Introduced in 2001, the mid-sized Hyundai Santa Fe was Hyundai’s first SUV and quickly grew to become one of Korean auto maker’s most successful models. Value for the dollar and reasonable gas mileage have been two of the Santa Fe’s largest draws. Highway gas mileage ratings land in the mid-twenties every model year, with front-wheel-drive variants scoring as high as 27 or 28 miles per gallon (MPG). The Santa Fe was significantly redesigned for the 2007 model year.
The Santa Fe GLS is equipped with a 2.7 liter V-6 rated at 185 horsepower (HP), while the Santa Fe SE and Santa Fe Limited are fitted with a larger 3.3 liter V-6 rated at 242 HP. A 2.2 liter CRDi four-cylinder turbo-diesel is available internationally in the Santa Fe, but not here in the States. The turbo-diesel notches a 30% or so improvement in fuel economy when compared to its gasoline-powered counterpart.
Hyundai Santafe Gas Mileage – 2001-2010
Year | Manf. | Model | Engine | Disp. | Fuel | Trans. | City | Hwy |
2010 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M6) Manual | 19 | 26 |
2009 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2009 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 24 |
2009 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 24 |
2009 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 24 |
2009 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2009 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 23 |
2008 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 24 |
2008 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2008 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 24 |
2008 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2008 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 17 | 23 |
2008 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 24 |
2007 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 21 | 26 |
2007 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2007 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 25 |
2007 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.3 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2007 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 25 |
2007 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2006 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2006 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2006 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2006 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2006 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 23 |
2006 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2005 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2005 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2005 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2005 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2005 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 23 |
2005 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 23 |
2004 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 16 | 22 |
2004 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2004 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2004 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2004 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2004 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 21 |
2003 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2003 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2003 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 16 | 22 |
2003 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2003 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2003 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 3.5 liter | R | (L5) Auto | 17 | 21 |
2002 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2002 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2002 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 2WD | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 28 |
2002 | Hyundai | Santa Fe 4WD | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 23 |
2001 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 28 |
2001 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 23 |
2001 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | 4 cylinder | 2.4 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2001 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | 6 cylinder | 2.7 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.
– by Daniel Gray
I just bought an 08 Santa Fe GLS with the base 2.7L V6. I drive 95% around the city and my MPG for my last tank was 12 mpg which is consistent with Consumer Reports testing. I am very conscious about my driving style and I try to maximize mileage by avoiding fast starts and prolonged idling. It’s a practical, refined, comfortable car for a family with kids and car seats but I wouldn’t recommend it based on mileage.
I have a 2003 Santa Fe 2.4 2WD. I drive 50/50 highway city. I get 17.5 miles per gallon. Very disappointed since I bought the 4 cyl and 2wd option because I assumed it would get better gas mileage…nope. My girlfriends 6 cyl 2.7 AWD 2002 gets better…(yes we have the same car) :-/
I have a 2008 Santa Fe 3.3L Limited. I drive 50/50 highway and city. I average about 19-20 miles to the gallon, and am very happy with the vehicle.
I have a 05 – v 6 and I only get 12 mpg in town. truly sucks. for that reason i will not buy another one.
I Have the 2005, 2.7l, V6, AWD, Auto and do 95% highway driving. I only get 15MPG. Not sure how they get these figures but based on the comment above and my own they are Waaay Out! Cool car to drive but the gas mileage is a killer!
I have a 2001 2.4 auto Santa Fe and I have been getting 22 city/ 31 hwy. I guess I gave up power for MPG.
2001 AWD v6 Nice SUV, Handles great, Horrible gas mileage. about 15 mpg 50/50
bought a 2004 sante fe 3.5 auto. I like it, BUT the gas milege really sucks.
I just purchased a Hyundai Santa Fe 2007 limited. My MPG IS SHOWING ONLY 16.5. There are no lights on and I will have it checked but what could be wrong with the mpg?