Trims and Powertrain

The 2026 Santa Fe comes in trim packages named SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The full lineup is driven by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and an 8-speed automatic transmission, a combination that generates 277 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque. (There’s also a gas-electric Santa Fe Hybrid, which we cover on a separate page.) With trailer brakes, the towing limit for most trims is 3,500 pounds; the exception is the XRT, which can pull as much as 4,500 lb. The XRT also gets standard all-wheel drive (AWD), all-terrain tires, an additional driving mode called Terrain, and 1.3 inches more of ground clearance.

A Santa Fe with FWD will return an EPA-estimated 20 mpg around town and 29 mpg on the highway; AWD only reduces the highway rating by a single mile per gallon. The uniquely equipped XRT achieves slightly different fuel economy, at an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway.

Standard Features by Trim

The SE leads off with YES Essentials stain-resistant upholstery, a second-row bench seat, 50/50 sinking and folding third-row seats (with rear seat Quiet Mode), a two-level storage armrest with bi-directional access, and an underfloor storage tray in the rear cargo area. It also has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, four USB ports, two 12-volt power outlets, a 4.2-inch color multi-information display, proximity key entry, a hands-free smart liftgate, heated side mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, and LED bulbs for the automatic headlights, daytime running lights, headlight accents, and taillights.

The SEL ramps up both comfort and convenience with synthetic leather seating surfaces, wireless device charging, two zones of automatic climate control, HVAC vents and a pair of USB ports in the third row, heated front seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat, roof rails, and LED turn indicators on the exterior mirrors. The XRT gains a sunroof, C-pillar assist handles, dual wireless device charging, a 115-volt power outlet, and the following design elements: black anodized “H” logo and “SANTA FE” badges, dark-finished 18-inch alloy wheels, gloss-black side mirrors, and trim-exclusive rear badging.

The lineup’s cabin goes plush inside the Limited with leather upholstery, a mélange headliner, ambient interior lighting, second-row captain’s chairs, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, memory settings and 4-way power lumbar for the driver’s seat, a 6-way power passenger’s seat, a dual-pane sunroof, rear side sunshades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Its exterior highlights are rain-sensing windshield wipers, power-folding side mirrors, and 20-inch alloy wheels. The Calligraphy moves up to Hyundai’s signature Nappa leather seating, a Relaxation Seat for the driver, a 12-inch head-up display, a camera-based rearview mirror, and 21-inch alloy wheels.

Safety and Driver-Assist Technology

The SmartSense suite is a hallmark of every new Hyundai vehicle, and the ‘26 Santa Fe capitalizes on that with standard blind-spot collision warning, lane following assist, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, parking distance warning (forward/reverse), rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, rear occupant alert, safe exit assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection. The SEL adds forward attention warning and an advanced rear occupant alert, while the XRT comes with highway driving assist and a navigation-based version of Smart Cruise Control with curve control. The Limited introduces a new level of safety, adding a surround view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and side parking sensors. The Calligraphy receives enhanced versions of some of the aforementioned technologies: blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, Highway Driving Assist 2, and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2.

Infotainment, Audio, and Connectivity

The dash of every ‘26 Santa Fe displays a 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and access to Bluelink+ connected services. Over-the-air updates also come standard, helping drivers easily (and wirelessly) maintain all vehicle software. Dynamic voice recognition and Hyundai Pay capability are added at the XRT level. The Limited and Calligraphy upgrade from the default sound unit to a Bose system with a dozen speakers.