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The gas-powered 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe trades its dual-clutch transmission for a conventional eight-speed automatic. A recent driving review found that the swap made the SUV easier to live with around town, without the old gearbox drawing so much attention.
- The gas Santa Fe trades its dual-clutch for a conventional eight-speed automatic that smooths out low-speed driving.
- The off-road-leaning XRT trim lands at $44,140 with a turbo 2.5-liter four making 277 horsepower.
- The hybrid drivetrain stays and feels well sorted, though it rewards a gentle right foot.
Why the Old Transmission Held It Back
Cars.com reviewer Conner Golden liked much about the current-generation Santa Fe when he drove it in 2024, but not its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. He described rough behavior at low speeds, drivetrain lash, and a delay between Drive and Reverse. In his account, the gearbox complicated turns in traffic and sometimes dulled the response of the turbocharged engine.
Dual-clutch tech can be brilliant. Plenty of performance cars use it to fire off crisp, quick shifts. But in a family hauler creeping through stop-and-go traffic, it just felt fussy. That mismatch made an otherwise likable SUV frustrating in the exact situations most owners face every single day.
How the New Automatic Changes the Feel
The 2026 gas Santa Fe now uses a conventional eight-speed automatic. After a week in an XRT, Golden found the new transmission much less intrusive during ordinary driving. The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is rated at 277 horsepower and 311 pounds-feet of torque, but his praise focused less on numbers than on how naturally the vehicle responded. For a family SUV, a transmission that stays out of the driver’s attention can be a meaningful improvement.
That single swap moves the Santa Fe near the front of the mid-size class. The blocky, boxy design still stands out, the cabin materials come across as better than average, and there are plenty of physical buttons between the dashboard and the chunky steering wheel. It drives with the ease of a very large sedan while looking far more rugged than one.
The XRT Trim Hits a Sweet Spot
Sitting third up from the base SE, the off-road-oriented XRT rings in at $44,140 including a $1,600 destination fee. For that money you get the turbo powertrain, moisture-resistant synthetic leather, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, auto brake hold, and a real button for the engine stop-start feature. The only notable gaps are ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel, which are worth checking against your own comfort priorities.
The XRT also earns its adventurous badge with Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires and an extra 1.3 inches of ride height. Golden found the tires unobtrusive in everyday driving and appreciated the added clearance over broken pavement and steep entrances. Second-row equipment includes climate control and 100-watt USB-C charge ports. His test included carrying six people, and passenger comfort was another positive in the review.
If you’re comparing used Hyundai SUVs with the 2026 Santa Fe, check the model year, engine, and transmission of each vehicle rather than grouping them by badge. This transmission change concerns the gas-powered Santa Fe; a hybrid or a different model needs its own comparison. A low-speed test drive can help you judge the behavior that matters to you.
Gas Versus Hybrid
The transmission story is a gas-model story. The XRT comes only with the turbo 2.5-liter, while the hybrid keeps its own well-tuned drivetrain. The review also praised the hybrid, but that should not be read as evidence that the hybrid received the same transmission swap. When choosing between versions, compare their actual equipment, driving response, and fuel-economy ratings rather than treating an improvement to one powertrain as an update to both.
What to Take Away Before You Shop
The 2026 Santa Fe’s biggest improvement isn’t flashy, and that’s the point. By dropping the dual-clutch on the gas model, Hyundai smoothed out the daily driving that used to undercut everything else the SUV did well. Add the value-packed XRT and a still-solid hybrid option, and the Santa Fe becomes an easy mid-size pick for families who want space, style, and a drive that finally matches the looks.
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