Hyundai Santa Fe facelift reveals vertical DRLs and new front-end design

New photos show the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe facelift with vertical DRLs, revised headlights and a confirmed EREV version due in the first half of 2027.

Author: Polina Kotikova

04:13 12-10-2026

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The Hyundai Santa Fe is preparing for a major facelift, and part of its redesigned front end has now been seen without camouflage. A photo published by The Korean Car Blog shows that the current continuous H-shaped lighting graphic is being replaced by separate vertical daytime running lights at the outer edges of the nose. Compact horizontal LED headlamp units sit next to them.

The image was published on October 9 and shows only one side of the front end in close-up rather than the entire crossover. Even so, it confirms the direction already suggested by spy shots and renderings. The Santa Fe is expected to gain a grille with stronger horizontal elements, a redesigned bumper and a different integration of the parking sensors. Earlier prototypes also suggested a more vertical arrangement for the rear lamps, although Hyundai has not yet shown the production rear end in full.

The changes affect the fifth-generation Santa Fe introduced in 2023. Its boxy body and unusual H-shaped lighting have drawn mixed reactions, while the revised nose brings the model visually closer to the latest Tucson and Palisade design direction. Hyundai has not yet officially revealed the facelifted vehicle in full.

Reports about the facelift have again mentioned a switch from an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to a conventional automatic. There is an important qualification: for the US-market Santa Fe with the 2.5-liter turbo engine, that change already happened for the 2026 model year. The 2025 version used an eight-speed wet DCT, while Hyundai USA lists a conventional eight-speed automatic for 2026. The 1.6T hybrid uses a six-speed automatic, so the transmission change should not be presented as an exclusive 2027-facelift feature.

A more substantial addition will be the Santa Fe EREV. Hyundai has officially confirmed a launch in the first half of 2027 and says total driving range is expected to exceed 600 miles, or more than 965 km. The vehicle is intended to drive electrically while using an internal-combustion engine to extend overall range. Detailed battery specifications and fuel-economy figures have not yet been disclosed.