Hyundai is getting ready to retire the current Santa Fe and replace it with an updated model that will be part of its mid-cycle refresh.
The outgoing iteration is three years old. Production started back in 2023, and it takes place in the United States, at the Montgomery plant in Alabama, as well as in South Korea, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan. The model sits on the Hyundai-Kia N3/N4 platform, so it is related to the Santa Cruz, Sonata, Staria, Tucson, Grandeur, Kia Carnival, K5, K8, Sorento, Sportage, and other vehicles.
But what about the facelifted variant, you ask? Well, it will retain the model’s boxy overall design, to absolutely no one’s surprise, albeit with the usual design updates at the front and rear. Kolesa’s renderings, which you can check out in the image gallery, preview it as realistically as possible, as Nikita Chuyko, the pixel master behind them, used the latest scoops as a blank canvas.
Mind you, despite talking about a facelift and not an entirely new generation, telling apart the upcoming Hyundai Santa Fe from the outgoing one will be very easy. After all, all you have to do is look at the new full-width light bar at the front, and the vertical daytime running lights on each side. The main clusters are now positioned further down within the new bumper, and they are neatly integrated within the grille that is also lower.
Photo: Kolesa
The central and lower sections of the front bumper are also new, and the latter features a different air intake that is shorter and narrower, from what we can tell. The Korean company has also modified the hood and front fenders in order for these components to fit the new front fascia. The profile carries over with no change, and this applies to the doors, windows, side skirts, angular wheel arches, mirrors, fender trim, and so on.
In fact, the only novelty here likely revolves around the wheels, as we expect Hyundai to give the updated Santa Fe new and probably more options. In this case, the rendered vehicle sits on a set of multi-spoke alloys with an almost turbine-like design. The changes continue at the rear, where the H-shaped taillights with their horizontal design are gone, and in their place Hyundai added a light bar in the middle of the tailgate, and two vertically-mounted and very slim units on the sides.
The Santa Fe emblem sits below the central light bar, and the corporate logo above it. The rear bumper looks like an evolution of the current one. It still features the recess in the middle for the license plate, and is flanked by the new reflectors. This piece also features a new overall design, and the lower skirt attached to it appears to be a bit more discreet. This CGI-infused crossover has a white finish, and some black elements here and there for contrast.
Inside, the upcoming Hyundai Santa Fe remains kind of mysterious, as the cockpit hasn’t opened up to the camera yet. However, we can probably expect the new Pleos infotainment system to make its way to this model. That’s what the rumor mill says, anyway, and to be honest, it sounds just right. The Elantra has 12.9 and 14.6-inch screens, and the Grandeur comes with a 17-inch display.
Photo: Kolesa
But what about the powertrain family? Well, this will likely carry over. The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder mill is good for 277 bhp (281 ps/207 kW) and 311 pound-feet (421 Nm) of torque, and the electrified 1.6-liter turbocharged unit is good for 231 bhp (234 ps/172 kW) and 217 lb-ft (367 Nm) of torque. Word on the street is that a new range-extended version might join the lineup, but we will believe it when we see it.
Hyundai’s current Santa Fe is in the 2026 model year in the States. Therefore, we can expect the facelifted one to launch for the 2027 model year. The outgoing iteration comprises the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trim levels. Pricing starts at $35,050, $37,590, $42,040, $44,600, and $47,600, respectively, excluding destination.
As for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, this model is offered in the SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy versions. Pricing for the base variant kicks off at $36,400, and the two mid-spec models have MSRPs of $38,690 and $45,700, respectively, attached to them. The top-of-the-line flavor is offered from $48,700, the automaker’s official website reveals.
The 2027 (or is that the 2028?) Hyundai Santa Fe is expected to be an improved overall model compared to the one it replaces, and as mentioned above, we expect it to look almost the same (if not identical) to the one rendered by the quoted outlet. Now, if you had to choose between the outgoing Hyundai Santa Fe and the upcoming one based on these digital illustrations, which one would you get?