2026 Buick Enclave vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

$46,200 · Crossover

$34,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2026 Buick Enclave bursts onto the scene with a commanding 328 horsepower, promising a more muscular drive, while the sharply priced 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe captures attention with its compelling value proposition starting at just $34,800. The Enclave offers generous proportions, stretching 207.6 inches long, translating to a massive 22.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row. Conversely, the Santa Fe leans into efficiency and maneuverability, achieving 29 MPG highway with its slightly more modest 277 horsepower output. This comparison boils down to power versus price; the Enclave boasts a significant 51 hp advantage over the Santa Fe, but that premium costs $11,400 upfront. While both use a standard 8-speed automatic and FWD setup, the Enclave emphasizes luxury size, whereas the Santa Fe champions affordability and a respectable 24 combined MPG.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe wins for commuters due to its superior fuel economy rating of 29 MPG highway compared to the Buick's 27 MPG highway.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Buick Enclave

The 2026 Buick Enclave offers substantially more hauling capability with 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity versus the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave is the enthusiast's pick because it delivers 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, significantly outperforming the Santa Fe's 277 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe presents outstanding value, undercutting the Buick Enclave's MSRP by $11,400.

Choose the Buick Enclave if...

You prioritize straight-line power, taking advantage of the 328 horsepower rating.
Your family regularly requires maximum utility, leveraging the 22.9 cu ft cargo capacity.
You prefer a truly large presence, as the Enclave measures 207.6 inches in length.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

Budget is critical, allowing you to save $11,400 with the $34,800 starting MSRP.
Maximizing fuel efficiency is key, offering a 29 MPG highway rating.
You prefer a more compact footprint for easier city navigation, as it is 17.4 inches shorter than the Enclave.

Key Dimensions

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

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Buick	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 Preparation System	✓	—
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 Folding Headrests	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

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

Fuel

Feature	Buick	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)	388.0/523.8 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	19.4 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

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

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Buick	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	30.0 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	Buick	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

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

Rearseats

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

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Buick	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 2026 Buick Enclave and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe.

How significant is the performance difference between the 2026 Enclave and Santa Fe?

The difference is quite noticeable; the 2026 Buick Enclave produces 328 horsepower, providing a 51 hp advantage over the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe’s 277 horsepower. This power gap should make the Enclave feel quicker in acceleration.

Which vehicle offers better utility for hauling gear or luggage?

The 2026 Buick Enclave is the superior choice for hauling, boasting 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space compared to the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe’s 14.6 cubic feet. If capacity is a primary concern, the Enclave is significantly larger.

What is the actual difference in initial purchase price?

There is a substantial $11,400 price separation between these two models. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at $34,800, while the 2026 Buick Enclave begins at $46,200.

Are the fuel economy ratings vastly different for daily driving?

The ratings are close, but the Santa Fe edges out the competition with 29 MPG highway versus the Enclave's 27 MPG highway; both share a 20 MPG city rating and 23/24 combined ratings, respectively.

Since both are FWD with 8-speed automatics, is the driving feel similar?

While the transmission and drive layout are identical (8-speed automatic, FWD), the Enclave's larger dimensions (207.6 inches long) will likely result in a more comfort-focused, planted ride, whereas the Santa Fe will feel lighter and more nimble.

Do these vehicles require premium fuel?

No, both the 2026 Buick Enclave and the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe utilize regular unleaded fuel, keeping operating costs predictable regardless of which model you choose.