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2026 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Comparison

See how the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2026 Hyundai Palisade performed in our rigorous, independent road tests. Our experts evaluate hundreds of vehicles annually at our 327-acre testing facility, putting each model through over 50 data-driven assessments—including braking, emergency handling, fuel economy, and cabin noise. Review our side-by-side comparison of tested specifications, real-world fuel efficiency, and crash-test safety ratings to see which is the best for reliability, performance, and more.

Comparing 2 Models

Santa Fe 2026

Midsized SUVs 3-row

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$35,050 - $49,400

All Test Results

Palisade 2026

Midsized SUVs 3-row

2026 Hyundai Palisade

$39,435 - $56,560

All Test Results
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About
About
The midsized Santa Fe features a striking interior with a small third-row seat. For the 2026 model year, the standard 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is mated to a conventional eight-speed automatic, bringing a notably smoother low-speed experie...
 
For its second generation, the popular three-row midsized Palisade has gone big, with an increase in size, along with more premium features, and a mildly off-road-capable trim called the XRT Pro. A hybrid version is also new. The Palisade has a new 2...
Highs
Highs
Green Checkmark Icon Comfortable ride
Green Checkmark Icon Short stopping distances
Green Checkmark Icon Mostly user-friendly controls
Green Checkmark Icon Roomy second-row seat
Green Checkmark Icon Generous cargo area
 
Green Checkmark Icon Comfortable ride
Green Checkmark Icon Quiet cabin
Green Checkmark Icon High-quality interior
Green Checkmark Icon Comfortable second-row seats
Green Checkmark Icon Easy to get into and out of the first and second rows
Green Checkmark Icon Straightforward controls
Green Checkmark Icon Short dry stopping distance
Lows
Lows
Red 'X' Icon Tight third-row seat
Red 'X' Icon Unintuitive gear selector
 
Red 'X' Icon Powertrain can feel lazy
Red 'X' Icon Disappointing fuel economy
Red 'X' Icon Long wet stopping distance
Red 'X' Icon Tight third-row access
Road Test Score
Road Test Score
/ 100
 
/ 100
Reliability
Reliability
/ 100
 
/ 100
Owner Satisfaction
Owner Satisfaction
/ 100
 
/ 100

Overview

Body Styles
Body Styles

4-door SUV

 

4-door SUV

Trim Lines
Trim Lines

Limited, SE, XRT, Calligraphy, SEL

 

Limited, SEL, SEL Convenience, SEL Premium, XRT Pro, Calligraphy, SE

Base Price Range
Base Price Range

$35,050 - $49,400

 

$39,435 - $56,560

Drive Wheels
Drive Wheels

AWD, FWD

 

AWD, FWD

Seating Capacity
Seating Capacity

2 Front, 3 Rear, 2 Third

 

2 Front, 3 Rear, 3 Third

Engines/Motors
Engines/Motors

2.5-liter 4 turbo (277 hp)

 

2.5-liter 4 hybrid (329 hp); 3.5-liter V6 (287 hp)

Transmissions Available
Transmissions Available

8-speed Automatic

 

8-speed Automatic, 6-speed Automatic

Performance

Comfort & Convenience

Fuel Economy & Range

Vehicle Safety

Specification

Warranty

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Auto Test Center

Precision testing comes standard at our 327-acre auto test center.

TESTING LIKE NOBODY ELSE

50+

tests are conducted on every car we buy.

PERFORMANCE TESTING

6

miles of track for testing acceleration, ride, handling, braking, and advanced driver assist systems.

TIRE TESTING

400

tires tested a year for all-weather grip and rolling resistance.