The new $34,800 Hyundai Santa Fe redefines value by oozing with features across comfort, convenience, technology, safety, and even in terms of cool design. It is the one all-rounded value-for-money mid-size SUV that should not be missed. Further strengthening its appeal is a variety of trim levels, including a rugged XRT and an exquisite Calligraphy variant.
While the Santa Fe is impressive, it can still be beaten. There are a bunch of enticing rivals to the radical-looking Hyundai that have their own strengths to stand tall. Some are more affordable, some offer a more compact form factor, others look way cooler (if the boxy design doesn’t entice), and there is even a specific SUV that outclasses the Santa Fe in its own value-for-money game. It happens to be its corporate twin from Kia.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Starting Price: $41,360
While it is on the expensive side, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander does deliver on capabilities, comfort, and a spacious cabin to take on the Santa Fe. It has a sleek design language with muscular arches that surely set it apart from the crowd. It is offered with a variety of drivetrain options—gas and hybrid —and has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
This three-row Toyota is designed with comfort and convenience in mind, with cargo space up to 97.5 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. The Grand Highlander is an SUV that will entice those who want space, power, and technology in one refined package. No wonder its sales figures are rising profoundly. Toyota has posted a 31.3 percent increase in the outgoing quarterly sales of 2025.
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2026 Honda Pilot
Starting Price: $40,200
Honda has dialed up the desirability quotient of the all-new Pilot with a slew of features. It flaunts a much sharper design language that helps deviate from its “practical” outlook. Technology features see a boost with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, a larger 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and 5G Wi-Fi, to name a few.
Honda has also elevated comfort and convenience by making the cabin quieter. It continues to be powered by a frugal V6 that has given the 2026 Pilot a rugged, reliable side. Compared to the Santa Fe, the Pilot’s VFM proposition falls short, but it does add more versatility, simplicity, and reliability to the mix.
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2026 Lincoln Corsair
Starting Price: $39,985
The Lincoln Corsair is a very underrated luxury SUV that deserves your attention. It looks cool, offers versatility with either a standard 2.0-liter turbo four or a 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid, and the top-spec trims also get exclusive Lincoln Drive Modes. All-wheel drive and available adaptive suspension can truly bring out its sporty side.
Technology features include SYNC 4 infotainment software, OTA updates, built-in Alexa, and an optional hands-free highway driving assist feature. Comfort features help it stay true to its “luxury” tag, including a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and soft-touch upholstery. If a luxurious flair is what you want from a Santa Fe alternative, then the Corsair is the right choice.
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10 Midsize SUVs With Incredible Resale Value
Some SUVs are renowned for holding their value well, but these 10 models are the best mid-size SUVs for resale value.
2026 Mazda CX-90
Starting Price: $38,800
Mazda makes some of the most beautiful-looking cars out there. Their proportions are on point and look equally exotic on sedans, hatchbacks, and even big and tall SUVs. The CX-90 is designed with comfort in mind and is loaded with loads of convenience features.
Mazda comes close to luxury when diving into this three-row plug-in hybrid SUV, and it seems like an overall steal. If you can’t afford luxury models like the plug-in hybrids from Lexus’ lineup, the CX-90 PHEV is a great alternative, and you likely wouldn’t even look back.
Notable options include a standard moonroof, ventilated front seats, and available heated second-row seats. Technology is also equipped with features like a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a premium audio system, a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, and advanced safety features such as emergency lane keeping. The Mazda CX-90 has a distinctive aura of high luxury appeal that cannot be replicated on the Santa Fe.
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2026 Ford Explorer
Starting Price: $38,465
This is a brutish-looking, old-school vibing three-row SUV. The Ford Explorer is a no-frills SUV designed for long hauls, with powerful engine options, including an available 400-horsepower V6. It even gets a seriously capable off-roading trim, called the Tremor.
The new Tremor model is everything Timberline aspired to be, and then some – from improved protection, approach angles, and styling to a more capable 400-horsepower V6 EcoBoost for families who need it.
Unlike the Santa Fe’s XRT trim, which wraps things up with AWD and all-terrain tires, this Ford gets cooler features like a Torsen limited-slip rear axle, an off-road-tuned suspension with increased height, and underbody protection. In short, the Ford Explorer XRT is designed to go wild. For someone looking for a more stout alternative to the Santa Fe, the sizable Explorer makes the cut.
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2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Starting Price: Over $36,495
Want a brutish-looking three-row American alternative to the Santa Fe that is loaded with comfort, convenience, and capabilities? The all-new Grand Cherokee is it. This Jeep becomes even more desirable with a brand-new turbo four-cylinder engine, slated to be one of the most energy-dense on the market.
The 2.0-liter Hurricane engine produces 324 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. That’s notably higher than even the most powerful Santa Fe trim. The luxurious interior is versatile, with flat-folding second- and third-row seats that exponentially expand luggage space. The Grand Cherokee‘s dashboard is also garlanded with a refreshed set of screens to dial up its connectivity and entertainment game.
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The Smoothest Riding SUVs Under $40,000 In 2025
Some of the smoothest riding SUVs are luxury SUVs with big price tags – not these; these are all under $40,000.
2026 Nissan Pathfinder
Starting Price: Over $36,400
The Nissan Pathfinder gets a much-needed glam-up job and more for 2026. The new design is both sharp and rugged, giving this Nissan a sophisticated look. Technology features get bumped up with dual 12.3-inch displays, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and even a top-spec-reserved HD Intelligent Around View Monitor that provides a clever 360-degree view.
The interior is high on practicality, convenience, and comfort. Powering this Nissan is a tried-and-tested 3.5-liter V6 producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Pathfinder is available in FWD and AWD, and the most capable trim level has a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. This is a true rugged alternative to the Santa Fe.
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2026 Kia Sorento
Starting Price: $32,190
This is the corporate twin to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Despite sharing a lot of features, including underpinnings, the Kia Sorento still has an edge over the Santa Fe with more trim levels, more engine options, and a cheaper price tag. Those who are not a fan of Hyundai’s boxy design can lean on the Kia for its muscular, sporty, and sharp design.
Also, despite sharing identical wheelbases, the Sorento should offer a more planted driving experience owing to its dynamic design and relatively lower stance. There have been a few cases of the Santa Fe’s transmission being rough, unlike the Sorento’s. Kia also offers an understated yet driver-focused interior that will tickle the senses of those who don’t want a cabin with more bright color options.
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2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
Starting Price: $30,805
This is one of the most overlooked SUVs in this lot. But, ironically, it is also the cheapest of the bunch, with commendable lux-appeal. But then again, it isn’t a justifiable matrix because it is a two-row SUV, whereas the Santa Fe houses three rows. Surely, the Hyundai offers much more value, with more of everything. But the Tiguan comes in as a worthy alternative to those who want a more compact yet versatile option, with elevated luxury appeal.
The Tiguan’s interior, especially in the SEL R-Line Turbo priced at $43,850, feels like a luxury vehicle with real wood trim and 10-point massaging front seats.
– Nicole Wakelin, TopSpeed Journalist
The fuel efficiency is much better, and its shorter wheelbase gives it more agile driving dynamics than the Santa Fe. The cherry on top is its more affordable price tag. For those who don’t need a third-row seat and are not quite floored by Hyundai’s bold design, the Tiguan can be a mature yet decently stacked alternative.
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10 Full-Size SUVs That Hold Their Value Best
Full-size SUVs don’t have the best reputation for value retention, but these 10 full-size SUVs buck the trend and do a good job of holding their value
2026 Chevrolet Equinox
Starting Price: $28,700
This is a dashing-looking SUV that is priced well under $30,000, making it the most affordable of this bunch. It is not without shortcomings when compared to the Santa Fe. But the Equinox excels with its compact form factor, better maneuverability, and the flexibility of an EV trim level that offers over 300 miles of driving range.
Some highlights include an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, over 15 standard safety and driver-assist features, and an available AWD system. It offers a similar value proposition to the Santa Fe and can be a solid alternative for those who want an SUV, primarily for city use. For a sporty outlook, it even gets a cool Equinox RS trim level.
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Sources: The EPA