2026 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5 Petrol FWD review

What Does the Santa Fe Cost in Australia?

Hyundai offers the Santa Fe across two powertrain families: the 2.5-litre turbo petrol and the 1.6-litre turbo hybrid. Each comes in multiple trim levels, and most variants offer both 2WD and AWD. Here is the full pricing breakdown:

2.5 Turbo Petrol Variants

1.6 Turbo Hybrid Variants

Driveaway, add roughly $2,000 to $5,000 depending on your state and whether you negotiate well. The base 2.5T at $54,400 is well-priced for a full-size seven-seat SUV with this level of equipment. For context, the Kia Sorento diesel starts at $54,630, and the Toyota Kluger kicks off around $55,000. The Santa Fe vs Kluger comparison is worth a look if you are weighing those two up.

The sweet spot? The Elite Hybrid AWD at around $68,000. You get the fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, all-wheel drive for wet-weather traction, and a premium-level kit list without the Calligraphy's price tag pushing past $77k.

Rivals

Kia Sorento (from $54,630)

The Kia Sorento shares its platform with the Santa Fe but goes its own way on powertrains. The Sorento offers diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options, while the Santa Fe sticks with turbo petrol and hybrid. The Sorento diesel is the pick for long-distance tourers who want maximum range between fills, and the PHEV is compelling for short-commute buyers who can plug in daily. Styling is more conventional than the Santa Fe's angular look, and the Sorento's interior is practical. It comes down to powertrain preference and which design language you prefer.

Toyota Kluger (from ~$55,000)

The Kluger has been a staple of the Australian seven-seat SUV market for decades. It is reliable, spacious, has strong resale values, and the hybrid version is fuel-efficient. Where it falls short against the Santa Fe is tech and warranty. The Kluger's infotainment system is a generation older, and Toyota only offers a 5-year warranty. The Santa Fe vs Kluger comparison covers the differences in detail.

Mazda CX-80 (from ~$60,000)

Mazda's new CX-80 is the premium play. It has inline-six diesel and PHEV powertrains and a cabin Mazda pitches at premium buyers. It also costs more, and its base model is less generously equipped than the Santa Fe's base. If an inline-six diesel or a PHEV matters more to you than value for money, the CX-80 is worth a test drive. But on pure bang-for-buck, the Santa Fe is hard to beat.

Running Costs

Here is where the two powertrains diverge significantly. At 15,000km per year with fuel at $1.95/litre:

The hybrid saves roughly $790 per year in fuel compared to the turbo petrol. Over a five-year ownership period, that is approximately $3,950 back in your pocket. Given the price gap between equivalent trim levels is around $5,500-$6,000, the hybrid does not quite pay for itself in fuel savings alone over five years. But it gets close, and if you do more city driving (where the hybrid advantage is greatest), you could break even sooner.

Hyundai's capped-price servicing program covers the first seven years, with intervals every 12 months or 15,000km. Service costs are reasonable and predictable, which is a genuine advantage over some European rivals where servicing can be a nasty surprise. The 7-year unlimited-km warranty is the joint-best in the segment alongside Kia and Mitsubishi. Check our warranty comparison for a full breakdown of coverage across brands.

Safety

The Santa Fe holds a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, which is based on the Euro NCAP assessment. Across the range, every variant gets the full safety suite. There is no need to step up to a higher grade for the critical stuff.

Standard active safety across all variants includes:

• Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection
• Lane Following Assist that actively centres the car in its lane on highways
• Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go capability in traffic
• Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist that actively steers if you try to change lanes into a vehicle
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance with automatic braking when reversing
• Driver Attention Warning and leading vehicle departure alert
• Safe Exit Warning that alerts if a vehicle is approaching when you open a door
• Speed Limit Assist using camera-based sign recognition

Passive safety includes eight airbags as standard, including a centre-side airbag between the front occupants. All seven seating positions have three-point seatbelts. ISOFIX anchor points are fitted to the two outer second-row seats, and there are top-tether points across the second row for child seats. For families with young kids, the best family cars guide breaks down which SUVs make car seat installation easiest.

Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist II is standard on Elite and Calligraphy. It combines adaptive cruise, lane centring, and lane change assist into a semi-autonomous highway system. Like all Level 2 systems, it requires hands on the wheel at all times.

Interior and Tech

Step inside the new Santa Fe and it is immediately clear Hyundai threw out the old playbook. The dashboard is clean and horizontally layered, dominated by a dual 12.3-inch curved display panel that merges the digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen into one continuous unit. It looks modern without being gimmicky.

Physical controls still exist where they matter. The climate system has dedicated buttons and dials below the screen, which is a relief after some rivals have buried everything in touchscreen menus. The volume knob is also physical. Small details, but they make a big difference when you are driving and don't want to take your eyes off the road.

Even the base model gets soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard and door cards, leatherette seat trim, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Step up to the Elite and you get genuine leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Calligraphy takes it further with Nappa leather, a Harman Kardon sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and second-row captain chairs (in hybrid form, dropping to 6 seats).

The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is also a wireless phone charging pad, four USB-C ports across the cabin, and a head-up display on Elite and Calligraphy variants.

The second-row bench slides fore and aft and reclines, and higher grades add a panoramic roof. Hyundai pushed the rear axle back during the redesign to create extra third-row legroom. Air vents and USB-C ports in the third row are a thoughtful touch.

Boot space with the third row folded is a cavernous 711 litres. With all seven seats up, it drops to 175 litres, which is tight for anything more than a few grocery bags. The boot floor is flat when the third row folds, making it easy to load bulky items. There is also a useful underfloor storage compartment.

Equipment Highlights by Variant

Santa Fe 2.5T / Hybrid (Base)

• Dual 12.3-inch curved display panel
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Seven seats with 2-3-2 layout
• Smart key with push-button start
• Forward collision avoidance with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction detection
• Lane following assist
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance
• Blind-spot collision avoidance assist
• Rear parking sensors and reversing camera
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Roof rails

Santa Fe Elite

Adds on top of the base:

• Leather seat trim
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power tailgate with hands-free opening
• Head-up display
• Surround-view monitor (360-degree camera)
• Blind-spot view monitor (camera feed in digital cluster)
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Second-row heated seats
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Digital rear-view mirror

Santa Fe Calligraphy

Adds on top of Elite:

• Nappa leather upholstery
• Harman Kardon premium 12-speaker sound system
• Panoramic sunroof
• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Relaxation front seats with extended leg support
• Ambient interior lighting with colour selection
• Second-row captain chairs (Hybrid only, 6-seat config)
• Electronically controlled suspension (AWD)
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Integrated memory system for driver seat and mirrors

The Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5 Petrol FWD has 112 kW for every tonne of kerb weight, 422Nm of torque. It weighs 1,835kg and turns in 11.6m. These are the figures that shape how quickly a car gets moving and how easily it parks.

What's Under the Bonnet

Two powertrains, two very different characters. Here are the specs side by side:

The 2.5-litre turbo petrol is the performance pick. 206kW and a massive 422Nm of torque make it one of the more powerful engines among mainstream seven-seat SUVs in this price range, though some premium rivals exceed it. It drives through an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.

The hybrid pairs a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor for a combined 172kW and 367Nm. That is less than the 2.5T on paper; the electric motor adds torque from a standstill. It uses a conventional 6-speed torque-converter auto. Both engines happily run on regular 91 RON, which keeps fuel costs down.

Our Take: Should You Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Yes, if:

• You want a seven-seat SUV that looks like nothing else on the road
• The 7-year unlimited-km warranty gives you peace of mind
• You want 206kW from the 2.5T or fuel savings from the hybrid
• You need a third row for kids
• Tech and safety features across the range matter to you
• You tow a caravan or trailer regularly (go the 2.5T at 2,200kg)

Maybe not, if:

• You need a diesel for outback touring and maximum range between fills
• The angular exterior design is too polarising for your taste
• You want a plug-in hybrid (check the Kia Sorento PHEV instead)
• You want an inline-six diesel or a PHEV (consider the Mazda CX-80)
• Your budget is firmly under $50k (look at the Mitsubishi Outlander or a used Kluger)

The redesigned Santa Fe is a genuinely impressive large SUV. It nails the fundamentals: space, safety, warranty, and equipment. The 2.5T is the performance and towing pick. The hybrid is the long-game value play for suburban and city buyers. And the design, love it or hate it, guarantees you won't lose your car in a Westfield car park.

For most Australian families shopping in the $55k-$70k seven-seat segment, the Santa Fe Elite Hybrid AWD at around $68,000 represents the best balance of everything: efficiency, tech, practicality, and long-term ownership costs. It is one of the best family cars on sale in Australia right now.

→ Compare all Hyundai Santa Fe variants on CarSorted (200+ specs)