The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Is Returning to India — Do You Need to Keep Fortuner Booking?
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe India launch confirmed? Price, features, interiors, hybrid engine, safety, pros & cons — is it more superior thanFortuner&Kodiaq? Read our in-depth review.
Hyundai Santa Fe’s India Story: The Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
Let’s roll back. In the early 2010s, the Hyundai Santa Fe was that SUV your hip NRI uncle had when he came from Dubai. Large, roomy, loaded to the gills — but far too pricey and unfamiliar to most Indian families. It quietly disappeared from dealerships in 2017 as Fortuner and Endeavour hogged all the attention.
Flash forward to 2025: the Indian SUV boom, the public is craving for luxury family vehicles with an international feel, and Hyundai will treat us to a repeat of the Santa Fe magic — only bolder, smarter, tougher, and packed to its bird’s eye view sunroof.
If you’ve been dreaming of a 7-seater that’s classier than a Fortuner but won’t drain your wallet like a Merc, keep reading — this might be your next big upgrade.
Interiors: Where Korean Luxury Meets Indian Practicality
Step inside the 2026 Santa Fe and you’ll realise Hyundai didn’t just slap on a new face. The interior is a whole vibe — plush materials, soft-touch panels, stitched leather, and a massive curved dual 12.3-inch display that’ll make your neighbour’s Kodiaq look like yesterday’s news.
Expect ventilated front seats (a godsend in our Indian summers), powered adjustment for driver and co-passenger, dual-zone or tri-zone climate control, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay (finally, no cables curling around the gear lever), and even a UV-C steriliser in the glovebox — because, well, Indian parents and germs? Not buddies.
Hyundai claims the third row is spacious now. Sure, adults will still find it cramped for long highway drives, but for children or short intra-city trips to the mall, it is fine.
Engine and Performance: Petrol, Hybrid, and Just Maybe, a Plug-in
Here’s where it gets interesting for India. The world Santa Fe gets a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol (approximately 277hp) and a 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid with better fuel mileage. For India, Hyundai will probably promote the hybrid heavily — because who wouldn’t want a 7-seater that guzzles less petrol when it’s 110/litre?
Look forward to effortless power delivery, an 8-speed automatic transmission, city, highway and even light off-road drive modes. If Hyundai imports the AWD version here — here’s hoping — the Santa Fe can even make your Ladakh trip plan without panting on poor roads.
Safety: Hyundai Packs It All In
This is where Hyundai typically excels — even their i20 gets ADAS now, so Santa Fe won’t be holding back. You’ll have:
Forward Collision Warning & Auto Breaking
Lane Keep Assist
Blind-Spot View Monitor (live video in camera when you signal)
360-degree camera (farewell, pillar parking stress)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ideal for those long Jaipur-Goa drives)
Safe Exit Assist for children at the rear
And yes, a thumping fat 5-star NCAP rating around the world — and don’t expect any less in India either.
Abilities: Not All Fluff
Is the Santa Fe only for mall-ratting in Gurgaon? No. It can tow 1,600 kg, gets more ground clearance, and the international AWD system along with terrain modes ensure it can handle mucky farmhouse drives, broken village roads, and monsoon road trips to Lonavala or Coorg.
It’s not a hardcore off-roader like the Fortuner, but believe me — 90% of customers will never require anything more.
Prices and India Availability: The Big Question
Alright, here’s the part everyone wants to know: When and how much?
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe for India is expected to arrive by November 2025 as a CKD (made here) or CBU (completely imported).
Expected price? 45 lakh to 55 lakh (ex-showroom) depending on variant, hybrid vs petrol, and AWD or not. That puts it squarely against:
Toyota Fortuner (35–52 lakh)
Skoda Kodiaq (40–42 lakh)
VW Tiguan (35–40 lakh)
Jeep Meridian (35–42 lakh)
So yes, premium pricing — but loaded with premiumnes too.
Pros and Cons for Indian Buyers
Why you’ll love it:
New bold design — boxy, rugged, stylish
Luxurious interiors with the touches typically reserved for German SUVs
Robust safety package — ideal for family buyers
Hybrid = cheaper to run
Hyundai’s huge network of services against European players
Why you might hold back:
Higher price tag compared to Hyundai’s value-for-money heritage
No diesel alternative (for now — boo, Fortuner fans)
Third row still best for kids
Not as rugged off-road as Fortuner
Final Verdict: Should You Wait for It?
If you’re tired of the same Fortuner & Endeavour narrative, want a 7-seater that doesn’t feel like a truck, and need something that turns heads at the next family wedding, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is worth waiting for.
Hyundai is counting on India on premium CKD imports — and sincerely, if the price remains in the area of 50 lakh on-road, it might just be a sweet spot between German badge snobbery and old-school body-on-frame SUVs.
My opinion? Keep your booking cheque handy. Just inform the family that it’s “practical and fuel efficient” — they won’t know you also purchased it because it is cooler-looking than your neighbor’s Fortuner. ????
FAQ — India Buyers Also Ask
Q1: Will the Santa Fe arrive in India in 2025?
Yes, hints are of a late 2025 launch as a CKD or CBU import.
Q2: What should be the cost of 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe in India?
Between 45 lakh and 55 lakh ex-showroom.
Q3: Is Santa Fe superior to Fortuner?
If you desire luxury, features, comfort, and hybrid efficiency — yes. If you desire hard, old-school diesel power and hardcore off-roading — Fortuner still reigns supreme.
Q4: Does it come with a diesel variant in India?
No diesel yet — will be petrol and hybrid only.
