2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review, Specs, Configurations

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review, Specs, Configurations – Korean manufacturer Hyundai’s fifth-generation 2026 Santa Fe is among the most striking seven-seat SUVs available. It combines features of the Land Rover Defender with those of the futuristic ‘pixel’ style found on Hyundai’s Ioniq electric vehicles, creating a stunning look with sharp angles and H-shaped accents on the bumpers and lighting.

The advent of electrification with the fourth-generation Santa Fe limited the powertrain options to hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Both utilize the company’s 1.6-liter Smartstream turbo petrol engine, but with different levels of electric assistance. Both floor plans have seven seats as standard, with a more luxurious six-seat option available; Premium, Ultimate, and Calligraphy are the possible trim options. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior & Interior

The Peugeot 5008 has lately evolved from being a lengthened version of the Peugeot 3008 with seven seats. The 3008 and the 5008 couldn’t be more unlike; the former has a coupe-like roofline and the latter maintains a boxier profile to provide more inside space.

The 5008 may be advertised as a family SUV, but its cabin is designed with the driver’s needs in mind. It features the latest version of Peugeot’s infamously controversial i-Cockpit interior design, with its radically curved 21-inch panoramic screen. Along the vehicle’s spine, you’ll find a plethora of switches, a driver-facing shortcut display, and the primary dashboard and center console controls. The controls are therefore conveniently located where you want them. The large stretches of gray material and the enormous pools of ambient lighting that span the dashboard combine to make the interior feel cozy and inviting.

An odd posture, with the driver peering over a small, rather squared-off steering wheel, is required to view the instrument display. Although this could be awkward to use while driving, the latest i-Cockpit version makes it all look quite natural. Try out the 5008 for a drive to ensure you’re happy driving it before you buy it.

In general, the 5008’s cabin is of great quality. The soft material covering the top of the dashboard and the well-padded armrests indicate that a great deal of care and consideration was put into the interior. Black, inexpensive polymers are simple to come by, and the rough fabric that covers most surfaces is really only a thin layer hiding much tougher plastics beneath.

The integrated infotainment system isn’t as quick or as user-friendly as the latest software from Renault or Hyundai, but the 21-inch floating screen is very clear. Thankfully, there’s a simple solution: just hook up your phone wirelessly using either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. These systems occupy half of the screen and are perfect for playing music and navigating.

The touchscreen is still available for controlling the interior temperature and driver safety systems, but there is now a bank of programmable shortcut buttons for each option on the ‘i-Toggles’ panel below.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Specs

Engine & Performance

Although it seems huge and boxy, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is actually very small when compared to other SUVs. The car’s many driving aids make it simple to maintain control, but the warning lights’ continual blaring might get old quickly. Although four-wheel drive is an available option, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid comes standard with front-wheel drive. The second one can manage light off-roading thanks to its hill-descent control system and mud, sand, and snow-specific driving modes.

Although the Santa Fe does not run on pure electricity, it does include an adjustable multi-stage regenerative braking system. We would rather have a more robust setting on the full-hybrid model since although the highest level may bring the vehicle to a crawl, it requires a considerable amount of time and distance to do this.

The raised driving position provides a great perspective of your surrounds, and all models come with front and rear parking sensors and a reverse camera to help with maneuvers. Pluses include light steering and an indication system that uses the cameras in the door mirrors to display the car’s sides on the instrument cluster in real time.

At lower speeds, the hybrid technology ensures a smooth ride by filling the power band as the engine revs higher. The car’s warning bells, meanwhile, are a bit much for my taste. If you look away from the road for even a second, like you have to at a crossroads, the distracted-driving warning will go off, which is really inconvenient.

Assuming the battery is fully charged, the PHEV model’s electric power system ensures a refined and tranquil ride around town. Changing from electric to gasoline driving does not cause a gearbox shunt, and Hyundai claims an official range of 33.6 miles with a fully charged pack.

Two characteristics are carried over to the Santa Fe from Hyundai’s lineup of electric vehicles. Using the paddles attached to the steering wheel or the column-mounted drive selector to the right of the wheel, you may adjust the energy recovery while you’re on the move. Although the most powerful of the five settings does not allow one-pedal driving, it is a great feature that you may boost the car’s energy recovery in various conditions.

The fact that the car beeps everytime it detects a change in the speed limit, even by 1 mph, and again if you chance to exceed the limit, is another annoying aspect of the auditory alarms. A long press of the mute button on the multifunction steering wheel will disable the system, but according to the rules as they are, it will automatically revert to “on” every time you start the car. The Santa Fe isn’t alone in having this function; in fact, it’s common among contemporary cars.

The Hyundai provides a tremendous deal of comfort, especially at higher speeds. Standard setups of springs and dampers are adjusted to give a pleasant ride and smooth out road irregularities, even without air suspension. Applying greater force causes body roll, which, combined with the high kerbweight and the lack of control input, makes for a miserable ride.

There is a discernible increase in engine noise during acceleration in the hybrid model because of the heavy reliance on combustion power. The electric motor will do most of the heavy lifting if the PHEV’s battery is partially charged, as it often is when in operation, keeping roughly 15% of its capacity. The gearbox, which is akin to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), clings to gear ratios and retains an unpleasant noise as soon as the engine is started.

As the Santa Fe gains steam, it transforms into an exquisite and tranquil place to be. You can barely hear the wind or the road, and the vehicle will sway if you hit a particularly rough patch.

Since Toyota and Lexus continue to dominate the hybrid efficiency race, this model isn’t the best choice for long highway drives because it relies too much on the engine. Everything remains the same once the battery of the PHEV dies. On rare occasions, when the battery life is still respectable, you may utilize the plug-in version to propel your car up to 70 mph.

Using its turbocharged 1.6-liter petrol engine and one electric motor, Hyundai asserts that the Santa Fe Hybrid can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds for the standard model and 9.8 seconds for the 4WD version. The base model produces 212 horsepower, while the 4WD version produces 367 Nm of torque. The hybrid is offered with either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive; the latter comes with a six-speed automatic transmission and costs an extra £2,000.

The Santa Fe PHEV has 250 more horsepower, but its 367 Nm of torque is on par with that of the hybrid. The car can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 9.3 seconds, and another important distinction between the hybrid and PHEV is that the latter only has four-wheel drive. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Fuel Economy

Even though we think the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe will have decent gas mileage for city driving, we still think a diesel option would be better for longer trips. The Santa Fe is a great example of a vehicle that might be good for shorter trips or towing with a hybrid drivetrain, but at higher speeds, when electronics regulate the flow of power from the road to the engines, hybrid powertrains aren’t as efficient.

Our testing of a Santa Fe PHEV revealed that, once the battery was depleted, the trip computer provided fuel economy estimates for interstate runs in the mid-30s, but for slower urban driving in the mid-40s. When the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle’s (PHEV) battery drops below about 15% capacity, the system starts to utilize the gasoline engine more often, at least trying to boost efficiency.

Even though we think the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe will have decent gas mileage for city driving, we still think a diesel option would be better for longer trips. The Santa Fe is a great example of a vehicle that might be good for shorter trips or towing with a hybrid drivetrain, but at higher speeds, when electronics regulate the flow of power from the road to the engines, hybrid powertrains aren’t as efficient.

Our testing of a Santa Fe PHEV revealed that, once the battery was depleted, the trip computer provided fuel economy estimates for interstate runs in the mid-30s, but for slower urban driving in the mid-40s. When the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle’s (PHEV) battery drops below about 15% capacity, the system starts to utilize the gasoline engine more often, at least trying to boost efficiency.

Charging the 5008 Plug-in Hybrid in its entirety will need around five and a half hours using a standard 7kW home wallbox charger, due to its maximum charging speed of 3.6kW.

Finally, for those interested in knowing more about the Peugeot E-5008 EV, we have a separate review accessible. A 73 kWh battery powers the base model up to 310 miles, while a larger 98 kWh battery powers the Long Range model up to 415 miles. Both models can be fully charged—from 20 to 80 percent—in around 30 minutes using a compatible rapid charger, which can achieve a peak charging speed of 160 kW. Charging the 73 kWh version from empty to full overnight using a typical 7.4kW wallbox charger should take little under 12 hours, while the 97 kWh version should take about 15.5 hours.

Unfortunately, a heat pump is an option for the E-5008. A heat pump is an effective way to heat the inside, which helps to maintain your overall range and benefit efficiency, especially in colder temperatures. People with long commutes might choose this option because the range shouldn’t be much reduced in winter as compared to hot summer conditions.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Safety Features

Euro NCAP has not given either the Peugeot 3008 or the third-generation Peugeot 5008 a crash safety rating. Every 5008 comes included with a rearview camera, parking sensors, advanced emergency braking, lane keep assist, speed sign recognition, driver attention alert, and traffic and speed signs. Features including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, front parking sensors, and adjustable Pixel LED headlights are available on more sophisticated models.

A 360-degree camera system, long-range blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic warning are some of the additional driver aid systems that may be upgraded. “Highway Assist 2.0” is a Peugeot feature that combines adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and other safety features; it is available exclusively on the GT model level. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Review

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Release Date & Price

An all-hybrid 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe starting at about £47,000 is available with front-wheel drive. For roughly £2,000, you can have a four-wheel drive option with the hybrid powerplant. On the other hand, a plug-in hybrid with this as standard is available for just under £52,000.

By using our Find a Car service, you may access a network of reliable dealers that are offering discounts on the Santa Fe suggested retail pricing. On the other hand, Auto Express is a good place to buy or lease a Santa Fe.

Note: Everything you see in the following article is based on information that was available before the product was even released. Official sources or your local dealership are the best places to get up-to-date information.

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