2010 Hyundai Santa Fe MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe is rated 22 to 23 mpg combined across 5 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2010 Hyundai Santa Fe · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

23MPG combined

21 city 27 highway

$2,900 a year to fuel

2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $2,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,900 to $3,050 a year.

More complaints than a typical Santa Fe year

The 2010 drew 94 owner complaints in its first three years, against 93 for a typical Santa Fe year.

Years to avoid: 2017 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Santa Fe year ranked The 2010 Santa Fe's recalls and problems

Every 2010 Santa Fe version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Santa Fe 4WD	23 mpg	21 / 27	$2,900
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe 2WD	23 mpg	20 / 28	$2,900
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe 2WD	23 mpg	20 / 26	$2,900
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Santa Fe 2WD	22 mpg	19 / 26	$3,050
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Santa Fe 4WD	22 mpg	20 / 26	$3,050

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.4L 4-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$2,915	$243	$14,576
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,915	$243	$14,576
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,915	$243	$14,576
2.4L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$3,048	$254	$15,239
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$3,048	$254	$15,239

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Hyundai Santa Fe MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 23 to 26 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2021. Hybrid: 34 to 36 mpg (2021 to 2026); 36 since 2024.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2010: gas 23 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Hyundai Santa Fe best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	23	–
2011	23	–
2012	23	–
2013	24	–
2014	23	–
2015	23	–
2016	23	–
2017	24	–
2018	24	–
2019	25	–
2020	25	–
2021	26	34
2022	26	34
2023	26	34
2024	24	36
2025	24	36
2026	24	36

Every Santa Fe year's ratings in one table

How the 2010 Santa Fe compares

2010 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2010 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	21 mpg	$2,750
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	26 mpg	22 mpg	$2,600
Hyundai Santa Fe This page Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Ford Edge Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Nissan Murano Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$4,100
Honda Pilot Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
GMC Acadia Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Buick Enclave Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,700
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$4,550
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,700
Ford Explorer Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$3,950

Kia Sorento vs Hyundai Santa FeMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2010 Santa Fe recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 259 owner complaints for the 2010 Santa Fe.

Owners most often describe jerking or harsh shifting (43 complaints, 17%), then stalling (41).

See the 2010 Santa Fe recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 3.5L 6-cyl gets 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 22 with 4WD.

Does the 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.