2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

If you're comparing the 2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe, our team at Granite Hyundai in Somersworth is the perfect place to start. As two of the brand's most popular vehicles, the Hyundai Palisade and the Hyundai Santa Fe make for perfect family SUVs for everyday commuting, long road trips, and general comfort anytime you're on the move. Between them, the Palisade is bigger and considered the very best of Hyundai's SUV lineup, often outperforming the Santa Fe in categories like space, standard features, and configurations. We're here to get into all of this below, so stay tuned!

• The Hyundai Palisade is bigger than the Santa Fe.
• The Hyundai Santa Fe is more affordable and efficient than the Palisade.
• The 2026 Palisade offers more seating and standard features than the 2026 Santa Fe.

Is the Hyundai Palisade Bigger Than the Santa Fe?

Yes, the Hyundai Palisade is bigger than the Hyundai Santa Fe. Measuring 9 inches longer (199.2 vs. 190.2 inches), 3.2 inches wider (78.0 vs. 74.8 inches), and 1.8 inches taller (69.5 vs. 67.7 inches) than the Santa Fe. You should also be aware that the 2026 Palisade has nearly 10 more cubic feet of overall cargo space than the Santa Fe, giving you quite a bit of wiggle room when moving equipment, groceries, and other bulky items from one place to the next.

Interior Comparison

Let's start inside the Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe this model year. Because the Palisade is much bigger than the Santa Fe, you need to take into account that just because they both feature three rows of seating, their cabins have unique layouts.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

The first major difference between the 2026 Hyundai Palisade and the 2026 Santa Fe is seat capacity. With the Palisade, you get between seven and eight passengers total, across three comfortable rows of seats. You have the choice between Captain's Chairs in the second row or both rear rows of seating with a three-passenger capacity. Some of the standard interior specifications for 2026 include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, USB-C ports for all rows, dual 12.3-inch displays, tri-zone automatic climate control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Now, for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, you can expect either six- or seven-person seating across its three rows of seats. Like the Palisade, you can configure the second row with a standard 60/40 bench for 7-passenger capacity or opt for second-row Captain's Chairs for a 6-passenger capacity. Standard interior features for this year include a 12.3-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a hands-free smart liftgate, and standard 60/40 split fold-flat second-row seats.

Exterior Comparison

Next, our team at Granite Hyundai wants to explore the exterior comparison of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe. We've already shared that the Palisade is bigger than the Santa Fe overall, but let's break down the dimensions even better in this next section.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

The exterior dimensions of the Hyundai Palisade are:

• Overall Length: 199.2 inches (SE, SEL, Limited) to 199.4 inches (Calligraphy)
• Overall Width: 78.0 inches
• Overall Height: 69.5 inches
• Wheelbase: 116.9 inches
• Ground Clearance: 7.4 inches

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The outside dimensions of this year's Hyundai Santa Fe:

• Overall Length: 190.2 inches
• Overall Width: 74.8 inches (excluding mirrors)
• Overall Height: 67.7 inches (SE trim) to 69.7 inches (SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy trims with roof rails)
• Wheelbase: 110.8 inches
• Ground Clearance: 7.0 inches (SE, SEL, Limited, Calligraphy) to 8.3 inches (XRT)

Which Has Better Performance Between the Palisade vs. Santa Fe?

Another major category for comparing the 2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe is performance. Overall, the Palisade offers stronger raw performance when stacked against the Santa Fe SUV, but both are incredibly lively.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Here are the engine specifications for the 2026 Palisade:

• 3.5L V6 (Standard): 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque
• 2.5L Turbo Hybrid (Optional): 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Here are the engine performance specifications for the 2026 Santa Fe:

• 2.5L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder (Standard): 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque
• 1.6L Turbo Hybrid (Optional): 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque

Fuel Efficiency Comparison

Another comparison between the 2026 Palisade and the 2026 Santa Fe is fuel economy and overall efficiency on the road. Because these are both available as hybrids, you can expect impressive MPG estimates for either vehicle. However, between the Palisade and Santa Fe, you have superior fuel efficiency with the Santa Fe SUV.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

• 2026 Hyundai Palisade (3.5L V6): EPA-estimated 19 city / 25 highway (FWD) or 18 city / 24 highway (AWD)
• 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid (2.5L Turbo Hybrid): EPA-estimated 31 city / 32 highway (FWD) or 29 city / 30 highway (AWD)

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

• 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe (2.5L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder): EPA-estimated 20 city / 29 highway (FWD) or 20 city / 28 highway (AWD)
• 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (1.6L Turbo Hybrid): EPA-estimated 37 city / 36 highway (FWD) or 35 city / 34 highway (AWD)

2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. Hyundai Santa Fe Safety and Technology

Safety and technology differences in the 2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe will not be very different, as they both share SmartSense technology as standard.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Here are some standard driver-assistance features of the 2026 Palisade:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping/Following Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Safe Exit Assist

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Here are some standard driver-assistance features of the 2026 Santa Fe:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Following Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Pricing and Value

When you're shopping for a 2026 Hyundai Palisade vs. 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe online or right here at Granite Hyundai in Somersworth, NH, know that the Palisade is the premium option.

2026 Hyundai Palisade

• SE: $39,435
• SEL: $41,940
• SEL Convenience: $43,370
• SEL Premium: $45,300
• Limited: $49,770
• XRT PRO: $49,870
• Calligraphy: $54,560

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

• SE: $35,050
• SEL: $37,590
• XRT: $42,040
• Limited: $44,600
• Calligraphy: $47,600

Shop at Granite Hyundai

Here at Granite Hyundai in Somersworth, NH, our local sales experts are always happy to go over the differences between the Palisade vs. Santa Fe SUVs. We have plenty of new and used stock here in town and are open daily for test drives. Come explore a 2026 model today, and let's get you into your dream car!