiding over your shoulder.

If you're looking at an earlier model, you might be disappointed by the braked towing capacity of 1100kg, which lags behind the Skoda Kodiaq and also the previous-generation Santa Fe. The recent, more powerful version fares far better, with the Hybrid Santa Fe now capable of hauling braked loads of up to 2000kg regardless of whether you've specced the front- or all-wheel drive version. The plug-in hybrid isn't far behind, offering 1700kg of braked towing capability.

With chunky exterior dimensions and a box-like design, the Hyundai Santa Fe is a supremely practical SUV that's very family friendly.

It comes as standard with seven seats and, unlike some competitors, you can actually use the rear-most seats without too much discomfort. Sure, getting in them requires some clambering (children will embrace it), but once you're there, there's a surprising amount of room.

Most people will leave them folded into the floor and treat the Hyundai Santa Fe as a spacious five-seater, though. And as that, it works pretty well. The boot can accommodate 628 litres of luggage, which is fairly large if not as big as a Skoda Kodiaq or Land Rover Discovery Sport's boot.

Drop the second row of seats and the Hyundai Santa Fe is as spacious as a van. Its boxy dimensions mean you'll be able to fit a wide range of things in the back - or, as we've done, you could even carry a mattress and enjoy a bit of car camping.

Children will love the back thanks to the wide door arms fitted with double cupholders plus USB-C chargers cleverly fitted to the back (well side) of the front seats. Usefully, rear door blinds are standard fit, very handy in the summer, while the heated rear seats in Ultimate and Calligraphy models make those cold winter school runs a bit more bearable.

The centre armrest between the front passengers is cleverly double-hinged so those in the back can also access it. So you may have to hide sweets from the kids somewhere else. Underneath that is a neatly concealed sliding drawer. It's very deep and an ideal place to stow away headphones and the like safely out of the way.  

It's also possible to spec the hybrid model as a six-seater, which switches the middle bench for two adjustable, comfort-focused seats.

You get what you pay for in terms of interior quality in the Hyundai Santa Fe. It feels posher than a Nissan X-Trail inside, but it's not quite as upmarket as premium competitors like the (admittedly more expensive) Volvo XC90.

The nice thing is, you don't have to pay top money for a range-topping Santa Fe - even the entry-level Premium spec feels pretty plush, with leather seats and plenty of soft-touch materials.

The infotainment in the Hyundai Santa Fe add to its upmarket vibe. You get two 12.3-inch screens (no matter which trim level you go for), providing access to the usual infotainment features (including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) as well as a digital instrument cluster. The main central display features sharp graphics, user-friendly menu layouts and fast responses - so there's little to complain about, really.

We like that Ultimate and Calligraphy models come with not one but two wireless phone chargers (so no arguments between the driver and front-seat passenger), while those in the back get USB-C chargers.

Below the main infotainment screen, there's a separate 6.6-inch touchscreen display for the climate controls. While we still prefer physical controls, this does look pretty smart and saves the hassle of having to navigate various infotainment menus just to adjust the temperature or turn on your heated seat.

The Santa Fe range starts with the Premium hybrid model for £49,090. Upgrading to Ultimate trim bumps that to £52,590, and then it's £55,090 for the top-spec Calligraphy. The six-seater configuration is only available on that trim level and costs £56,090. If you want to add all-wheel drive to any of these, it's a premium of £2055 for each. 

The plug-in hybrid, meanwhile is £53,195 as a Premium, £56,455 in Ultimate trim and £58,945 for the Calligraphy. 

With lofty prices such as these, the Hyundai Santa Fe certainly isn't the budget family SUV it once was. Both the Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan X-Trail significantly undercut it on price, as does the Kia Sorento. But it feels more like an alternative to a full-size Land Rover Discovery, and it's much more affordable than that (and will no doubt be cheaper to run, too).

The plug-in hybrid's claimed 74.3mpg fuel economy figure will raise eyebrows but, like all PHEVs, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. The 33-mile electric range is more useful - if you charge it regularly and cover lots of short journeys, the Santa Fe PHEV should be very efficient. Stray beyond that initial range, and it'll be thirstier than a similarly sized diesel SUV.

The hybrid Hyundai Santa Fe manages 42.2mpg (or 39.8mpg from the 4x4 model), although its real-world fuel economy is likely to be less than this.

With a price tag of more than £40,000, you'll pay a lot to tax the Hyundai Santa Fe (at least for the first five years). That's because it qualifies for the premium car tax. After six years, you'll pay the standard VED rate (currently £195/year for hybrids).

In the long term, we'd expect the Hyundai Santa Fe to be a very reliable family SUV. It's backed by Hyundai's five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, too.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is available in three trim levels called Premium, Ultimate and Calligraphy.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Premium comes with the following equipment fitted as standard:

• 20-inch silver alloy wheels 
• 12.3-inch 
• Front/rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Electric tailgate 
• Dual-zone climate control
• Leather seats 
• Heated and electrically adjustable front seats
• Keyless entry/start
• Tinted rear side windows
• Interior ambient lighting
• Single wireless phone charger

Upgrading to the Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate builds on the above with the following kit:

• Bose sound system
• Head-up display
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats 
• Additional safety technology
• Dual glass sunroof 
• Digital rear-view mirror 
• Dual wireless phone charger 

The top-spec Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy adds: 

• 20-inch black alloy wheels
• UV-C sanitised storage compartment 
• Nappa leather seats 
• Front relaxation seats 
• Black exterior styling features