Owners of the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD with the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine experience about 20 MPG combined. While not the best in its class, this number shows the trade-off many buyers accept: the added security of all-wheel drive and the strong performance of a turbocharged engine in a practical and comfortable compact SUV.

City and highway performance

The EPA estimates show 18 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. The city figure suggests that stop-and-go traffic affects fuel economy, reflecting the engine’s higher fuel demand when accelerating from a stop often. On the open road, the Santa Fe Sport’s aerodynamics and engine efficiency at highway speeds help it achieve the slightly better 24 MPG figure. Drivers in congested urban environments will likely see numbers closer to 18 MPG, while those who drive long distances on the highway will do better, getting closer to 24 MPG.

Annual fuel cost

The EPA calculates the annual fuel cost for the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD 2.0L at $2,200. This is based on driving 15,000 miles per year, with a mix of city and highway driving, and using the national average fuel price. Actual costs will change based on individual driving and local fuel prices, but the $2,200 figure is a useful benchmark for budgeting.

Real-world expectations

While the EPA estimates are a standardized comparison, real-world fuel economy often differs. Drivers who accelerate hard, often the turbocharger’s power, or regularly carry passengers and cargo might see their average MPG drop below 20 MPG. On the other hand, those who accelerate smoothly, anticipate traffic, and minimize unnecessary idling could see slightly better results. Paying attention to driving habits and using cruise control on the highway will help achieve fuel economy closer to the EPA estimates. See SANTA MPG across all years for a broader perspective on observed trends.

How it compares

In the 2016 compact SUV market, the Santa Fe Sport’s fuel economy is in the middle. A comparable all-wheel-drive Honda CR-V with its naturally aspirated engine got about 28 MPG combined. The Toyota RAV4 AWD gets around 24 MPG combined. The Ford Escape with its 2.0L EcoBoost engine and all-wheel drive gets about 23 MPG combined. Hyundai buyers who want to compare this to more current numbers can reference all Hyundai fuel economy data. The Santa Fe Sport buyer often wants a mix of power, features, and price, and accepts slightly lower fuel economy for the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive.

Tips to maximize efficiency

Hard acceleration uses much more fuel, especially with a turbocharged engine. Avoid pressing the accelerator hard and try to accelerate smoothly to keep the turbocharger from activating too much. This will reduce fuel consumption because less fuel is needed when the turbocharger isn’t adding boost.

Tire pressure is important for fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires create more rolling resistance, making the engine work harder and use more fuel. Check your tire pressure regularly and inflate them to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door. A simple tire pressure gauge in the glove compartment makes this easy.

Remove any extra weight from the vehicle. Extra cargo adds to the vehicle’s weight, needing more energy to move. Take out anything from the trunk or back seats that you don’t regularly need, such as golf clubs after a game or that box of books you forgot to drop off.

Anticipate traffic and avoid hard braking. Coasting to a stop when possible, instead of braking hard at the last second, helps maintain momentum and reduces the energy needed to accelerate again. Watching the road ahead can help avoid unnecessary braking and fuel use.