2027 Hyundai Santa Fe Rendered With a Bold New Look

The 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe appears to be heading toward a surprisingly substantial redesign. New spy photos of camouflaged prototypes suggest Hyundai is preparing to address some of the most talked about styling elements of the current generation, especially at the rear.

Up front, the restyled Santa Fe is expected to receive a new lighting signature with vertical light strips positioned near the outer edges and a horizontal light bar running close to the hood. The main headlights appear to move into the center section of the bumper. The overall treatment shares some similarities with the latest Hyundai Tucson while keeping the Santa Fe’s distinctive boxy proportions.

The biggest transformation could happen at the back. The current Santa Fe uses unusually low mounted horizontal taillights, a design decision that has generated plenty of discussion. The updated model appears ready to replace them with a higher lighting arrangement featuring vertical elements and a horizontal light bar. This could make the rear look wider, cleaner, and more conventional without losing the Santa Fe’s rugged personality.

Major changes along the sides are not expected, so the upright roofline and squared body should remain familiar.

Powertrain choices will vary by market. The current range includes a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter gasoline engine producing 194 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.5 liter 4 cylinder producing 281 horsepower. Hybrid and plug in hybrid versions based around a turbocharged 1.6 liter gasoline engine are also offered.

Another interesting possibility involves the transmission. The turbocharged model’s 8 speed dual clutch transmission could reportedly be replaced by a conventional automatic transmission, potentially providing smoother operation in everyday driving.

Hyundai has not officially revealed the restyled Santa Fe, so the final production design could differ from these renderings. However, with prototypes already testing on public roads, the updated 2027 Santa Fe could make its debut before the end of 2026.