Hyundai Santa Fe Wins Big Again at the 2026 What Car? Awards

The Hyundai Santa Fe has continued its impressive award-winning streak, taking home the Best Seven-seat SUV title at the 2026 What Car? Awards. It’s another major milestone for the flagship family SUV, which also won the same award in 2025 and previously secured Best Hybrid Seven-seat SUV at the What Car? Electric Awards in 2024.

Held annually by the UK’s largest car-buying guide, the What Car? Awards are judged by a team of expert reviewers who test hundreds of new vehicles each year. So when a model keeps coming out on top, it’s a strong sign it’s doing something very right.

Designed for modern families and active lifestyles

The latest Hyundai Santa Fe stood out to the judges thanks to its blend of space, comfort, technology and everyday usability. With three rows of seating and a highly flexible interior layout, it’s built to handle everything from the school run to long road trips with ease.

Both the second and third rows fold completely flat, making it easy to switch between passenger and cargo space depending on what the day demands. Add in generous legroom across all three rows and you’ve got a genuinely practical seven-seater that doesn’t compromise on comfort.

Bold design that’s practical too

Santa Fe’s striking, boxy design isn’t just about turning heads—it’s functional. Large side windows give all passengers a great view out, while the squared-off rear end ensures plenty of headroom, even in the third row. Wide-opening doors make getting in and out easy, which is especially handy for families with kids or anyone regularly using all seven seats.

Inside, premium materials, smart storage solutions and the latest infotainment and driver assistance technologies help create a relaxed, confidence-inspiring driving experience.

Comfort-first driving dynamics

What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford highlighted how well the Santa Fe balances practicality with comfort:

“The striking, angular design of the latest Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t just help it stand out from the SUV crowd visually – it contributes to it being a great seven-seater. The oblong side windows offer everyone inside a great view, while the car’s squared off rear end ensures that even those in the third row have loads of head room. Access is superb, too, thanks to wide-opening doors. And when it comes to the dynamics, Hyundai has put comfort first – just as you’d want with a car like this.”

A benchmark seven-seat SUV

With back-to-back What Car? Awards wins and continued praise from industry experts, the Hyundai Santa Fe has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s standout seven-seat SUVs. It’s spacious, stylish, packed with technology and designed with real-world family needs in mind—making it a compelling choice for anyone looking for a premium, practical large SUV.