2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

How does the Santa Fe Hybrid drive? We tested a Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy trim, which is the top-shelf version with all the luxury fixings. At the Edmunds test track, it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds. That isn't all that quick for the class, but we found it adequate for the day-to-day and not slow enough to be annoying in merging situations. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and effortlessly and delivers a more natural and pleasant driving experience than you'll have in many other hybrids. Off-the-line power is ample, and the switchover from gas to electric power is smooth and unobtrusive.

The Santa Fe Hybrid is stable and composed when going around corners, though its taller boxy profile does lend a bit more body roll. The brakes also work well for smooth stops, and emergency braking distances were typical among its competitors. All in all, it is a very easy vehicle to commute or road trip in.

How comfortable is the Santa Fe Hybrid? Front and second-row passengers will be very comfortable in the Santa Fe Hybrid. The front seats have enough side bolstering to hold you securely when cornering but not so much as to hamper getting in and out. The second row is also supportive and nicely padded. As for the third row, it's more comfortable than what you'll get in some other smaller SUVs, though ultimately it's still best for kids or for use on short trips. 

Ride comfort around town and on the highway is quite good. The Santa Fe's suspension soaks up most bumps without disturbing occupants. The hybrid powertrain is quiet and the cabin is nicely insulated from wind and road noise.

How’s the interior? Think of the Santa Fe Hybrid as a two-row SUV with an occasional third row. It's plenty spacious and easy to use, although the column-mounted twisty-knob gear selector takes some getting used to. The tall doors open wide, and getting in and adjusting the driver's seat to your preferred position shouldn't be a problem.

Front and second-row occupants have plenty of headroom and legroom, and the second-row passengers benefit from seats that adjust for legroom and seatback angle. The third row is meant for occasional use. It has decent headroom, and the legroom can be expanded if your second-row passengers are willing to slide forward for the greater good. We wish the view to the rear was as good as it is to the front and sides, but unfortunately the thick rear pillars and second-row headrests make it hard to see what's behind you.

How’s the storage? The Santa Fe Hybrid's blocky rear styling gives this SUV a big, wide opening that's low to the ground, making it easy to load and unload large and heavy items. There's 14.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, enough for a few grocery bags, but to really carry cargo you need to fold down the third row, opening up a cavernous 40.5 cubic feet. Fold the second row and you get nearly 80 cubic feet of space. Available power fold-down second-row seatbacks make lowering the seats easy too. If you have a bike, kayak or cargo box on the roof, the Santa Fe's built-in grab handles on the rear roof pillars make it easy to access.

Small-item storage is equally impressive, with bins and trays too numerous to count. The center console is particularly clever, with two tiers of wide, flat shelves between the seats and a big center bin. When you first open it, the bin looks small, but it's a tray; remove it and there's a much larger storage area underneath that actually slides out for rear-seat access. The lid is double-hinged, opening to the front or rear, so second-row passengers can easily access items in the tray. It's a pack rat's dream. We like the convenient placement of the wireless phone charger, though the open exposure to the sun had our phones getting hot too easily.

If you have child seats to install, you'll like that the LATCH points aren't too difficult to access. There are upper tethers that can be simply accessed through the center of the headrests.

Is the Santa Fe Hybrid a good value? Materials quality and overall assembly are mostly top-notch. The top Calligraphy trim is pretty decked out in terms of features. We do wish keyless entry worked for the rear doors or that we could opt for a second-row bench seat. We also would like some of the Calligraphy-specific features, like dual wireless phone chargers, to be available on lower trims. But all in all, there's nothing much else we'd ask for.

Like all Hyundais, the Santa Fe Hybrid benefits from the automaker's industry-leading five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and three years of free scheduled maintenance.