3 Reasons the Hyundai Santa Fe Won Utility Vehicle of the Year

Hyundai’s right-sized three-row is a fantastic family vehicle for the minivan-averse.

“What is the best car?” is a question I hear all too often. Friends, family, strangers—it doesn’t matter, the qualifier-free query is the most common. One of the easiest answers is the car (or SUV) that wins, not just in a comparison but earning a trophy from a national (or international) collective of experts: if a bunch of journalists can actually agree on something, that’s news itself.

Three of us here at AutoGuide are part of such groups: editorial director Greg Migliore is a North American Car of the Year juror, while Mike Schlee and I are members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. It’s the latter that awarded the fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe with its Utility Vehicle of the Year award for 2025 and—surprise, surprise—I’m all for it. The Santa Fe has become my new default recommendation for young families, and that has translated to a new purchase on more than one occasion. Here’s why:

Everything is expensive these days. I’ll spare you the back-in-my-day spiel, not least because I haven’t even hit 40 yet so it feels insincere. But the Santa Fe isn’t; or rather, it is incredibly good value. Right now in America the hybrid lineup kicks off with the $39,295 Santa Fe SEL, and for 2026 Hyundai will lower the price of entry with a front-drive SE trim for $37,645 including destination. The SEL would remain our pick, since it includes useful ugprades like the H-tex seating with a power-adjustable driver’s seat and front-row heating, a wireless charger, and third-row USB ports. Every trim includes a power liftgate, as well.

Canadians have a different model lineup to consider, as the hybrid is only available in lower trims for ’25, with the Preferred ringing up at $44,549 CAD. Add the Trend package ($4,000 CAD) and the ‘Fe has everything a busy family reasonably needs. For 2026, the lineup is going all-hybrid in Canada, too.

These prices slot in below most of the top trims of two-row SUVs, including the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Which brings us to the next point:

The Santa Fe is not the most spacious SUV out there, obviously. But that body-by-Lego shape gives it incredible amounts of room in what is a reasonably tidy footprint. A lot of folks won’t want to hear it, but the Santa Fe does what minivans do so well: sacrifice “style” for usefulness, although since it’s an SUV, it will get away with it. Take the liftgate: it is the largest one fitted to a Hyundai production vehicle in North America, and the taillights sit so low just to make that possible. The result is a huge, square space to toss all the flotsam and jetsam that comes with a modern family.

The third row offers very nearly as much space as some of the larger three-rows out there ( Mazda CX-90, Toyota Highlander), and getting back there is a cinch. The realities of having kids means taking them and their friends places; it’s here where the third row shines, providing more space while allowing the Santa Fe to still “drive small” like a typical compact-ish SUV.

Why was I going on about the hybrid earlier? Because unless you have to tow regularly, the gas-only option isn’t the right pick. The hybrid sacrifices outright peak figures, but the instant-access torque from the battery assist makes the difference negligible in day-to-day activities. In return, buyers can expect nearly 50-percent better fuel economy (34 mpg combined against 23 mpg, or  6.9 L/100 km compared to 10.6 L/100 km). Since Hyundai employs a traditional transmission for its hybrids, they avoid the e-CVT drone that is common in competitors, too.

I’m calling it now: there is a good chance Hyundai will score back-to-back wins for 2026. The latest Palisade is seriously impressive, not only comparing favorably against the next size up, but genuinely lining up with some luxury SUVs as well. It's bigger and swankier, but still a comparatively good deal. If you’re shopping for a three-row SUV, you should make the nearest Hyundai dealer your first stop.

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