SE, SEL, XRT, Limited and Calligraphy. Same 277-hp turbo in all five, so the decision is about drivetrain, towing and how much comfort you want. Here is the whole lineup in one place.
The Five Trims at a Glance
Every gas Santa Fe uses the same 2.5L turbocharged four making 277 hp and 311 lb-ft through an 8-speed automatic. No trim is slower than another. What changes is drivetrain, tow rating and equipment.
SE
Front-wheel drive
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Dual 12.3-inch displays
- Hyundai SmartSense standard
- Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
- 3,500 lb tow rating
SEL
FWD, AWD available
- Heated front seats
- H-Tex seating surfaces
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance
- First trim offering HTRAC AWD
- 3,500 lb tow rating
XRT
HTRAC AWD standard
- 4,500 lb tow rating
- Mud, Snow and Sand modes
- All-terrain tires
- Blacked-out exterior trim
- Off-road-styled body cladding
Limited
HTRAC AWD standard
- Panoramic sunroof
- Dual wireless charging
- Surround-view monitor
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- 3,500 lb tow rating
Calligraphy
HTRAC AWD standard
- Nappa leather seating
- Pecan Brown interior available
- Bose premium audio
- Ventilated front seats
- 21-inch alloy wheels
Equipment shown is the headline content for each trim. Configurations vary by build, so call to confirm what is on the ground before you drive over.
Why This Lineup Is Easier to Shop Than Most
Plenty of SUV lineups make you buy the expensive trim to get the engine you want. Hyundai does not do that with the Santa Fe. The SE and the Calligraphy make identical power, run the same 8-speed automatic, and pull the same 3,500 lbs. That removes the usual trap where the value trim is also the slow one.
It also means the decision is unusually clean. Ask yourself three questions: do you need all-wheel drive, do you tow more than 3,500 lbs, and how much interior do you want. Answer those and the trim picks itself, which is roughly how these conversations go on our lot on Durham Chapel Hill Blvd.
One MY2026 note worth having before you shop a leftover. The whole lineup moved from a dual-clutch transmission to an 8-speed torque-converter automatic this year. If you drove an older Santa Fe and found it hesitant pulling away from a stop, that is the part that changed.
Three Decisions That Settle It
Most Santa Fe shoppers are deciding between two trims by the time they call us. These are the three forks that get them there.
Gas or Hybrid
Gas if you tow, want the XRT, or drive mostly highway. The 2.5T pulls 3,500 lbs and the XRT pulls 4,500.
Hybrid if you commute. Up to 36 mpg combined, and it is the only Santa Fe with a third row. It tows 2,000 lbs.
Front-Wheel or HTRAC AWD
SE is front-wheel drive. SEL offers AWD as an option. XRT, Limited and Calligraphy are AWD as standard.
In the Triangle, AWD is less about snow and more about wet clay boat ramps at Jordan Lake and unpaved trailhead lots after a rainy week.
SEL or Step Up
The SEL is where most Durham and Chapel Hill buyers land. Heated seats, H-Tex surfaces, AWD available.
Go past it for a specific reason: the XRT for towing, the Limited for the sunroof and cameras, the Calligraphy for Nappa leather and Bose.
Full Trim Comparison
Four categories, all five gas trims side by side. Every value here comes from Hyundai's published specifications.
| Feature | SE | SEL | XRT | Limited | Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD, AWD opt. | AWD std. | AWD std. | AWD std. |
| Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Wheels | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy | All-terrain tires | 20-inch alloy | 21-inch alloy |
| Heated front seats | |||||
| Panoramic sunroof | |||||
| Off-road drive modes |
| Specification | SE | SEL | XRT | Limited | Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L Turbocharged GDI Inline-4, identical across all five trims | ||||
| Horsepower | 277 hp | 277 hp | 277 hp | 277 hp | 277 hp |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic, torque converter, new for MY2026 | ||||
| Max towing, trailer brakes | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs | 4,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| EPA-est. mpg, FWD | 20 / 29 / 24 | 20 / 29 / 24 | Not offered FWD | Not offered FWD | Not offered FWD |
| EPA-est. mpg, AWD | Not offered AWD | 20 / 28 / 23 | 20 / 28 / 23 | 20 / 28 / 23 | 20 / 28 / 23 |
Fuel economy shown as city / highway / combined. The XRT, Limited and Calligraphy are all-wheel drive as standard, so no front-wheel-drive estimate applies to them.
| Comfort | SE | SEL | XRT | Limited | Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seating surfaces | Cloth | H-Tex | H-Tex | Leather | Nappa leather |
| Pecan Brown interior available | |||||
| Ventilated front seats | |||||
| Dual wireless charging | |||||
| Cargo behind 2nd row | 40.5 cu ft on every trim | ||||
| Cargo, rear seats folded | 79.6 cu ft on every trim | ||||
| Safety and Tech | SE | SEL | XRT | Limited | Calligraphy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai SmartSense | |||||
| 12.3-inch touchscreen | |||||
| 12.3-inch digital cluster | |||||
| Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto | |||||
| Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance | |||||
| Surround-view monitor | |||||
| Bose premium audio |
Blind-Spot Collision Warning is part of the SmartSense suite on every trim. The Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance row above is the assist version that intervenes, which starts at SEL.
Specifications from Hyundai's official Santa Fe compare-specs page. EPA fuel economy estimates from fueleconomy.gov. Confirm equipment on the specific build you are considering.
Where the Trims Actually Feel Different
XRT: The Only Trim With a Different Job
Every other trim on this page is a comfort decision. The XRT is a capability decision. Standard HTRAC all-wheel drive, factory all-terrain tires, Mud, Snow and Sand drive modes new for 2026, and a tow rating 1,000 lbs above everything else in the lineup.
If you tow a boat to Falls Lake or drive gravel to a trailhead most weekends, this is the trim. Read the full XRT breakdown for what it does and does not handle.
Calligraphy: Nappa Leather and Bose
The Calligraphy is where the Santa Fe stops competing with mainstream midsize SUVs and starts competing with entry luxury. Nappa leather seating, ventilated front seats, Bose premium audio and 21-inch alloys.
New for 2026, the Pecan Brown Nappa interior is available alongside black. It is worth sitting in before you decide, because it changes the character of the cabin more than a color swatch suggests.
The Screens Are Standard, Even on the SE
The curved panoramic display, a 12.3-inch touchscreen beside a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, comes on every trim including the SE. So does wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and so does the full Hyundai SmartSense safety suite.
That is unusual and it is the strongest argument for the SE. In most lineups this hardware is held back two trims up.
Hyundai SmartSense, Standard on All Five Trims
Not an options package and not held back for the expensive trims. Every Santa Fe on our lot has all of this.
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Detects vehicles ahead, plus pedestrians and cyclists, and can brake to help avoid or reduce an impact.
Lane Keeping Assist
Steers back toward the center of the lane if the vehicle drifts without a signal.
Lane Following Assist
Helps keep the Santa Fe centered in its lane, which takes real strain out of an I-40 crawl.
Driver Attention Warning
Watches driving patterns for signs of inattention and prompts a break when it sees them.
Blind-Spot Collision Warning
Alerts you to vehicles in the blind spot, useful merging onto NC 147 at rush hour.
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance
Watches for crossing traffic while reversing and can brake, which matters in a packed Southpoint lot.
Which Santa Fe Trim Fits You
SE
You want the safety suite and the big screens without paying for leather. A strong first new SUV for a Duke or UNC grad staying in the Triangle.
SEL
You want heated seats, wipe-clean H-Tex surfaces and the option of all-wheel drive. Where most Durham and Chapel Hill families land.
XRT
Your weekends involve a boat ramp, a gravel road or a trailer over 3,500 lbs. The only trim that changes what the vehicle can do.
Limited or Calligraphy
You spend real hours in the seat. Long RTP commutes, frequent trips to Charlotte or the coast, and you want the sunroof, cameras and better audio.
Santa Fe Trim Questions We Get in Durham
How many trims does the 2026 Santa Fe have?
Five in the gas lineup: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited and Calligraphy. The Santa Fe Hybrid is a separate four-trim lineup of SE, SEL, Limited and Calligraphy, with no XRT. All five gas trims share the same 277-hp 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder and 8-speed automatic.
Which 2026 Santa Fe trim is the best value?
The SEL for most Triangle buyers. It adds heated front seats, H-Tex seating surfaces and blind-spot collision-avoidance to the SE, and it is the lowest trim where all-wheel drive is available rather than absent. The SE is not a stripped-out base model, though, since Hyundai SmartSense and the dual 12.3-inch displays are standard on every trim.
Which Santa Fe trim should I get for towing?
The XRT. It is rated at 4,500 lbs with trailer brakes, a full 1,000 lbs above every other Santa Fe trim. If your trailer is under 3,500 lbs, any gas trim will do the job and you can choose on comfort instead.
What is the difference between Limited and Calligraphy?
Both are all-wheel drive with the same engine. Limited brings dual wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, a surround-view monitor and 20-inch alloys. Calligraphy adds Nappa leather, available Pecan Brown for 2026, Bose audio, ventilated front seats and 21-inch alloys. It is a comfort and materials step, not a performance one.
Which Santa Fe trims come with all-wheel drive?
HTRAC all-wheel drive is standard on XRT, Limited and Calligraphy. It is available as an option on SEL. The SE is front-wheel drive. For a normal Piedmont winter front-wheel drive is fine, but AWD earns its keep on wet boat ramps at Jordan Lake and unpaved trailhead lots.
Do any gas Santa Fe trims have a third row?
No. Every gas Santa Fe is two-row and five-passenger, SE through Calligraphy. Three-row seating is available only on the Santa Fe Hybrid, which seats up to 7. If you need seven seats, the gas lineup is not the one to shop.
Is the Santa Fe Hybrid worth it over the gas model?
It depends on your miles. The hybrid is EPA-estimated at up to 36 mpg combined against 24 for the gas front-wheel-drive model. On a 15,000-mile year of RTP and I-40 commuting that gap is real money. The gas model wins on towing, 3,500 lbs against 2,000, and the XRT wins by more.
What changed on the Santa Fe for 2026?
Three things. The 8-speed torque-converter automatic replaced the previous dual-clutch unit across the lineup, the XRT gained Mud, Snow and Sand drive modes, and Calligraphy gained an optional Pecan Brown Nappa leather interior. The plug-in hybrid was discontinued for US MY2026, so the choice is gas or standard hybrid.
Can I test drive more than one trim in a visit?
Yes, and we recommend it. An SEL and a Calligraphy feel like different vehicles from the driver's seat even though the engine is identical. Hyundai's Flexible Test Drive program also allows a longer look. Call (919) 873-4783 and we will have the trims you want to compare pulled up and ready.
Does Sport Durst Hyundai have military or first responder programs?
Hyundai runs Military, First Responders and College Grad programs, and we have dedicated pages for each on our site. Eligibility and current terms are set by Hyundai and change over time, so call us or check the program pages for what applies at the moment you buy.
Drive Two Trims Back to Back
We are on Durham Chapel Hill Blvd, minutes from US 15-501 and an easy run from Cary, Morrisville, Chapel Hill and west Raleigh. Tell us which two trims you are torn between and we will have both ready.
Sport Durst Hyundai
4507 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
Sales: (919) 873-4783
Sales hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Sunday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Browse Santa Fe inventory or the Santa Fe Hybrid, value your trade, or get pre-approved before you come in. Our service team is here after the sale too.
Same Engine, Five Personalities
Because every gas Santa Fe makes the same 277 hp, you are choosing equipment rather than performance. That is a much easier decision to make in person. Inventory changes weekly, so call ahead and we will confirm which trims are on the ground.
Equipment, features and specifications are subject to change and vary by trim and build. EPA-estimated fuel economy figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary with how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors. Towing figures are maximum properly-equipped ratings with trailer brakes. Actual capacity varies with configuration, options, passengers, cargo and tongue weight. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution. Vehicles shown may differ from the trim level associated with any specific offer. See dealer for complete details.
