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 current fifth-generation Santa Fe, introduced in Australia in 2024, will be significantly revised front and rear, with narrower headlights and a simpler front grille and bumper.
The three-row SUV will 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 current 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 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 will look to bring the exterior styling of its vehicles into line across all models, yet it will still retain the distinctive identity of individual nameplates.
The facelifted Santa Fe will also bring significant cabin changes, with a larger centre screen indicating it will run Hyundai’s new-generation Android Automotive-based ‘Pleos’ operating system.
The automaker announced Pleos in 2025, saying it will roll out to 20 million vehicles across Hyundai and its luxury Genesis brand by 2030. It’s expected to make its debut in the next i30 and Tucson, due around the same time as the updated Santa Fe.
Powertrains are expected to remain unchanged, with the possible addition of a new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) option, which is not confirmed for Australia.
The current local lineup features 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 will be replaced with a conventional automatic in some countries following customer complaints, Hyundai Australia has previously told CarExpert it has no plans to replace the transmission in local models.
The lineup of the larger Palisade in Australia will also expand, with new entry-level and range-topping model grades as part of a revitalised lineup in the second half of 2026.