2026 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2026 Honda Pilot vs. 2026 Toyota Highlander
Shopping for a three-row midsize SUV means weighing space, power, efficiency, and long-term peace of mind all at once, and three of the segment's most popular nameplates make that decision genuinely difficult. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe brings a boxy, adventure-ready shape, the strongest torque figure of these three, and a hybrid that leads this group on fuel economy. The 2026 Honda Pilot counters with the most horsepower and the roomiest cargo hold of the three, while the 2026 Toyota Highlander arrives with newly standard all-wheel drive and a well-earned reputation for holding its value. All three offer three rows and cover the family-hauling basics, so the question is which one delivers the most usable capability for the money you spend on fuel and the years you plan to own it. Here is how they compare where it counts.
Performance
The 2026 Santa Fe is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired for 2026 with a conventional eight-speed automatic in place of the previous dual-clutch unit. That change makes low-speed shifts noticeably smoother, and the 311 lb-ft figure is the highest of these three, arriving early in the rev range where families actually use it: merging, climbing grades, and pulling away with a full load of passengers. Front-wheel drive is standard on most trims with HTRAC all-wheel drive available, and the XRT comes with HTRAC all-wheel drive as standard equipment.
The 2026 Honda Pilot makes the most horsepower here, with a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque through a ten-speed automatic. It is a smooth, proven engine, and properly equipped all-wheel-drive models tow up to 5,000 pounds. The tradeoff is efficiency and low-end pull: the Pilot generates 49 lb-ft less torque than the Santa Fe and offers no electrified powertrain at all, with EPA estimates topping out at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
The 2026 Highlander uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and all-wheel drive is now standard across the lineup, which is a meaningful upgrade for winter-weather buyers. Gas models tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Highlander Hybrid is genuinely efficient at 35 mpg combined, and notably it earns that figure with all-wheel drive standard, though choosing it drops towing capacity to 3,500 pounds.
Where the Santa Fe pulls ahead is the breadth and efficiency of its lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with electric assist for 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, and in front-drive form it is EPA-rated at 37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined, the best figures in this comparison. Buyers who want maximum efficiency get it, buyers who want the strongest torque get it, and buyers who want rugged capability can step into the XRT, which adds 8.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, a dedicated terrain mode, and a 4,500-pound towing rating. Neither rival offers that range of choices under one roof.
Design and Comfort
The Pilot is the space champion of this trio, and that deserves credit up front. It offers 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.5 behind the second, and 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded, along with 32.5 inches of third-row legroom and seating for up to eight. If you regularly carry a full house plus luggage, the Pilot is the most accommodating option here.
The Highlander is more modest in this area. It provides 16 cubic feet behind the third row and 84.3 cubic feet maximum, and its rearmost bench is best reserved for children on shorter trips. Its hybrid variant gives up nothing in cargo room compared with the gas model, which is a genuine engineering win, but the underlying dimensions are still tight for the class.
The Santa Fe splits the difference in a way that suits how most families actually use a third row, which is occasionally. Its upright, squared-off tailgate creates an unusually wide, tall opening that makes loading bulky items easy, and folding the seats reveals 40.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 79.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. More importantly for daily use, the Santa Fe delivers 42.3 inches of second-row legroom, an inch and a half more than the Pilot, so the seats your kids and adult passengers occupy every single day are the roomiest of the three. Third-row seating is standard on every trim, with dedicated vents from the SEL up, and the center console is one of the cleverest in the segment, with a removable tray, a deep hidden bin, and a double-hinged lid that opens toward the second row. The honest tradeoff is 14.6 cubic feet behind the raised third row, less than either rival, so shoppers who routinely fill all seven seats and the cargo hold at the same time should weigh that carefully.
Technology and Safety
All three arrive well connected. Every Santa Fe trim includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, high-power USB-C charging, over-the-air update capability, and a hands-free smart liftgate as standard equipment. Stepping up brings a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster paired with the touchscreen under a single curved panel, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, dual wireless charging pads, a head-up display, and a surround-view monitor.
The Pilot matches that standard screen size and adds Google built-in across the lineup, which is a real strength. The Highlander is the least generous of the three at the entry level, reserving its dual 12.3-inch display setup for the top Limited and Platinum grades, so lower-trim shoppers give up screen real estate the Santa Fe includes from the base trim.
On safety, all three come standard with a full driver-assistance suite, and none of them shortchanges buyers. Hyundai SmartSense is standard on every 2026 Santa Fe and includes:
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- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning, upgraded to Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist on Calligraphy
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist
- Driver Attention Warning
- Safe Exit Assist
- Parking Distance Warning, forward and reverse
Higher trims layer on Highway Driving Assist, a Blind-Spot View Monitor that projects a live camera feed of the lane beside you, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. Honda Sensing® and Toyota Safety Sense™ are likewise standard across their respective lineups and cover similar ground, so this category comes down to what surrounds those systems. The Santa Fe backs its safety content with the longest coverage of the three: a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and a 5-year or 60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, where both the Pilot and Highlander are covered for three years or 36,000 miles with five-year powertrain protection.
The Verdict
The 2026 Honda Pilot and 2026 Toyota Highlander are both excellent three-row SUVs, and each has a clear case. The Pilot is the pick if maximum cargo volume and a genuinely adult-usable third row are non-negotiable. The Highlander earns its following with newly standard all-wheel drive and strong resale value.
But the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe wins this comparison. It produces the most torque of the three at 311 lb-ft, its hybrid returns the best fuel economy in the group at up to 37 mpg city and 36 mpg combined, it gives second-row passengers more legroom than either rival, and it puts a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration and a full SmartSense safety suite in every trim rather than reserving them for upper grades. Add a lineup that spans an efficient hybrid, a torque-rich turbocharged gas engine, and a trail-ready XRT, then back it with the longest powertrain warranty here, and the Santa Fe delivers more usable capability and more long-term confidence than anything else in this matchup.
Visit Washington Hyundai in Washington, PA to see the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe in person, compare it side by side with the competition, and schedule your test drive today.