2025 GMC Acadia vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$42,900 · Crossover

$34,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the completely redesigned 2025 GMC Acadia and the stylish new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe often boils down to size versus savings. That $8,100 MSRP difference is significant, placing the Santa Fe at $34,800 versus the Acadia's $42,900 entry price. If maximizing space is paramount, the Acadia offers considerably more length at 204.0 inches compared to the Santa Fe’s 190.2 inches, translating directly to better usability, though the Santa Fe boasts superior fuel economy with 29 highway MPG versus the Acadia's 27 highway MPG. Power seekers will immediately notice the Acadia leads with 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, outgunning the Santa Fe's 277 hp output. While both use regular unleaded and offer FWD configurations, the Acadia presents a much larger, more powerful proposition for only 23 combined MPG.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe wins for commuters due to its lower initial cost and slightly better combined fuel economy of 24 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 GMC Acadia

The 2025 GMC Acadia is the better family choice due to its substantially larger overall size and superior passenger/cargo volume potential based on its 204.0-inch length.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 GMC Acadia

Enthusiasts will prefer the Acadia for its significant power advantage, boasting 328 hp versus the Santa Fe’s 277 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe offers significantly more budget-friendliness by saving buyers $8,100 at the starting price point.

Choose the GMC Acadia if...

You need the maximum power available, as the Acadia provides 328 horsepower.
You value maximizing space, given the Acadia's larger exterior dimensions (204.0 inches long).
Your primary concern is brute strength, evidenced by its 326 lb-ft of torque advantage.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

You must stick to a stricter budget, as the Santa Fe starts $8,100 cheaper at $34,800.
You prioritize slightly better highway cruising efficiency, achieving 29 MPG compared to 27 MPG.
You prefer a more compact vehicle footprint for easier city parking, measuring 190.2 inches in length.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	GMC Acadia	Hyundai Santa Fe
Length	204.0"	190.2"
Width	79.6"	74.8"
Height	70.1"	67.7"
Wheelbase	120.9"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	—	✓

Engine

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	328 hp @ 5500 rpm	277 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	326 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/27 MPG	20/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	0/0 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	—	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Sun Sensor	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	15.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Premium Speaker Brand	Bose	—
Speaker System	12	—
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Front Head Room	42.6 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	44.3 in.	44.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	62.0 in.	59.5 in.
Front Hip Room	59.2 in.	56.5 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	6-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	40.0 in.	40.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.5 in.	42.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	62.0 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.4 in.	54.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/65R18	235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Underbody Mounted

Suspension

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	GMC	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ unlimited mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 GMC Acadia and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

How much bigger is the 2025 GMC Acadia than the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe?

The Acadia is significantly larger overall, measuring 204.0 inches long compared to the Santa Fe's 190.2 inches. This size difference also suggests the Acadia will likely offer more usable interior and cargo volume.

Is the power difference between these two crossovers noticeable?

Yes, the Acadia holds a considerable advantage with 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, which is 51 horsepower more than the Santa Fe’s 277 hp. This extra oomph will be noticeable during highway merging or acceleration.

Which one is better for saving money at the pump?

The 2026 Santa Fe edges out the Acadia slightly on fuel economy, achieving 29 highway MPG compared to the Acadia's 27 highway MPG, though both vehicles return 20 MPG in the city.

How does the starting price gap affect the overall value proposition?

The $8,100 difference in MSRP is substantial; the Santa Fe starts at $34,800 while the Acadia begins at $42,900. If your budget is tight, the Santa Fe offers nearly identical drivetrain basics (8-speed automatic, regular unleaded) for much less money.

Are there differences in how these cars drive based on horsepower?

Because both utilize a front-wheel-drive setup and an 8-speed automatic transmission, the driving feel will differ primarily due to power output. The Acadia's higher horsepower (328 hp) should provide noticeably quicker acceleration than the Santa Fe (277 hp).

What is the cargo situation in the trunk area?

While the exact cubic footage for the newest models isn't fully detailed, the Acadia's larger exterior shell implies better cargo capacity than the Santa Fe, which has a smaller profile measuring 74.8 inches wide versus the Acadia's 79.6 inches.