Two and a half years since Hyundai unveiled the fifth-generation Santa Fe, and barely two years since the U.S. launch, the company is already road-testing the facelift for the midsize SUV. Expected to arrive in the U.S. as an MY2027 vehicle, the new Santa Fe should sport a slew of cosmetic and technical upgrades.
Here’s everything we expect from the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe:
Design
Spy shots of test prototypes confirm that the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe will further distance itself from its predecessor.
The fifth-gen Santa Fe will adopt a radically different lighting architecture with the facelift. The daytime running lights appear to comprise vertical LED strips positioned at the outer edges of the upper fascia, paired with a full-width horizontal LED strip across the top. This layout would create a prominent H-shaped lighting signature.
The primary low- and high-beam units have been spotted lower in the bumper, separated from the DRLs, with a new horizontal upper grille. This would alter the visual center of gravity and introduce a layered front design. Our rendering shows six distinct H-shaped inserts integrated into the upper panel.
The lower grille appears simplified, with a more uniform mesh pattern. The bumper design looks more squared off with reduced visual detailing. On the sides, we expect new 21-inch wheels, while at the rear, spy shots suggest there will be new vertical taillamps connected via a light strip.
Interior
Inside, spy shots suggest the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe’s dashboard will carry a completely new design.
While the current model features 12.3-inch cockpit displays integrated into a single panel, the new Santa Fe, as reported for the next-gen 2027 Tucson, is likely to adopt a 9.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system positioned separately in the central area of the dashboard.
Both displays would run an all-new ‘Pleos Connect’ software based on the Android Automotive operating system, with ‘Gleo AI.’ The infotainment system, which debuts on the Ioniq 3 this April, and will go into 20+ million Hyundai Motor Group vehicles by 2030, features a smartphone-like user interface, split-view and multi-window functions, and ‘Pleos ID’ personalization.
Specifications
The 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe should continue featuring non-electrified, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid drivetrains with improvements. A major change in this aspect is expected to be the introduction of an extended-range electric powertrain. Prototypes of the MX5a EREV have been spotted in South Korea, MX5 being the Santa Fe’s internal codename.
The aforementioned EREV mass production in NA (North America) and China is planned to take place by the end of 2026, and to go into sales as of 2027. In North America, Hyundai and Genesis brands D-Class SUV models will be deployed first to respond to the remaining demand for internal combustion engine.
Jaehoon Chang, former CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, at the 2024 CEO Investor Day, on August 28, 2024
The first-ever Hyundai Santa Fe EREV should have a 2.5-liter turbocharged gas engine under the hood, serving as a generator to charge a battery pack. Hyundai may offer FWD and AWD configurations of the Santa Fe EREV, with around 600 miles of range.
Unlike existing EREVs, Hyundai’s unique system takes advantage of 15 years of hybrid and EV development experience. The ultra high-performance battery designed by Hyundai engineers produces the same power with less than half the battery capacity compared to conventional EVs. This optimized balance of battery and motor will reduce the cost without losing EV performance.
Chang Hwan Kim, President & Head of Electrification Energy Solutions Tech Unit, at the company’s 2025 CEO Investor Day, on September 18, 2025
Price & Release Date
The 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe should go on sale in the U.S. in late 2026, with prices ranging between USD 35,000-55,000. The Santa Fe EREV’s launch would also explain why the company never introduced the fifth-gen model’s plug-in hybrid variant here.
Also See: Hyundai Santa Fe XRT Hybrid now exists, but not in the U.S.
Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s rendering of the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
