The updated Hyundai Santa Fe has been spied testing with a fresh look ahead of its anticipated arrival in showrooms sometime in 2027 – and it’s saying goodbye to its controversial tail-light design.
As these spy photos show, the boxy styling of the present fifth-generation Santa Fe, introduced in Australia in 2024, shall be significantly revised front and rear, with narrower headlights and an easier front grille and bumper.
The three-row SUV may also dump its current distinctive, low-set tail-lights in favour of more conventional vertical brake lights connected by a horizontal light bar.
Per previous spy footage of the Santa Fe, the update will keep the present model’s core shape and sharp window lines, but draw inspiration from the Art of Steel design language introduced on the second-generation Nexo mid-size hydrogen fuel-cell SUV.
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That very same design theme will spread to other models, including the smaller Kona SUV, recently spotted testing ahead of its expected 2028 arrival.
Hyundai recently said it can look to bring the outside styling of its vehicles into line across all models, yet it can still retain the distinctive identity of individual nameplates.
The facelifted Santa Fe may also bring significant cabin changes, with a bigger centre screen indicating it can run Hyundai’s new-generation Android Automotive-based ‘Pleos’ operating system.
The automaker announced Pleos in 2025, saying it can roll out to twenty million vehicles across Hyundai and its luxury Genesis brand by 2030. It’s expected to make its debut in the subsequent i30 and Tucson, due around the identical time because the updated Santa Fe.
Powertrains are expected to stay unchanged, with the possible addition of a brand new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) option, which will not be confirmed for Australia.
The present local lineup incorporates a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder hybrid with a six-speed automatic, and a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
While the eight-speed shall be replaced with a traditional automatic in some countries following customer complaints, Hyundai Australia has previously told CarExpert it has no plans to switch the transmission in local models.
The lineup of the larger Palisade in Australia may also expand, with latest entry-level and range-topping model grades as a part of a revitalised lineup within the second half of 2026.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
