DecodedCars2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD HEV
- Engines
- 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 36 combined · 37 city / 36 hwy
- Length
- 190.2 in
- Curb weight
- 4,442 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 36 MPG combined — 19% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 42 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 190 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,442 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 36 MPG combined (37 city / 36 highway), 19% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $1,850 a year in fuel.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Santa Fe — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Santa Fe →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Montgomery, Alabama
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2026 Santa Fe configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD HEV | 190.2 in | 74.8 in | 67.7 in | 110.6 in | 64.6 / 64.6 in | 4,442 lb | 55/45 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Hybrid FWD Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 37 / 36 / 36 | +19% | $1,850 | 244 |
| Santa Fe Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 35 / 34 / 34 | +31% | $1,950 | 258 |
| Santa Fe FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 24 | -21% | $2,800 | 374 |
| Santa Fe AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | -11% | $2,900 | 389 |
| Santa Fe AWD XRT | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | -19% | $3,200 | 421 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe (this car) | 36 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Toyota 4Runner | 23 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 24 MPG | Not rated | 15 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
Recalls (4)
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage · Apr 6, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V218000 · 294,448 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023-2026 Genesis G90, 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach.
- Risk
- A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and reinforce or replace the seat belt anchors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 298 and 032G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov April 8, 2026.
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Jan 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
Air Bags › Side/Window › Curtain · Nov 20, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V809000 · 258 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
- Risk
- Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will reinstall the side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 29, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 289 and 029G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 22, 2025.
Engine And Engine Cooling › Critical Fasteners · Aug 25, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V549000 · 29 vehicles
- Problem
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
- Risk
- A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
Not every 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Santa Fe years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Santa Fe | 36 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Santa Fe | 36 | 190.2 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 240 |
| 2024 Santa Fe | 36 | 190.2 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 191 |
| 2023 Santa Fe | 34 | 188.6 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 290 |
| 2022 Santa Fe | 34 | 188.6 in | ★★★★★ | 8 | 265 |
| 2021 Santa Fe | 34 | 188.6 in | ★★★★★ | 8 | 187 |
| 2020 Santa Fe | 25 | 187.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 218 |
| 2019 Santa Fe | 25 | 187.8 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 229 |
| 2018 Santa Fe | 24 | 184.6 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 432 |
| 2017 Santa Fe | 24 | 184.6 in | Not rated | 7 | 1,327 |
| 2016 Santa Fe | 23 | 184.6 in | Not rated | 3 | 306 |
| 2015 Santa Fe | 23 | 184.6 in | Not rated | 4 | 339 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →