The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport does 23.5 mpg combined (20.5 city, 27.3 highway), which works out to about $1,634 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe Sport engine, compared
The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 20.5 / 27.3 | 2013–2018 | $1,634 |
What that actually costs
The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport burns a gallon every 23.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 511 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.136 |
| Fuel per year | $1,634 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,170 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$140 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,650 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport gives up 6.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.3 out there against 20.5 in town, a 33% drop worth $466 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 20.5 mpg | $1,873 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.3 mpg | $1,407 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.8 mpg (33%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Santa Fe Sport changed over the years
The Santa Fe Sport peaked in 2018 at 24 mpg (21 city, 27 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2016 at 23 — 1 mpg apart, or $70 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2018 car does 24. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2014 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport — 1 engine across 2013–2018. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,650. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport get?
23.5 mpg combined on average — 20.5 in the city and 27.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2013–2018.
How much does a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport cost in fuel per year?
About $1,634 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,170 over five years, or 0.136 dollars a mile.
Which Santa Fe Sport engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl at 23.5 mpg.
Is the Santa Fe Sport good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Santa Fe Sport figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is $2,650 against the $1,634 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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