2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions, Price, Release Date

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions, Price, Release Date  –  It seems one of Hyundai’s most popular products is in the midst of something of an identity crisis. After all, it was only a couple years ago that the Santa Fe underwent a complete overhaul, though it wasn’t especially well received – at least not according to the annual sales charts. So the automaker has done what it does best, with the 2026 version getting a few key tweaks in an attempt to turn heads.

And while the styling updates are noteworthy on their own, it’s the all-new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL that should earn some extra attention, with near imperceptible operation that leaves very few hints about its gas-electric underpinnings. In fact, it drives like any other SUV this size thanks to a unique combination of a turbocharged gas engine and traditional automatic transmission to go with its extra electrified goodies.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Such a feature is best enjoyed on the highway, where the Santa Fe XL displays attributes both good and bad. Takes cruising comfort – it’s second to none in the segment, with just a hint of stiffness to go with smooth suspension damping that takes care of all but the roughest road surfaces.

The same goes for the front seats, which provided plenty of support over the course of a multi-hour evaluation drive and beyond. Even the materials inside are of reasonable quality, with more soft-touch stuff than normal for this brand. Yet there’s enough awkward wind noise, particularly coming off the door mirrors, to disrupt the serenity inside and pester occupants.

The look and layout of the cabin is mostly unchanged for 2026, though it’s the centre console that sees the bulk of the interior redesign. The conventional gear selector is gone, while the HVAC controls have been cleaned up and modernized. It’s a tasteful space overall, and looks great with this top trim’s caramel leather upholstery.   2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions

Outside, it underwent a facelift in the most literal sense, with a front end that’s far more bold than before to go with fundamentals that mostly stay the same. Besides looking like the bottom end of a Nintendo cartridge – those who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s get it – it does enough to stand out in a largely bland segment.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Specs

At least for its first year, the Hyundai Santa Fe XL remains relatively straightforward as far as packaging goes. It’s available in two trims – a powertrain upgrade for the Preferred trim or as the standalone Luxury XL – and comes reasonably well equipped.

Along with a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, quick-release buttons in the back, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat that matches the driver’s, the Preferred trim’s “Trend package” also includes a wireless phone charger, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a proximity sensor to open the tailgate.

Engine and Performance

While it’s typical for an automaker to pair a thermal-efficient four-cylinder – usually one running on the Atkinson cycle – with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in a XL like this, Hyundai has gone with a far more conventional setup. Utilizing the brand’s small-but-stout 1.6L turbo and a six-speed automatic transmission, as well as standard all-wheel drive, this powertrain behaves like a regular gas-powered sport utility and it’s better for it.  2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions

That four-cylinder makes 178 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque on its own – not a ton by modern standards, but more than enough. More crucially, peak torque kicks in at just 1,500 rpm. That’s the stuff that makes it go, and working alongside the gear ratios of the automatic transmission, this Santa Fe accelerates with little indication that there’s an extra dose of electrons on board. All together, net system output stands at 226 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Fuel Economy

That’s all the good news. What’s considerably less so is the amount of fuel the Santa Fe XL consumes. Granted, it’s superior to a gas-only version of this same sport utility by about 2.5 L/100 km, and that adds up quickly. But next to those Toyota twins, or the segment-leading Ford Escape XL, it’s simply not as efficient.

And achieving those numbers proved easy, with an initial 200-km evaluation drive coming in at 7.3 L/100 km. However, all three of those rivals are substantially better, with combined ratings ranging from 5.8 to 6.1 L/100 km. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Safety Features

More so than the larger touchscreen from the gas version’s top trim, the one item missing from this XL’s features list is a head-up display; otherwise, it’s all there – and it all works well.

While the lane-following assist doesn’t work quite as smoothly as the advanced adaptive cruise control offered in the overhauled Nissan Rogue (nor was it designed to), the system will provide steering input to keep the Santa Fe centred within its lane markings even on winding roads – assuming the driver’s hands remain firmly in place on the wheel. It can also easily be disengaged via a button on the steering wheel without disabling lane-keep assist.  2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Price and Release Date

The Santa Fe XL is also more expensive than both the Escape and RAV4 XLs, with a starting price of $43,324 before tax including a $1,925 freight fee. The cheapest Escape XL in a front-wheel-drive configuration starts at $34,649, while the all-wheel-drive RAV4 XL starts at $34,810. The most expensive Santa Fe XL, meanwhile, is priced at $45,724 – much closer to the loaded Escape Titanium XL with all the options, and just about in between the top-of-the-line versions of the RAV4 XL and Venza.

That’s an unenviable position for the Santa Fe XL to be in, but it delivers lots to like as far as family haulers are concerned. Its slight size advantage over the average small SUV pays big dividends inside, with an impressively spacious second row and generous cargo confines. Beyond the clever cubbies beneath the floor to tuck small items, there’s 1,032 L behind the back seats and 2,041 L with them folded. Both of those numbers put the Santa Fe at the top of the segment alongside the RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Just like the Escape, the second-row seats can slide fore and aft for more utility or passenger space, respectively, with the 1,035 mm (40.7 in) of legroom providing plenty of flexibility to extend the cargo area without reducing the accommodations for people. Should more room be needed, either half of the 60/40-split folding rear seats can be stowed from the cargo area via quick-release buttons that come standard in the top trim.  2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Dimensions