Hyundai Santa Fe Review 2024

If you've got a big family and want a rugged, spacious SUV, the new Hyundai Santa Fe is a great choice. It's a bit expensive and not everyone will like how it looks, but it starts to look like reasonable value for money when you compare it like-for-like with premium competitors.

Don't spend big bucks on one of the top-end models - the entry-level Hyundai Santa Fe Premium is very well kitted out, with spec highlights including a 12.3-inch navigation system, heated leather seats and navigation-based smart adaptive cruise control. We'd choose the plug-in hybrid over the hybrid, but only if you can charge a car at home - without regular charging, it won't be very efficient.

The Hyundai Santa Fe competes with a range of seven-seaters, including the Kia Sorento and all-electric Kia EV9, as well as the popular Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008. Its premium price tag also pitches it against the Land Rover Discovery Sport (you could even say it's an affordable alternative to a Discovery or a Defender), as well as the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLB.

We wouldn't say the new Hyundai Santa Fe feels quite as posh as, say, a Land Rover Discovery or Volvo XC90 inside. It's cheaper than its upmarket rivals, though, and it certainly feels a cut above a Skoda Kodiaq or Peugeot 5008.

You don't need to splash out on one of the most expensive Hyundai Santa Fe models for a pleasant cabin, either. The entry-level Santa Fe Premium has soft-touch materials aplenty, while leather seats add to the high-end vibe. If you do buy a top-spec Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, you'll get premium nappa leather seats as standard, which adds to the overall feeling of quality.

All Hyundai Santa Fe models come with a slick curved display featuring two 12.3-inch screens, acting as the central infotainment display as well as a digital instrument cluster. It's a superb system to use, with speedy responses and sharp graphics as well as intuitive menu layouts. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on hand to provide easy access to your favourite phone apps, while a wireless phone charger keeps your phone topped up.

Hyundai's thought of a few trick features to prevent arguments between passengers, too. Ultimate and Calligraphy models come with not one but two wireless chargers in the front - meaning both the driver and front-seat passenger can charge their phone at the same time. And all three rows of seats get USB-C chargers for faff-free phone charging.

From early 2025, Hyundai Santa Fe drivers will be able to choose from a variety of Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity subscription services. The most basic one - Bluelink LITE - will be free for 10 years and will let you use your phone as a digital key, check on your car remotely and download over-the-air updates.

The Hyundai Santa Fe's design centres around 'the box' - essentially a large, versatile area that can be used for carrying up to seven passengers and their luggage, but with the ability to drop the seats and use it as a terrace on wheels or even a comfortable camping pod for overnight adventures.

It's hugely practical, with a seat-up boot capacity of up to 628 litres in the hybrid or 621 litres in the PHEV. Drop the rear seats and the Santa Fe can carry nearly 1950 litres of luggage.

Passenger space is suitably vast as well, with more than a metre of headroom for those in the front and middle-row seats, and still-generous room in the third row of seats (which fold flat into the floor when not needed).

It's not all about outright space, either. There are various neat little touches intended to make life easier. The boot opening is unusually wide, for example, meaning you can easily squeeze in a set of golf clubs width-ways. Looking to carry luggage on the roof? The top-spec Calligraphy trim comes with a hidden handle in the C-pillar, providing a little extra support should you wish to stand on the rear wheel.

Looking to squeeze the Hyundai Santa Fe into your garage? That might be a struggle. It measures 4830mm in length, 1900mm in width and 2815mm in height. 

No diesel here: buyers get a choice of hybrid or plug-in hybrid power.

The most affordable Hyundai Santa Fe is the hybrid, which combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. Performance is adequate - it'll accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in a smidgen under 10 seconds (9.6 seconds, to be exact, or 9.8 seconds for the 4x4).

With a chunk of extra power (253PS compared to 215PS), the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV feels a fair bit quicker than the hybrid. It'll accelerate to 62mph in 9.3 seconds - which is still fairly relaxed - but it feels punchier than that, especially for mid-range overtakes.

All Hyundai Santa Fe models come with an automatic gearbox, which is responsive enough. There's a slight hesitation when you plant the throttle pedal, but it'll drop down when necessary. You can always switch to sport mode for snappier responses but there's not a huge amount to be gained by doing so.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a very relaxing car to travel in. On both hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, the engine and electric motors work well together, meaning you won't notice too much of a commotion as the petrol engine kicks in and out. For maximum refinement, go for the PHEV - it'll travel under electric power alone, meaning you get all the refinement of a pure-electric car (until it runs out of electricity, anyway).

While the latest Hyundai Santa Fe is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP, it's likely to be an exceptionally safe way of transporting your family.

For a start, it's fitted with no fewer than 10 airbags, not to mention an extensive list of driver-assistance technology. As an example, the Forward Collision Avoidance Assist can detect other cars, pedestrians and cyclists - applying the brakes if necessary to prevent a collision. The Highway Drive Assist, meanwhile, will keep the Santa Fe a set distance from the car in front, while also maintaining its position in the centre of its lane.

Most of the driver-assistance features are standard across the Santa Fe range, although the Ultimate and Calligraphy models come with a more advanced version of the Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, as well as a clever Surround View Monitor and Remote Smart Park Assist.

We'd expect the new Hyundai Santa Fe to be a very reliable SUV. Previous generation models have been very reliable, while Hyundai as a brand generally performs well in ownership surveys. Like all Hyundais, the Santa Fe comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. That's pretty impressive and more than you'd get with, say, a Skoda Kodiaq. The Kia Sorento comes with a seven-year warranty, but it's limited to 100,000 miles.

Insurance groups for the new Hyundai Santa Fe are yet to be confirmed.

With a price tag of more than £40,000, the Hyundai Santa Fe qualifies for so-called 'premium car tax'. That means you'll pay £600 a year in tax (for years two to six), minus a £10/year discount for being a hybrid. After the sixth year, this'll drop to the standard rate - currently £180/year for hybrids.

The range starts with the Hyundai Santa Fe Premium. Standard equipment includes a 12.3-inch navigation system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Parking sensors (front and rear) are also standard, as well as a heated steering wheel and navigation-based smart adaptive cruise control. The Premium model also comes with a smart electric tailgate as well as a single wireless phone charging pad, dual-zone climate control, leather seats (heated in the front), keyless entry/start and rear door blinds.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate adds a Bose premium sound system, head-up display, digital rear-view mirror and a dual wireless phone charging pad. The front seats are both heated and ventilated, while the rear seats are heated. A dual glass sunroof is standard, too, as well as a range of driver-assistance technology (including Highway Drive Assist 2, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2 and a Surround View Monitor - more about these in the 'safety equipment' section above).

The range-topping Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy comes with a UV-C tray, Nappa leather interior (black), front relaxation seats, 20-inch alloy wheels (black) a hidden handle in the C pillar and black exterior body styling.