2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2026 Buick Enclave

$34,300 · Crossover

$46,200 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2026 Buick Enclave often comes down to balancing budget against sheer presence and utility. The immediate hurdle is the steep MSRP difference, with the Santa Fe starting affordably at $34,300 versus the Enclave's $46,200. While the Buick commands respect with its size—it’s significantly longer at 207.6 inches compared to the Santa Fe's 190.2 inches—the Hyundai still offers respectable daily performance. Power favors the Buick, boasting 328 hp against the Santa Fe's 277 hp, yet both manage nearly identical fuel economy, netting a combined 23 MPG for the Enclave and 24 MPG for the Santa Fe on regular unleaded. The practicality winner is clear: the Enclave provides a massive 22.9 cu ft of cargo space, dwarfing the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft, making the final choice dependent on whether superior cargo volume and horsepower justify spending an extra $11,900.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The lower starting MSRP of $34,300 for the Santa Fe makes it the more sensible, cost-effective choice for daily commuting duties.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Buick Enclave

The 2026 Enclave offers substantially more room, providing 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft, which is crucial for family hauling.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Buick Enclave

With 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, the Enclave delivers significantly more power than the Santa Fe's 277 hp and 311 lb-ft.

💰 Best Value

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe offers better overall value by delivering 24 combined MPG and sufficient power for $11,900 less than the competition.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

Your primary concern is budget, as the Santa Fe starts $11,900 cheaper than the Enclave.
You want slightly better fuel efficiency, achieving 24 combined MPG versus the Enclave's 23 combined MPG.
You prefer a slightly more nimble footprint, as the Santa Fe is considerably shorter at 190.2 inches.

Choose the Buick Enclave if...

You need maximum cargo space, as the Enclave boasts 22.9 cu ft, significantly exceeding the Santa Fe’s 14.6 cu ft.
Having more outright power matters, as the Enclave produces an extra 51 hp (328 hp total).
You desire a larger physical presence, with the Enclave measuring 207.6 inches long and 79.6 inches wide.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Hyundai Santa Fe	Buick Enclave
Length	190.2"	207.6"
Width	74.8"	79.6"
Height	67.7"	71.0"
Wheelbase	110.8"	120.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear 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 Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	2
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓
Rear Folding Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	277 hp @ 5800 rpm	328 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	326 lb-ft @ 3500 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	Hyundai	Buick
Transmission Type	8-speed automated manual	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/29 MPG	20/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	24 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	354.0/513.3 mi.	388.0/523.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	19.4 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

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

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	30.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Premium Speaker Brand	—	Bose
Speaker System	—	12
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Front Head Room	41.1 in.	42.6 in.
Front Leg Room	44.4 in.	44.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.5 in.	62.2 in.
Front Hip Room	56.5 in.	58.7 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	2-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Rear Head Room	40.6 in.	40.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	42.3 in.	41.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	62.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	54.9 in.	58.5 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Hyundai	Buick
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/60R18	P255/55R20
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Diameter	—	20 in.

Suspension

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

Warranty

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2026 Buick Enclave.

What is the primary difference in size between the 2025 Santa Fe and the 2026 Enclave?

The Buick Enclave is substantially larger, being 207.6 inches long compared to the Santa Fe's 190.2 inches. This length difference directly translates to cargo space, where the Enclave offers 22.9 cu ft versus the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft.

Is the extra cost of the 2026 Enclave justified by better fuel economy?

No, the higher-priced Enclave is slightly less efficient, achieving 23 combined MPG, while the more affordable Santa Fe nets 24 combined MPG. Both vehicles use regular unleaded fuel, but the Hyundai saves slightly at the pump.

How much more powerful is the 2026 Buick Enclave than the 2025 Santa Fe?

The Enclave is noticeably quicker on paper, delivering 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque. This gives it a 51 hp advantage over the Santa Fe, which produces 277 hp.

Can I save money upfront by choosing the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Absolutely; the price difference is significant, with the Santa Fe starting at $34,300 compared to the Enclave's $46,200 MSRP. That's an $11,900 saving right out of the gate.

Do the transmissions differ significantly between these two crossovers?

Yes, while both use 8-speed setups, the Santa Fe utilizes an 8-speed automated manual, whereas the Enclave features a traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.

Which vehicle is better for longer road trips based on capacity?

For maximizing passenger belongings, the Enclave is superior due to its greater volume, offering 22.9 cu ft of cargo space. However, the Santa Fe has a marginally better highway MPG rating (29 MPG vs. 27 MPG) for slightly fewer fuel stops.