Spacious, practical, and backed by solid aftersales support
In a market where families must weigh space, safety, and value against one another, the Hyundai Santa Fe has again been named Australia's best affordable large SUV by CarExpert — its second consecutive recognition in 2026. The award speaks less to novelty than to consistency: a vehicle that delivers genuine practicality across all three rows, broad powertrain choice, and safety technology that was once reserved for premium tiers. In an era when buyers are asked to compromise more and more, the Santa Fe's back-to-back win suggests that coherence and reliability still carry weight.
- The affordable large SUV segment is fiercely contested, with the closely related Kia Sorento and a freshly redesigned Skoda Kodiaq both pressing hard for the top position.
- Families need more than sheer size — they demand comfort across all three rows, fuel flexibility, and safety features that don't require a premium price tag.
- Hyundai answers that tension by equipping even its base Santa Fe with safety technology that rivals once reserved for higher trims, removing a key barrier for budget-conscious buyers.
- The Santa Fe's boxy, deliberate design turns a potential aesthetic compromise into a functional advantage, delivering cabin space without the unwieldy driving experience that large SUVs often carry.
- Back-to-back CarExpert recognition signals that the Santa Fe is not a one-year story — it is consolidating its position as the benchmark in its segment heading into 2026.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has taken CarExpert's best affordable large SUV title for the second year running, edging out the Kia Sorento and the newly overhauled Skoda Kodiaq — both of which reached finalist status — in the 2026 CarExpert Choice Awards.
What the judges found most compelling was the Santa Fe's internal logic: its boxy silhouette is not merely a styling choice but a practical commitment, translating directly into genuine space across all three rows without making the vehicle feel cumbersome to drive. Ride quality remains composed on longer journeys, a detail that matters to families who use these vehicles as much as they admire them.
Powertrain flexibility adds to the case. Buyers can choose between front or all-wheel drive and select either a turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol or a 1.6-litre hybrid — a meaningful range in a country where fuel costs and road conditions differ dramatically by region.
Equally significant is Hyundai's approach to standard equipment. Even the entry-level Santa Fe arrives with a safety technology suite that would have commanded a premium just a few years ago, while Elite and Calligraphy trims offer further refinement for those who want it. The second consecutive win suggests that in the affordable large SUV category, the Santa Fe has become the vehicle others are measured against.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has claimed CarExpert's best affordable large SUV award for a second consecutive year, a recognition that speaks to the vehicle's steady appeal in a crowded segment. The three-row family hauler beat out the closely related Kia Sorento and the recently overhauled Skoda Kodiaq, both of which earned finalist status in the 2026 CarExpert Choice Awards.
What makes the Santa Fe stand out, according to the award judges, is the coherence of its design. The boxy proportions that define its silhouette translate into genuine cabin space across all three rows—a practical advantage that doesn't require owners to sacrifice comfort or ease of use. The vehicle manages the trick of being large without feeling unwieldy; despite its footprint, it remains straightforward to drive and delivers a composed ride quality that doesn't punish passengers on longer journeys.
The powertrain lineup offers real choice. Buyers can opt for front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and then select between a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a more efficient 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid. That flexibility matters in a market where fuel costs and driving patterns vary widely across the country.
Perhaps most telling is what Hyundai includes even on base models. The entry-level Santa Fe arrives with an extensive roster of standard features, including a comprehensive safety technology package that would have been premium equipment on competitors just a few years ago. Buyers willing to spend more can step up to the Elite or Calligraphy trims, which add further refinement and equipment, but the foundation is solid across the range.
The award reflects a broader shift in how family vehicles are evaluated. Spaciousness and practicality remain essential, but they're no longer enough on their own. The Santa Fe's second consecutive win suggests that buyers and reviewers alike are rewarding vehicles that combine those fundamentals with genuine driving comfort, straightforward technology, and the kind of warranty and service support that Hyundai has built into its brand promise. For families weighing options in the affordable large SUV category, the Santa Fe's back-to-back recognition offers a clear signal: this vehicle has staying power.
Citações Notáveis
The Santa Fe is spacious, practical, and comfortable, backed by a solid aftersales offering—an exceptional choice for families in the market for a large three-row SUV.— CarExpert Choice Awards assessment
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Why does a vehicle win the same award twice? Doesn't that suggest the category itself isn't changing much?
Not necessarily. It could mean the Santa Fe is genuinely well-balanced and the competition hasn't caught up. Or it could mean Hyundai has figured out what matters to families and hasn't stopped refining it.
What's the actual advantage of a three-row SUV over, say, a minivan or a wagon?
Space and versatility, mainly. You get the height and commanding driving position people want, plus the ability to configure the interior differently depending on whether you're hauling people or cargo. And there's no stigma attached to it the way some people feel about minivans.
The hybrid option—is that a real alternative, or is it just there to check a box?
It's a genuine choice. A 1.6-litre hybrid in a vehicle this size is a real fuel saver for people doing a lot of city driving or long commutes. It trades some outright power for efficiency, which makes sense for families who aren't towing or doing heavy work.
What does it mean that even the base model has comprehensive safety tech?
It means Hyundai has decided that safety features aren't luxury items anymore—they're baseline. That's a shift. It used to be you'd pay a premium for that stuff. Now it's expected, and the Santa Fe delivers it across the board.
So if you're shopping for a large family SUV right now, is this the obvious choice?
It's the obvious choice if you value practicality and don't want to overspend. The Sorento and Kodiaq are solid alternatives, but they didn't win the award. That matters.