Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking in modern style. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Sorento, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a squared-up grille with flush-mounted headlights, but its overall silhouette seemed too soft for a contemporary SUV. The vehicle's dimensions placed it awkwardly between compact and three-row crossovers, resulting in a two-row midsize SUV with a spacious trunk but only seating for five. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized function over form, with a centre console filled with physical buttons and knobs, making it easy to use but not particularly stylish.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid exuded style and presence across its two trim levels, Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy. The Palisade's exterior was marked by a massive grille, LED projector headlights, and distinctive LED daytime running lights. Its profile featured body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capabilities, and acoustic side glass for a quieter ride. The rear showcased wide-spaced letters and LED taillights, emphasizing its handsome design. Inside, the Palisade impressed with its thoughtful craftsmanship, offering features like H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and Nappa leather on higher trims. The interior design was organic and well-considered, providing a richer feel than many non-luxury crossovers.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered impressive fuel economy, with estimates of 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 7.4 combined. The hybrid's power was managed through a six-speed automatic transmission, and its HTRAC AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels as needed. While not particularly quick, the Santa Fe Hybrid excelled in noise insulation and ride quality, providing a quiet and comfortable driving experience.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid redefined expectations for a three-row crossover with its 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a 1.65-kWh battery. This setup delivered a total of 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, ensuring the Palisade never lagged in performance. Its advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and next-generation hybrid system optimized power delivery and fuel efficiency. The Palisade's cabin was remarkably quiet, thanks to noise-absorbing materials and acoustic glass. The steering was sharp, offering a responsive feel, although the pedal feel was softer, creating a slight disconnect between steering and braking inputs.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the centre stack. However, the stack itself was massive, with limited storage space. Rear passengers enjoyed a panoramic sunroof, manual sunshades, and 1,035 millimetres of legroom. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered a generous cargo capacity of 1,032 litres behind the second row, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. Up front, it came equipped with heated and ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, and an eight-way power driver's seat.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid provided 2,455 litres of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but surpassing others like the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90. While second-row legroom was slightly compromised by the battery's position, the Palisade still offered ample space. The third row, however, lagged behind some rivals in legroom and headroom. The Palisade's cabin was comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, multiple USB-C power outlets, and a second-row bench seat standard. Captain's chairs were available on higher trims. The interior was filled with convenient storage solutions, including a rubberized cargo space and small shelves for personal items.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen featuring onboard navigation, Bluetooth, OTA map updates, and dynamic voice recognition. It supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided essential driving information. However, the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was not available in Canada.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between rows. Most trims included a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and a 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured a built-in dashcam, recording front and rear views. The Palisade introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the use of climate control and infotainment while the engine was off, provided the battery had sufficient charge.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, and blind-spot collision avoidance. However, the surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor were not available in Canada. The Santa Fe Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking. The blind-view monitor was standard on higher trims, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert. While crash-test ratings were not available at the time, the 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.