Large SUV Review: Hyundai Santa Fe 2026

 

There’s no shortage of large SUVs on the road today, and many of them blend anonymously into traffic. Not the Hyundai Santa Fe.

With its bold, boxy styling and rugged design, the latest Santa Fe stands out from the crowd. Fortunately, there’s far more to it than just looks. Launched in Australia in 2024, the newest generation Santa Fe is a seven-seat family SUV offered with two powertrains, including an efficient petrol-electric hybrid.

With multiple trims, modern technology and a spacious cabin, it’s designed to meet the needs of growing families looking for comfort, safety and practicality.

👉 Curious how it drives in the real world? Watch the full review.

Our Hyundai Santa Fe Car Rating

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe earns a strong 8.5/10, thanks to its spacious interior, impressive equipment levels and smooth driving manners. The hybrid powertrain makes it especially appealing for families looking to reduce fuel costs without sacrificing practicality.

 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Very spacious interior across all three rows
• Comfortable and composed driving experience
• Well equipped, particularly in safety technology

Cons

• 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine can be fuel-hungry
• Hybrid towing capacity limited to 1650kg
• Ride can feel slightly firm on rough roads at low speed

Pricing and Equipment

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe range includes eight variants, spread across three trim levels:

• Santa Fe
• Elite
• Calligraphy

Two powertrain options are available:

• 2.5-litre turbo petrol: 206kW / 422Nm
• 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid: 172kW / 367Nm

Both engines use a six-speed automatic transmission.

In the base Santa Fe grade, buyers can choose between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with AWD costing about $3000 extra. Elite and Calligraphy variants are AWD only.

Switching from the petrol engine to the hybrid adds around $4000.

Pricing starts below $60,000 on the road for the entry-level turbo petrol model and rises to over $80,000 for the fully equipped Calligraphy Hybrid.

👉 Thinking about upgrading your family SUV? Book a test drive to see if the Santa Fe fits your lifestyle.

Rivals

The Santa Fe competes in the large seven-seat SUV segment, alongside vehicles such as:

• Toyota Kluger
• Kia Sorento
• Mazda CX-80
• Chery Tiggo 8
  

Buyers wanting more serious off-road ability might also consider traditional 4WD SUVs such as the Ford Everest, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or Isuzu MU-X.

Those models also offer stronger towing capacity. The Santa Fe hybrid is rated to tow 1650kg braked, while the turbo petrol increases that to 2000kg.

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Features

Exterior highlights include:

• 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels
• Power tailgate
• Roof rails

Inside the cabin, the Santa Fe includes:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Dual 12.3-inch digital displays
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Powered driver’s seat

The base Santa Fe uses cloth seat trim, while the front passenger seat remains manually adjustable. It also misses out on built-in satellite navigation and the premium Bose 12-speaker audio system, instead using a six-speaker setup.

Elite and Calligraphy models introduce more premium technology, including remote parking, which allows the vehicle to move forward or backward using the key fob — handy for tight parking spaces.

Optional upgrades include second-row captain’s chairs in the Calligraphy, turning the Santa Fe into a six-seater.

Two XRT packages are also available, adding rugged styling and upgraded suspension for light off-road driving. They’re not cheap though, priced at $7990 and $10,990.

👉 Want to see these features in action? Watch the full review.

Warranty and Servicing

The Hyundai Santa Fe is covered by a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.

If you service the vehicle exclusively at authorised Hyundai dealerships, the warranty can be extended to seven years.

Roadside assistance is also available for up to seven years, provided servicing continues with Hyundai.

Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km, regardless of whether you choose the petrol or hybrid powertrain.

Hyundai also offers capped-price servicing plans that can be purchased for three, four or five years.

 

Safety Ratings and Equipment

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe holds the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating under 2024 testing protocols.

Hyundai has equipped the Santa Fe with a comprehensive suite of safety features including:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring with side-view cameras
• 360-degree surround camera
• Safe Exit Assist to prevent opening doors into traffic
• Lane-keeping and driver monitoring systems

The safety package also includes:

• 10 airbags, including curtain airbags covering the third row
• Up to five child-seat top tether points
• Four ISOFIX child-seat mounts

Space, Comfort and Quality

The Santa Fe’s boxy design isn’t just for looks. It also improves interior space.

Accessing the third row is simple. A button on the second-row seats tilts and slides them forward. While the opening is a little tight, once inside the space is suitable for younger passengers.

Third-row occupants receive separate fan controls, although temperature adjustment isn’t available.

Up front, the seats are firm but supportive, while the wide floating centre console easily accommodates multiple phones and storage items.

Elite and Calligraphy variants add dual wireless phone chargers.

The centre console lid cleverly opens from both the front and rear, allowing second-row passengers to access the storage area.

Rear passengers benefit from:

• Sliding second-row seats for extra legroom
• Nearly flat floor for three-across seating
• Air vents mounted on the B-pillar
• Multiple cupholders

Boot space is limited when all seven seats are in use, but folding the rear rows creates a large cargo area. Non-hybrid models offer slightly more storage due to a lower boot floor.

Interior materials are impressive for the class, particularly in higher trims, with metal highlights, brushed aluminium and matte wood accents.

 

Powertrain and Driving Experience

The Santa Fe offers two distinct powertrain choices.

The 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine provides strong performance and responsive acceleration, although it can be relatively thirsty.

The hybrid powertrain is smoother and more economical, making it the better option for many buyers. Despite lower paper outputs, it performs well in everyday driving.

Underneath, the Santa Fe uses a car-like monocoque platform, prioritising on-road comfort rather than heavy off-road capability.

On the road, the Santa Fe feels stable, composed and easy to drive. It handles corners confidently for a large SUV and remains comfortable for commuting and long highway trips.

The only drawback is a slightly busy ride at low speeds over rough surfaces.

👉 Want to see how it performs on the road? Watch the full review.

 

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Verdict

The Hyundai Santa Fe will likely make many buyers’ shortlists based on styling alone.

But its appeal runs deeper than looks. With strong equipment levels, thoughtful interior design and excellent driving manners, it’s a compelling option in the large SUV category.

For most buyers, the hybrid version will be the sweet spot, delivering efficiency without sacrificing practicality.

👉 Ready to see if it suits your family? Book a test drive today.

Rating: 8.5/10

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Specifications

Model variants: Santa Fe, Elite, Calligraphy
Price: $53,650 – $77,150 plus on-road costs

Engine options

• 2.5-litre turbo petrol
• 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive

Power / Torque

• 206kW / 422Nm (turbo petrol)
• 172kW / 367Nm (hybrid)

Fuel consumption

• 9.1L/100km (turbo petrol)
• 5.6L/100km (hybrid)

Main rivals:
Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-80, Chery Tiggo 8