Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe: Comparing Hyundai’s SUVs

September 28th, 2026 by

Both have three rows. Both offer hybrid power and HTRAC all-wheel drive. So how do you choose between the Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe? It comes down to how often every seat is full and how much you haul. The Palisade is Hyundai’s flagship SUV, with room for up to eight. The Santa Fe is a midsize three-row SUV in a shorter package. At Libertyville Happy Hyundai, Lake County families ask us about this pair every week. Here’s how they really compare.

Black Hyundai Palisade three-row SUV parked on a coastal road
The Hyundai Palisade is Hyundai's flagship three-row SUV, with seating for up to eight. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.

Palisade vs. Santa Fe at a Glance

The short version: the Palisade is bigger in every direction that matters to passengers and cargo. The Santa Fe is nine inches shorter, a little more efficient, and easier to park. Here are the key numbers from Hyundai’s published specifications.

Feature Hyundai Palisade Hyundai Santa Fe
Size class Flagship three-row SUV Midsize three-row SUV
Seating Up to 8 Up to 7
Gas engine 3.5L V6, 287 hp, 260 lb-ft 2.5L turbo four-cylinder, 277 hp, 311 lb-ft
Hybrid 2.5L turbo hybrid, 329 hp, 339 lb-ft 1.6L turbo hybrid, 231 hp, 271 lb-ft
Best EPA combined rating Up to 34 mpg (Hybrid) Up to 36 mpg (Hybrid)
Third-row legroom 32.1 in 30.0 in
Cargo behind 3rd row 19.1 cu ft 14.6 cu ft
Cargo behind 2nd row 46.3 cu ft 40.5 cu ft
Max cargo space 86.7 cu ft 79.6 cu ft
Max towing (with trailer brakes) 5,000 lbs (V6) 4,500 lbs (XRT)
Overall length 199.2 in 190.2 in

Both SUVs share a lot. You get a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Hyundai SmartSense driver-assistance features, and Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty either way. See trims and colors in our Hyundai Palisade inventory.

Third-Row Space and Seating

This is where the two SUVs split. The Palisade seats up to eight. The SE trim comes with an eight-seat layout, and several other trims offer second-row captain’s chairs for seven. Its third row has 32.1 inches of legroom, which is enough for teens and many adults on longer drives.

The Santa Fe seats up to seven, or six on the Calligraphy with captain’s chairs. Its third row has 30.0 inches of legroom and works best for kids or shorter trips. Its tall, boxy shape does make that third row easy to climb into.

Cargo space follows the same pattern:

  • Behind the third row: 19.1 cubic feet in the Palisade vs. 14.6 in the Santa Fe
  • Behind the second row: 46.3 cubic feet vs. 40.5
  • Behind the front seats: 86.7 cubic feet vs. 79.6

If you carpool from Mundelein with a full third row and still need room for sports bags, the Palisade’s extra space behind the last row makes a real difference. Compare seating layouts in our Hyundai Santa Fe inventory.

Gray Hyundai Santa Fe three-row SUV driving on a wooded two-lane road
The Hyundai Santa Fe packs three rows into a shorter midsize footprint. Photo: Hyundai Motor America.

Power, Towing, and Winter Driving

Both SUVs give you a choice of gas or hybrid power, but they go about it differently.

Hyundai Palisade

  • 3.5-liter V6: 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque with an 8-speed automatic
  • 2.5-liter turbo hybrid: 329 total system horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque
  • Towing: up to 5,000 pounds with the V6, 4,000 pounds with the hybrid
  • XRT PRO: standard all-wheel drive, an electronic limited-slip differential, and 8.4 inches of ground clearance

Hyundai Santa Fe

  • 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder: 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque
  • 1.6-liter turbo hybrid: 231 total system horsepower
  • Towing: up to 3,500 pounds, or 4,500 pounds on the XRT
  • XRT: standard all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, and 8.3 inches of ground clearance

The Palisade Hybrid is the most powerful option in the pair, and the V6 tows the most. If you pull a boat to the Chain O’Lakes each summer, that 5,000-pound rating gives you extra margin. For Lake County winters, both offer HTRAC all-wheel drive, and the Palisade adds Mud, Snow, and Sand terrain modes on AWD models.

Fuel Economy and Everyday Costs

The Santa Fe is the more efficient of the two, but the gap is smaller than you might expect.

  • Santa Fe Hybrid: up to 36 mpg combined
  • Palisade Hybrid: up to 34 mpg combined on the Blue trim, 30 mpg on Limited and Calligraphy
  • Santa Fe 2.5T: 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive
  • Palisade V6: 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive

A Palisade Hybrid that tops 30 mpg is impressive for an eight-passenger SUV. The Palisade also brings seven USB-C ports, six of them capable of up to 100W charging, so every row can keep tablets and phones powered on a long drive. Upper trims add a 14-speaker Bose audio system. Our Hyundai finance team can compare payment options on both models side by side.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose the Palisade if you:

  • Fill the third row often, especially with teens or adults
  • Want seating for eight
  • Tow up to 5,000 pounds
  • Want the strongest hybrid in Hyundai’s SUV lineup

Choose the Santa Fe if you:

  • Use the third row now and then
  • Want the best fuel economy in a three-row Hyundai
  • Prefer a shorter SUV for tight garages and parking lots in Vernon Hills
  • Like the rugged look of the XRT

Still deciding whether you need three rows at all? Our guide to the best family SUV for Chicago suburbs adds the Tucson to the comparison. You can also browse our used Hyundai inventory for well-kept Palisade and Santa Fe models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hyundai Palisade bigger than the Santa Fe?

Yes. The Palisade is 199.2 inches long, about nine inches longer than the 190.2-inch Santa Fe. It seats up to eight, while the Santa Fe seats up to seven. The Palisade also has more cargo space behind every row.

Which has more third-row room, the Palisade or the Santa Fe?

The Palisade has more, with 32.1 inches of third-row legroom compared with 30.0 inches in the Santa Fe. It also offers 19.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, compared with 14.6 in the Santa Fe.

Does the Santa Fe or Palisade get better gas mileage?

The Santa Fe Hybrid has the best rating of the two, at up to 36 mpg combined. The Palisade Hybrid is close behind at up to 34 mpg combined on the Blue trim. With gas engines, the Santa Fe 2.5T is rated at 24 mpg combined and the Palisade V6 at 22 mpg with front-wheel drive.

How much can the Hyundai Palisade tow?

The Palisade with the 3.5-liter V6 can tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes. The Palisade Hybrid is rated for up to 4,000 pounds. The Santa Fe tops out at 4,500 pounds in XRT trim.

Can I test drive the Palisade and Santa Fe at Libertyville Happy Hyundai?

Yes. Visit Libertyville Happy Hyundai at 901 S Milwaukee Ave in Libertyville to drive both SUVs back to back. Call 224-207-7201 to set up a time, and we’ll have both ready when you arrive.

Drive Both at Libertyville Happy Hyundai

The Hyundai Palisade vs. Santa Fe choice comes down to how you use your third row. If it’s full most days, or you tow a bigger boat, the Palisade is worth the extra size. If you want three rows for the occasional carpool plus better fuel economy, the Santa Fe fits well. Stop by 901 S Milwaukee Ave, a short drive from Gurnee, or call 224-207-7201 to test drive both on the same visit.

Posted in Hyundai Models & Comparisons