New Santa Fe: Choose the Right Powertrain and Fit

Is the new Santa Fe a good family SUV?

The new Santa Fe can work well as a family SUV if you treat the third row as occasional seating and confirm the cargo and access arrangements fit your routine. Hyundai lists the same cargo capacities for the 2026 gas and hybrid models: 14.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 40.5 behind the second row and 79.6 behind the front seats.

That first figure is the practical pinch point. With all three rows occupied, 14.6 cubic feet leaves less room for bulky family gear than the larger figures suggest. Bring the stroller, bags or sports equipment you typically carry and see whether they fit with the third row in use; published capacity alone cannot establish how your particular items will pack.

Child-seat access is worth checking in person. Edmunds says the Santa Fe’s wide rear doors make installing child seats easier, while access to the third row is tighter. Test your actual seats and have the intended passengers climb into the back before treating the third row as a regular part of the family setup.

For a broader vehicle comparison, see Choose the Best Toyota for Your Budget, Commute, or Family. Use the same shortlist for every vehicle: passenger fit, cargo with seats occupied, fuel economy and towing needs.

Should I get the new Santa Fe hybrid or gas model?

Choose the hybrid if fuel economy is the priority and its lower towing limit covers your needs; choose gas if you need more towing capacity or prefer the 2026 gas model’s powertrain. The EPA figures and output ratings point to different strengths, not a single winner.

Hyundai rates the 2026 gas engine, a 2.5-liter turbo, at 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The front-wheel-drive version is rated at 20/29/24 mpg city/highway/combined, while most AWD trims are rated 20/28/23 mpg. Gas models can tow 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes, with the XRT rated up to 4,500 pounds; capacity varies by configuration.

The hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbo engine with an electric motor for 231 combined horsepower and 271 lb-ft, and uses a six-speed automatic. Hyundai’s combined EPA rating reaches 36 mpg with front-wheel drive and 34 mpg with AWD, depending on configuration. Its maximum towing capacity is 2,000 pounds with trailer brakes. If you tow regularly, that difference may outweigh the hybrid’s higher EPA rating.

Real-world results show why the EPA number is a comparison tool, not a guarantee. MotorTrend’s AWD 2025 hybrid averaged 25.3 mpg over 13,283 miles; on a 100-mile highway run averaging 64 mph, it returned 33.0 mpg by fuel-pump calculation. Edmunds reported 27.3 mpg over roughly 20,000 miles in its 2024 AWD hybrid long-term test, with a best tank of 33.1 mpg. Different drivers and conditions produced different results.

How much room is behind the third row in a new Santa Fe?

Hyundai lists 14.6 cubic feet behind the third row in both the 2026 gas and hybrid Santa Fe. That is the relevant cargo number when all three rows are occupied; the much larger 40.5-cubic-foot figure applies behind the second row, not with every seat in use.

Independent measurements are close but not identical. Car and Driver measured 15 cubic feet behind the third row in its 2026 XRT specifications. Treat Hyundai’s and the publication’s figures as published measurements, not a guarantee that every bag or stroller will fit the same way.

Use a direct test: load the items you plan to carry, then check whether the remaining space is usable without blocking access or forcing you to fold a seat. If you routinely travel with seven passengers and substantial luggage, this check should come before choosing a trim or powertrain. Hyundai lists matching cargo capacities for gas and hybrid, so choosing one over the other does not change the stated volume.

Can adults comfortably sit in the Santa Fe’s third row?

The third row is better treated as child seating or an adult’s short-trip seat than as a comfortable place for adults on long journeys. Hyundai lists 30.0 inches of third-row legroom and 37.7 inches of headroom, while reviewers describe the space as snug rather than generous.

MotorTrend notes that access is easy and that each row has cupholders and USB ports. Car and Driver calls the third row snug and best suited to children; Edmunds likewise says it is best for children or short trips. Those descriptions are consistent with using the row for occasional passengers rather than assuming it will suit every adult in the family.

Seat the people who will actually ride there. Check the step-in, leg position and headroom, then see whether a second-row passenger can get out without disrupting a child seat. Edmunds also reports that large pillars and a small rear window limit visibility, so test the view from the driver’s seat with the vehicle parked and while maneuvering.