Comparison: Turning circle Hyundai Santa Fe vs. competitors 2025

Unraveling the Santa Fe's turning circle story across generations reads like the evolution of a blockbuster franchise. The 1st Generation models, running from 2001 to 2006, started out with an 11.30-meter turning circle. The 2nd Generation (2006-2012) saw improvement with a nimble 10.90 meters, suggesting Hyundai’s engineering team had definitely been eating their greens. The 3rd Generation (2012-2018) went sleeker still, showcasing a tight 10.60 meters. However, the current 4th Generation, spanning from 2018 to now, reverted to a broader 11.40 meters, potentially prioritizing other performance factors or luxurious comfort over extreme agility. A curious case of expansion, don't you think?

Comparing the Santa Fe’s turning circle to other models in Hyundai’s increasingly vast line-up reveals quite a spread. For instance, the microcity dweller Hyundai i10 effortlessly pirouettes with a turning circle of just 9.80 meters. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Kona comes quite close to the Santa Fe’s tighter days with a 10.60-meter turn. Even the tuneful Hyundai Tucson offers a 10.90-meter turning circle, making the Tucson marginally more agile. Moving up the scale, more substantial models like the Hyundai Palisade, or the futuristic IONIQ 5 make the Santa Fe appear tight as a drum with their broader turning radii of around 12 meters. In essence, the Santa Fe rests squarely in the middle, not too large to be cumbersome but not tiny enough to zip through narrow lanes with abandon.

When juxtaposed against its nearest rivals, the Hyundai Santa Fe's turning circle tells an intriguing tale. The Santa Fe (11.40 meters) sits somewhat wider than the Toyota C-HR that bends corners more effortlessly at 10.40 meters. But the Santa Fe has a far slicker grip on the road compared to the imposing Volvo XC40, which needs 11.80 meters to navigate a U-turn. Even the Skoda Kodiaq seems like a behemoth with its 12.20-meter ordeal. For a slightly less grandiose comparison, consider the Mazda CX-30, which with its 10.60-meter turning circle, edges out the Santa Fe in agility while boasting a similarly compact size. It’s clear—Santa Fe may not be the nimblest dancer on the floor, but it waltzes confidently, staking a fine balance between grandeur and maneuverability.