2027 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a series of crossover SUVs produced across five generations by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 2000. It is named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai's first SUV. The Santa Fe was a milestone in the company's restructuring program of the late 1990s because the SUV was a hit with American buyers.
Source: Hyundai Santa Fe (Wikipedia)
Marketing. Advertising Standards Bureau of Australia banned a Santa Fe TV commercial titled 'Restless' or 'Toddler' in 2007, which ASB argued that it promotes an illegal driving activity: an underaged person (a toddler) driving a car. He also picked up a hitchhiking toddler girl and both were wearing seatbelts instead of approved child restraints which also breached safety recommendations.
Powertrain. The long-wheelbase variant was released in South Korea as the Maxcruz on March 7, 2013. The longer Santa Fe receives a unique grille design, optional 19-inch alloy wheels, flush dual exhaust tips, and a body shape that accentuates the crossover's added passenger and cargo room hind-wise from the B-pillar.
NHTSA rated the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe overall 4 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (6 campaigns across the latest model years)
- April 2026, Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023-2026 Genesis G90, 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles. The driver and passenger seat belt anchors may detach. Consequence: A detached seat belt anchor will not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- January 2026, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument… Consequence: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- November 2025, Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Tucson, 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2026 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, which can cause the air bags not to deploy… Consequence: Side curtain air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 133 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, most often about electrical system (28), unknown or other (27), power train (21).
2026 Mazda CX-50
The Mazda CX-50 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda since 2022 for the 2023 model year, for the North American and Chinese markets. Based on the same transverse, front-wheel-drive platform as the fourth-generation Mazda3 and the CX-30, the vehicle is sold alongside the slightly smaller CX-5 and is positioned below the larger, rear-wheel-drive based CX-70.
- Safety
- The 2023 CX-50 was awarded the "Top Safety Pick +" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It received overall Good and Superior ratings on all categories except the non-turbo models, which received an Acceptable rating on headlights, as only the turbo models are offered with adaptive headlights.
- Awards
- In 2024, the CX-50 was one of five compact SUVs listed on Car and Driver's Editors' Choice.
Source: Mazda CX-50 (Wikipedia)
Design. The CX-50 was officially revealed on November 15, 2021 in the US market. Compared to the smaller CX-5, the vehicle is designed with emphasis in "active and outdoor lifestyles", by introducing squarer styling and larger body cladding. A more rugged off-road-styled variant named the Meridian Edition is also available.
Powertrain. The CX-50 is powered by the 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G inline-four engine offered in its standard naturally-aspirated (PY-VPS) form, which produces 187 horsepower (190 PS) and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged (PY-VPTS) variant that outputs 227 horsepower (230 PS) (with 87 AKI octane fuel) or 256 horsepower (260 PS) (with 93 AKI octane fuel) and 320 pound-feet of torque.
NHTSA rated the 2025 Mazda CX-50 overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (4 campaigns across the latest model years)
- October 2025, Suspension:Critical Fasteners. Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2025 CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid vehicles. The front suspension fastener bolts may not be tightened properly, which can result in suspension component and/or wheel detachment. Consequence: Wheel or suspension component detachment can cause a loss of vehicle control and a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- June 2025, Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:Software. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain CX-50 Hybrid and CX-50 vehicles. Incorrectly configured module software may cause the air bag to deploy improperly. Consequence: An air bag that deploys improperly increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- March 2025, Trailer Hitches. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-50 vehicles equipped with Mazda Genuine Accessory trailer hitches. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may loosen and cause the assembly to separate from the vehicle body during towing or normal driving conditions. Consequence: A detached trailer hitch assembly can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 47 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Mazda CX-50, most often about power train (11), service brakes (8), forward collision avoidance (8).