2016 Hyundai Santa Fe MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe is rated 19 to 23 mpg combined across 8 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe · 8 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

23MPG combined

20 city 27 highway

$2,800 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $2,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,800 to $3,400 a year.

Every 2016 Santa Fe version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Santa Fe Sport FWD	23 mpg	20 / 27	$2,800
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe Sport FWD (also Santa Fe Sport Ultimate FWD)	22 mpg	19 / 26	$2,950
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe Sport AWD	21 mpg	19 / 25	$3,100
3.3L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe FWD	21 mpg	18 / 25	$3,100
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe Sport AWD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,250
3.3L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe AWD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,250
3.3L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Ultimate EPA listing: Santa Fe Ultimate FWD	20 mpg	17 / 23	$3,250
3.3L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Ultimate EPA listing: Santa Fe Ultimate AWD	19 mpg	17 / 22	$3,400

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,817	$235	$14,087
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,945	$245	$14,727
2.4L 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,086	$257	$15,429
3.3L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,086	$257	$15,429
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,240	$270	$16,200
3.3L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,240	$270	$16,200
3.3L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Ultimate	$3,240	$270	$16,200
3.3L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Ultimate	$3,411	$284	$17,053

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Hyundai Santa Fe MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 23 to 26 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2021. Hybrid: 34 to 36 mpg (2021 to 2026); 36 since 2024.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2016: gas 23 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Hyundai Santa Fe best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	23	–
2017	24	–
2018	24	–
2019	25	–
2020	25	–
2021	26	34
2022	26	34
2023	26	34
2024	24	36
2025	24	36
2026	24	36

How the 2016 Santa Fe compares

2016 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,650
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,300
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: diesel	25 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Hyundai Santa Fe This page Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,600

Kia Sorento vs Hyundai Santa FeMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2016 Santa Fe recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 305 owner complaints for the 2016 Santa Fe.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 2 mpg: the 2.4L 4-cyl gets 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21 with AWD.

Does the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.