Trims, Powertrain, and Performance

The ‘26 Santa Fe Hybrid lineup consists of the SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy – all of which get a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission. All four come standard with a front-wheel drivetrain (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) as an optional upgrade. The gas-electric powertrain is capable of generating 231 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of torque. With FWD, all trims will return an EPA-estimated 37 mpg city/36 mpg highway, while the AWD drivetrain achieves 35 mpg city/34 mpg highway.

Standard and Optional Equipment

As we mentioned, the seven-passenger SE has a generous list of amenities, especially for a base trim. The occupants will enjoy dual automatic temperature control, heated front seats, stain-resistant cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear-seat quiet mode, four USB charging ports, two 12-volt power outlets, a 4.2-inch color multi-information display, a second-row bench seat for three, and a 50/50 sinking/folding third-row bench for two. Its exterior highlights are a hands-free smart liftgate, heated side mirrors, proximity key entry, 18-inch alloy wheels, and fully LED lighting (automatic headlights, daytime running lights, and taillights). The SEL’s additions are roof rails, heated side mirrors with LED turn indicators, access to Hyundai Digital Key 2 Premium, wireless device charging, synthetic leather seating surfaces, an 8-way power driver’s seat, and HVAC vents and a pair of USB charging ports for the third row.

The Limited is upgraded with rain-sensing windshield wipers, a dual-pane sunroof, 20-inch alloy wheels, and power-folding side mirrors on the outside. Its interior upgrades include a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, driver’s-side memory, a 6-way power passenger’s seat, dual wireless device charging, a mélange headliner, ambient cabin lighting, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, a 110-volt power outlet, manual rear side sunshades, and second-row captain’s chairs with full power maneuverability: recline, tilt, power fold, and dive.

Hyundai’s most premium features are reserved for its signature Calligraphy, which gets Nappa leather seating surfaces, a driver relaxation seat, a 12-inch head-up display, C-pillar assist handles, and a camera-based rearview mirror. The exterior stands apart with black anodized “Santa Fe” and “H” badges and dark-finished 20-inch alloy wheels.

Driver-Assist Technology

The Hyundai SmartSense suite of advanced safety features and driver-assist technologies plays a big role in occupant safety for the ‘26 Santa Fe Hybrid. Even the base SE is well appointed with high beam assist, Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go, blind-spot collision warning, lane following assist, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, parking distance warning (forward/reverse), rear occupant alert, safe exit assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection. Forward attention warning and an advanced version of the rear occupant alert are added at the SEL level. The Limited and Calligraphy are significantly upgraded with Remote Smart Parking Assist, a surround view monitor, a blind-spot view monitor, highway driving assist, and navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with curve control; the parking distance warning on these two trims is enhanced with side detection capability. The Calligraphy is the only Santa Fe Hybrid trim with blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, Highway Driving Assist 2, and Front Collision-Avoidance Assist 2 with lane change side detection, lane change oncoming, and evasive steering assist.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The universal infotainment features for the ’26 Santa Fe Hybrid are a 12.3-inch color touchscreen, wireless versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Each trim is also set up with access to Bluelink+ connected car services and over-the-air wireless updates. The Limited and Calligraphy add onboard navigation and dynamic voice recognition to their multimedia setup, as well as Hyundai Pay and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system (the two lower trims get an unbranded sound system with six speakers).