The Hyundai Santa Fe does 24.1 mpg combined (22.2 city, 27 highway), which works out to about $1,593 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid does 35 mpg while 2.7L 6-cyl does 19.8 — a difference of $842 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Hyundai Santa Fe engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Hyundai Santa Fe ranges from 35 down to 19.8 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $842 a year across 7 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid | 36.2 / 33.2 | 2021–2026 | $1,097 | |
| 1.6L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 33 / 32 | 2022–2023 | $1,164 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 22.5 / 28.5 | 2021–2026 | $1,536 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 / 26 | 2010–2012 | $1,722 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 19.3 / 26.2 | 2001–2020 | $1,761 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 18 / 25 | 2013–2018 | $1,829 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 17.6 / 23.7 | 2001–2009 | $1,939 |
What that actually costs
The Hyundai Santa Fe burns a gallon every 24.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 498 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.133 |
| Fuel per year | $1,593 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,965 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$337 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,688 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Hyundai Santa Fe gives up 4.8 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27 out there against 22.2 in town, a 22% drop worth $308 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 | 22.2 mpg | $1,730 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27 mpg | $1,422 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.8 mpg (22%) | Typical for its type |
How the Santa Fe changed over the years
The Santa Fe peaked in 2023 at 31 mpg (31.3 city, 30.3 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2006 at 19.5 — 11.5 mpg apart, or $730 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 30. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28.5 / 32.5 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2025 | 28 / 32 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2024 | 28 / 32 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2023 | 31.3 / 30.3 | 3 | $1,239 | |
| 2022 | 31.3 / 30.3 | 3 | $1,239 | |
| 2021 | 30.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,280 | |
| 2020 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2019 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2018 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2017 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2016 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2015 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2014 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2013 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2012 | 20 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2011 | 20 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2010 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2009 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2008 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2007 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2006 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2005 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2004 | 18 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 25 | 2 | $1,873 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 43 EPA ratings of the Hyundai Santa Fe — 7 engines across 2001–2026. 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 $2,688. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Hyundai Santa Fe get?
24.1 mpg combined on average — 22.2 in the city and 27 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2026.
How much does a Hyundai Santa Fe cost in fuel per year?
About $1,593 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,965 over five years, or 0.133 dollars a mile.
Which Santa Fe engine is the most economical?
The 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid at 35 mpg, against 19.8 for the 2.7L 6-cyl — a difference of about $842 a year.
Is the Santa Fe good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Santa Fe 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 is $2,688 against the $1,593 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 36 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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