Hyundai Santa Fe MPG by year — every rating on record

The Hyundai Santa Fe has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 27 model years, from 2001 to 2027. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (2021) and its thirstiest returned 17 mpg (2003). The EPA record holds 106 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD / Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Hyundai Santa Fe placed highest in 2001 at #11 of 45, and lowest in 2025 at #73 of 82. It spent 12 of its 27 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 106 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 4 of 8 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Santa Fe fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe burns 479 to 500 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2027 model year is $2,600 to $2,700 a year in fuel, or $1,750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

Across the 140 nameplates EPA classifies as Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 24 mpg the Hyundai Santa Fe is 2 mpg better the median, which is worth about $152 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Hyundai nameplates

Every Hyundai model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.