Palisade vs. Santa Fe: Choosing the Best Hyundai for Your Florida Family Vacation

June 26th, 2026 by

Quick Overview

Hyundai builds two of the most popular three-row family SUVs on the market, and for Tallahassee families planning a Florida road trip, the choice often comes down to the all-new Palisade versus the redesigned Santa Fe. The Palisade is the larger, more powerful flagship; the Santa Fe is the efficient, easy-to-maneuver mid-size. This guide compares seating, cargo, power, towing, and fuel economy so you can pick the right one for your crew.

In this article:

  • Side-by-side spec comparison
  • Size, seating, and cargo for vacation gear
  • Power, towing, and fuel economy (gas vs. hybrid)
  • Which Hyundai is right for your family

Two Great Three-Row SUVs, Two Different Families

Both the Hyundai Palisade and the Hyundai Santa Fe seat the family, swallow the luggage, and ride comfortably on a long Florida drive — but they’re sized and tuned for different needs. Here’s how they stack up for a summer vacation.

Palisade vs. Santa Fe at a Glance

Class
 Larger 3-row SUV (flagship) Mid-size 3-row SUV
Seating
 Up to 8 (7 with captain’s chairs) Up to 7
Max cargo
 Up to ~86.7 cu ft Up to ~79.6 cu ft
Cargo behind 3rd row
 ~19.1 cu ft ~14.6 cu ft
Gas engine
 3.5L V6 — 287 hp 2.5L turbo — 277 hp
Hybrid
 2.5L turbo-hybrid — 329 hp 1.6L turbo-hybrid — 231 hp
Hybrid fuel economy
 Up to ~34 mpg combined (FWD) Up to ~36 mpg combined (FWD)
Max towing
 Up to 5,000 lbs (gas) Up to 3,500 lbs (gas)

Size, Seating & Cabin Space

If you regularly travel with a full house — kids, grandparents, friends — the Palisade’s eight-passenger capacity and roomier third row make it the easier fit. The Santa Fe seats up to seven and is genuinely spacious for a mid-size, but its third row is best for kids or shorter trips. The Santa Fe’s tidier footprint, on the other hand, is easier to park at the beach and thread through a busy theme-park lot.

Cargo Space for Vacation Gear

Both SUVs are road-trip friendly, but the Palisade’s roughly 86.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo room (and about 19.1 behind the third row) gives you more breathing room for strollers, coolers, and a week’s worth of luggage. The redesigned Santa Fe answers with a famously boxy, upright cargo area — up to about 79.6 cubic feet — and a wide tailgate opening that makes loading bulky gear surprisingly easy.

Power, Towing & Fuel Economy

Hyundai Palisade
The Palisade pairs a 287-horsepower 3.5L V6 with the muscle to tow up to 5,000 pounds (properly equipped) — handy for a small camper or boat. Prefer efficiency? The new Palisade Hybrid makes a strong 329 horsepower and is EPA-estimated up to about 34 mpg combined, so you get power and savings in the larger SUV.

Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe’s turbocharged 2.5L gas engine makes 277 horsepower and tows up to 3,500 pounds. Its standout, though, is the 1.6L hybrid: an EPA-estimated up to about 36 mpg combined makes it one of the most efficient ways to move a three-row SUV around Florida — ideal for families who rack up highway miles.

Which Hyundai Is Right for Your Family?

  • Choose the Palisade if you need eight seats, maximum cargo and third-row room, more towing capacity, or the biggest, most premium-feeling cabin for long hauls.
  • Choose the Santa Fe if you want top-tier hybrid fuel economy, an easier-to-park size, distinctive styling, and three-row flexibility at a lower starting price.
Still deciding? The best test is a back-to-back drive. Compare current inventory on the Palisade and Santa Fe pages, or look at the Santa Fe Hybrid if efficiency is your priority.

FAQ

Which is bigger, the Palisade or the Santa Fe?
The Palisade is the larger SUV — it seats up to eight (versus up to seven in the Santa Fe) and offers more maximum cargo room (about 86.7 vs. 79.6 cubic feet).

Which Hyundai SUV is more fuel efficient?
The Santa Fe Hybrid is the efficiency leader, with EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to about 36 mpg combined, while the larger Palisade Hybrid is rated up to about 34 mpg combined.

How many passengers do they seat?
The Palisade seats up to eight (or seven with second-row captain’s chairs); the Santa Fe seats up to seven across three rows.

Which can tow more?
The gas Palisade tows up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, more than the Santa Fe’s 3,500-pound gas rating. Always follow the Owner’s Manual and never exceed the rated capacity.

Do both come as hybrids?
Yes. Both offer hybrid powertrains — the Palisade Hybrid (329 hp) and the Santa Fe Hybrid (231 hp). Browse electrified inventory to compare.

Test Drive Both at Werner Hyundai

The best way to choose is to drive them back to back. Schedule a test drive, value your trade, or check current new vehicle specials. Werner Hyundai is at 252 Capital Circle SW in Tallahassee, proudly serving the Big Bend, Panama City, and Valdosta. Call (833) 829-5159 to get started.

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