Which Three-Row Hyundai Is Right for Your Life? Here Are Some Questions to Ask Yourself

You’ve likely heard of the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Hyundai Palisade, but if you’re like many drivers, you might have a hard time deciding which one is right for you. Fear not; our experts are at your disposal to help you find the perfect vehicle for your budget, driving style, and overall wants.

Whether you’re looking for a Hyundai Santa Fe for sale near Round Lake Beach or the Hyundai Palisade has caught your eye, we commend you on your good taste. To help you narrow down the search, we’ve compiled the following Q&A to help you decide which of these SUVs best matches your vehicular vision.

Take a look at what makes the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade stand apart from each other…and every other three-row SUV on the road.

Q: What Are Your Passenger, Cargo, and Towing Needs?

Santa Fe

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is the smaller of the two vehicles, measuring about nine inches shorter overall. It can seat up to seven passengers, and the cargo space ranges from 79.6 cubic feet behind the front seats to 14.6 cubic feet with all seats occupied.  

The SE, SEL, and XRT trims include a standard second-row bench seat, while the Limited and Calligraphy trims come with captain’s chairs in that row. The Santa Fe Limited can also be outfitted with optional second-row bench seats. All trims include a 50/50 split-folding third-row seat.

The Santa Fe XRT can tow up to 4,500 pounds, but the other four trims all have a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Still, this is in line with many other midsize SUVs and can handle small trailers without a problem.

Palisade

The larger Palisade is a great choice for those who need seats for up to eight passengers. A second-row bench seat is standard on the SE trim, and an option on the SEL Premium trim, with the rest of the trims offering second-row captain’s chairs. And while the third row of all Palisade trims is 60/40 split-fold with handles for easy stowing, only the Limited and Calligraphy trims of this model offer power folding.

The 2026 Palisade can be configured to many different needs, with a maximum cargo space of 86.7 cubic feet with all but the first row stashed or 19.1 cubic feet with all seats occupied.

When it comes to towing, you won’t have to leave anything behind on your next trip. The Palisade can tow up to 5,000 pounds across its trim lineup, giving you the towing power you need to haul any moderately-sized trailer.

Q: Are You Working Within a Particular Budget?

Both the 2026 Santa Fe and the 2026 Palisade are offered in a range of trims to match the needs of many different budgets. However, there are some price differences.

Trims and Pricing

The Santa Fe is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with a trim lineup that includes the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The base SE trim starts at $35,050 while the top Calligraphy trim comes in at $47,600.^[a]

The 2026 Palisade lineup includes SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, SEL Premium, XRT Pro, Limited, and Calligraphy trims. As you might expect from a larger vehicle, the Palisade is more expensive, starting at $39,435 for the base SE and topping out at $54,560 for the Calligraphy.^[a]

Fuel Economy

In addition to the lower pricing, the Santa Fe is also the more efficient model. The 2.5 inline-four engine under the hood provides 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to handle the roads around Round Lake Beach.

Front-wheel drive 2026 Santa Fe models get an EPA-estimated 20 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway, while all-wheel drive models drop only slightly to 20 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.

The 2026 Palisade has greater horsepower to match its bigger size. With 287 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, the 3.5L V6 that powers the Palisade makes merging simple.

Fuel economy is a bit lower in this model, however. Front-wheel drive models make 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway, while all-wheel drive models come in at 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway.

Q:  Would You Be Interested in a Hybrid?

Hybrid drivers, rejoice! The 2026 Santa Fe and 2026 Palisade are offered as hybrid models in addition to their standard gasoline engine options.

The biggest difference between the Hyundai hybrid and gasoline-powered SUV models is efficiency. If you’re looking to save as much as possible at the pump, these models have your best interests in mind.

Santa Fe Hybrid

The 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid is powered by a 1.6L turbocharged engine paired with a 44.2 kW electric motor. Together, the systems provide 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque.  

While front-wheel drive is standard, HTRAC all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Front-wheel drive models have an EPA estimated fuel economy of 37 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway, while all-wheel drive models make 35 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway.

Palisade Hybrid

The 2026 Palisade Hybrid is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged hybrid engine paired with a 54 kW electric motor. This powertrain is significantly more powerful, delivering 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque.

The front-wheel drive models offer the greatest fuel economy at 33 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. All-wheel drive is optional on all Palisade Hybrid trims, with a fuel economy of 29 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway.

Q:  How Innovative Would You Like Your Car to Be?

Across both of these SUVs, Hyundai offers some of the latest and greatest high-tech innovations—both in the cabin and when it comes to driver-assistance systems.  

SmartSense Driver-Assist

The standard driver assistance tools are similar in both the Santa Fe and the Palisade, with familiar features like Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Lane Keeping Assist making either a helpful partner in navigating Round Lake Beach and beyond.

Santa Fe and Palisade drivers alike can climb into the higher trims to enjoy perks like Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Surround View Monitor. The Calligraphy has its own enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Evasive Steering Assist, along with a camera-based rearview mirror.

Infotainment Technology

While both the Santa Fe and Palisade enjoy features such as a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity and wireless device charging, the Palisade throws more on top of that with a standard Passenger Talk in-car intercom, so you don’t need to yell to be heard in the third row. However, both models have Rear Seat Quiet Mode, which limits music to the front speakers.

The Palisade Calligraphy is a true technological wonder, featuring several technologies unavailable on other models, even within the Hyundai lineup. From the center console UV-C sterilization compartment to the built-in front and rear dash cams, the Palisade Calligraphy is truly next level.

Which SUV Will It Be?

Both the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade are exceptional three-row vehicles that give you the best for your budget. If you’re looking for a versatile SUV with a can-do attitude and a lower price tag, the Santa Fe could be exactly right for you. But if you’re in need of more room, more tech, and have a bigger budget, maybe it’s the Palisade that should take its place in your garage. You can see both models in person at our dealership near Round Lake Beach, so drop by for a test drive!

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^[a] MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, destination charge, and accessories. MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details. 

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