It’s taken a few years for the new car market to bounce back from the chip shortage slump to the point of incentives, but we’re finally there. Multiple EVs have been advertised with zero-percent financing for a while now, and select trucks have also seen subvented deals, but there really hasn’t been a whole lot out there for deals on larger family-sized crossovers. As it turns out, one of the best on the market is now being unloaded at a pretty solid deal: The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.
The current Hyundai Santa Fe is boxier than the cardboard your Malm bed frame came in, but oh so good. With a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine feeding a six-speed automatic with an integrated electric motor, headline figures of 231 horsepower, 271 lb.-ft. of torque, and 36 MPG mean you get to have your cake and eat it too. Even when loaded up, it moves off the line confidently, and three rows of adult-sized seats mean you’ll be loading it up. It handles pretty well for a midsize crossover too, and if you want to read more, I’ve written a full road test of the model.
The fuel economy’s no joke either. While the front-wheel-drive model’s officially rated at 36 MPG, I once managed a 41 MPG highway stint…in the all-wheel-drive model. Granted, that involved setting the cruise control at about 60 MPH, but nothing special beyond that. Even the $38,000 starting price is fairly reasonable for a spacious, decently equipped three-row crossover. However, there’s now more to the price than just that. Or should I say less?
That’s because Hyundai is clearing out the 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid models, so the brand’s offering a nationwide deal: Zero percent financing for up to 60 months, plus $1,500 off the price. That puts a base model at $608 per month for five years with zero down, and that’s pretty damn good in this market. For context, the cheapest Toyota Highlander stickers for nearly $10,000 more than the base Santa Fe Hybrid, and Toyota’s only offering 4.99 percent financing for 48 months. That’s thousands more in interest, making the Hyundai a bit of a no-brainer.
Of course, this offer doesn’t just apply to the base model, and it isn’t regional. Every 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid across America is subject to this deal until Nov. 2, which makes you wonder if Hyundai will extend it. If in-stock 2026 inventory continues to exist, probably, because the 2027s are arriving. However, the 2027s are also being offered at zero percent for 60 months, just without the $1,500 sweetener on top.
Given the interest savings, a 2026 Santa Fe Hybrid could even be an interesting proposition when compared against smaller two-row compact crossovers, provided you’re willing to give up a little bit of equipment in exchange for extra room and potentially better fuel economy at a similar price point. A base Santa Fe Hybrid is still about $55-per-month more expensive than a base Chevrolet Equinox optioned with a power liftgate on a five-year term, but depending on how much you drive, that difference can be eaten in gas alone, and going with the Hyundai gets you an extra row of seats and loads more cargo space.
So, if you’re shopping for a new family car on a sensible budget and want a crossover, give the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid a try. It’s a great car, and this deal makes it an even sweeter proposition, provided you’re a fan of its square looks.
Top graphic image: Hyundai
“While the front-wheel-drive model’s officially rated at 36 MPG, I once managed a 41 MPG highway stint…in the all-wheel-drive model”
The 42 of these on Fuelly are averaging only 30mpg across 1200 individual fillups. So I wouldn’t plan on seeing 41mpg often at all. Still, 30mpg average is pretty good for a roomy box and they’re going for under MSRP in my area.
The looks of this car have grown on me, so long as it isn’t in white. The interior less so. That plastic open console try bugs me, looks very cheap and unfinished even if it’s useful.
The wild swings Hyundai makes in styling choices makes me think this one will look old quickly when it’s refreshed.