Hyundai SantaFe 2026 reveals a "luxurious" upgraded look

Hyundai SantaFe 2026 lo dien mao nang cap day

Competitors such as Kia Sorento, Hyundai Palisade or even MPVs like Kia Carnival have continuously left their mark, putting SantaFe in a passive position. In that context, the new 2026 Hyundai SantaFe facelift (mid-life upgrade) is expected to help the Korean SUV "turn the tide".

Recently, a sketch from designer NYMammoth has partly revealed the potential appearance of the 2026 Hyundai SantaFe facelift SUV, which has received special attention from car enthusiasts. Based on the sketch, the SantaFe facelift promises to have a significant transformation.

Especially at the front of the car - which has caused controversy because of its unconventional square box design, different from traditional tastes. The highlight of the new build is the LED daytime running light strip that spans the entire width of the front of the car. This design is reminiscent of Hyundai's high-end models such as the Grandeur, Staria or Sonata 2024.

Meanwhile, the lower headlight cluster has the same style as the Hyundai Palisade, creating a more luxurious and consistent feel with the company's product range. Overall, the lines are refined to be neater, more seamless and modern, but still retain the characteristic strength of the 5th generation Hyundai SantaFe .

Despite being one of Hyundai’s main SUV lines, the new generation SantaFe has not met expectations in terms of both sales and brand image. Many opinions say that the design is too “artistic” making the car lose its friendliness to traditional customers.

Therefore, the facelift version of Hyundai SantaFe following the Palisade style is expected to bring a balance between personality design and closeness to the majority - what made SantaFe successful before.

Although this new generation Hyundai SantaFe model is just an unofficial build, what NYMammoth has shown has given fans confidence that SantaFe can return to the SUV race in 2025.

If Hyundai maintains the new design direction combined with modern technology, which is its strength, the 2026 SantaFe facelift has every chance to return to the race stronger and more convincing than ever.